Hiking & outdoor recreationLength84.5 km
Degree of difficultyHard
The Nordkalott Trail is a summer hiking trail that traverses the fells of Finland, Sweden, and Norway. Along the route, you will explore the stunning and diverse mountain and fell nature of Northern Fennoscandia, hiking across open fell highlands and lush mountain birch forests. The total length of the Kalottireitti is 800 km. This introduction describes the section visible on the map, approximately 84 km.
- A summer hiking trail, passable from the beginning of July to the middle of September.
- Nordkalott Trail is a demanding hiking trail and not suitable for beginners.
- Extensive network of huts.
- In Finland the trail is marked with white 40-cm-high wooden poles which have orange tops.
HutThe trail has several reservable and open wilderness huts.
Camping permittedTemporary camping with Everyman’s Right is allowed.
Water pointWater is mostly drinkable in the area's rivers. However, water is not examined and the use is at one's own risk. If the weather is warm, water should be boiled. In the vicinity of the huts, water can be taken upstream of the nearest river and far enough from the buildings.
The trail can only be used during the snow-free season
Campfire siteYou can use dry branches, twigs, and small roots found on the ground for making a fire. However, the area is sparsely wooded, so making a fire is not recommended. During a forest fire warning, making a fire is prohibited. You must not take wood from the huts' firewood supplies for campfires, as they are intended solely for heating the huts.
Contact information
Nordkalott Trail to the north; Kilpisjärvi - Saarijärvi 11 km
The starting point for Nordkalott Trail is at the southern end of Kilpisjärvi Village on the grounds of Kilpisjärvi Visitor Centre. Address: Kilpisjärvi Visitor Centre car park, Käsivarrentie 14145, 99490 Kilpisjärvi Coordinates: WGS84 lat: 69° 00.7055' lon: 20° 53.4364' ETRS-TM35FIN P: 7667826 I: 256134 When departing from Kilpisjärvi towards Halti the first sight along the trail is Saanatunturi Fell, which is on the edge of Kilpisjärvi Village. Saanatunturi Fell is a dominant feature of the landscape all the way from Kilpisjärvi to Saarijärvi.
The two trails which start at the south and north ends of Kilpisjärvi meet up at the mouth of the river which flows out of Lake Tsahkaljärvi. The trail then continues along the south side of the lake and turns north east. There are bridges across both the river which flows from and the one that flows into the lake.
At the foot of Muurivaara Hill the trail crosses into Norway for a while. No permits are needed for crossing the national border, but those things which must be declared at customs can not be taken across the border.
The terrain around Saarijärvi open wilderness hut is rocky, but there are a couple of places to set up tents near by. There is a bridge across the river which flows by the hut.
Nordkalott Trail to the north; Saarijärvi - Meekonjärvi 19 km
On the north side of Lake Saarijärvi the trail enters Käsivarsi Wilderness Area, which is the largest wilderness area located in the municipality of Enontekiö. From Saarijärvi the route climbs up a slightly boggy slope between the Fells Tuolljehuhput and Kuonjarvarri. The next stretch, Kuonjarvaggi, is rocky; but the going is fairly easy.
Descending to the hut at the River Kuonarjoki the first large cliffs come in view. The cliff ways drop vertically from a height of 200 metres. At the foot of the cliffs there are great boulders, which have dislodged from the cliff walls.
From the hut at Kuonarjoki the trail leads along a level, easy-to-travel path through Meekonlaakso Valley. Megonjávri / Meekonjärvi open and reservable wilderness hut are situated in the valley between the hills Saivaara, Meekonpahta and Annjalonji. There is a bridge across the River Pierfejohka.
Nordkalott Trail to the north; Meekonjärvi - Pitsusjärvi 12 km
Saivaara, a high and exceptional looking hill rises on the south side of Porojärvi Valley. On top of this hill there is a memorial plaque for Finland's former president Urho Kekkonen. If you wish to see this memorial plaque you can climb to the top of the hill from its east side.
On the west side of Lake Meekonjärvi Nordkalott Trail travels below a high cliff wall through rocky terrain and continues towards Lake Vuomakasjärvi, where there is a bridge across the river. After hiking across Vuobmegasvarri Fell you will come to Pitsusköngäs Falls which fall from a height of 17 metres. The falls are one the sights along the trail, and this is a wonderful place for hikers to stop and take photos.
From the falls the trail continues along easy to cross terrain by the river bank and along the shore of Lake Pitsusjärvi to the Bihčosjávri / Pitsusjärvi open and reservable wilderness huts.
Nordkalott Trail to the north; Pitsusjärvi - Halti 12 km
A separate trail turns off Nordkalott Trail at Pitsusjärvi hut. It leads to Halti, Finland's highest point, which rises to 1324 m. Háldi / Halti open wilderness hut and Háldi / Halti open/reservable wilderness hut are located 1,5 km west of the Halti trail on the north shore of Lake Haltijärvi. There is a guestbook at the top of Halti Fell, which those who have conquered the hill can sign.
From Halti hikers can travel back to Kilpisjärvi along Nordkalott via Lake Pitsusjärvi, Meeko, and the River Kuonjarjoki. If you do not wish to return along the same route along which you came you can also get to the road leading to Kilpisjärvi via Lake Lossujärvi. This section of trail has not been marked in the terrain, but can be found from the maps.
Nordkalott Trail to the north; Pitsusjärvi - Somasjärvi 12 km
From Lake Pitsusjärvi the actual Nordkalott Trail turns eastward and climbs over Lovttokielas. The trail passes between two small lakes and continues along the banks of the River Kopmajoki to Lake Somasjärvi. Goapmajohka (so called Kopmajoki) open wilderness hut is on the shore of the River Kopmajoki. In Finland the trail is marked with 40 cm high brown bricks, but after crossing the border into Norway the trail is marked with stone signs. About 100 m above the River Rahpesjohka on the hillside just west of Lake Somasjärvi there is a hut owned by Statskog-Troms (statskog.no).
In Finland the trail is marked with 40 cm high brown bricks, but after crossing the border into Norway the trail is marked with stone signs. About 100 m above the River Rahpesjohka on the hillside just west of Lake Somasjärvi there is a hut owned by Statskog-Troms (statskog.no).
Nordkalott Trail to the west; Kilpisjärvi - Kuohkimajärvi 11 km
Hikers setting off in the direction of Abisko can start their trek by travelling through Malla Strict Nature Reserve to Kuohkimajärvi open wilderness hut. The starting point for the trail is at a parking area at the north end of the village of Kilpisjärvi just south of Lake Siilasjärvi. Address: Car park at the Malla Strict Nature Reserve, Käsivarrentie 14850, 99490 Enontekiö Coordinates: WGS84 lat: 69° 03.6357' lon: 20° 46.2851' ETRS-TM35FIN P: 7673727 I: 251943 When going into a strict nature reserve visitors should read the reserves rules and regulations.
You can also get onto Nordkalott Trail from the nature trail which starts off at the foot of Saana Fell. Nordkalott Trail turns off the nature trail before reaching the top of the fell. After crossing a road the trail comes to a parking area from where it continues west towards Malla Strict Nature Reserve.
From Kilpisjärvi you can get to Malla Strict Nature Reserve by the Malla Boat, which sails between Kilpisjärvi and Kolttalahti three times daily during the summer peak season if there are enough people on board. From Kolttalahti, it is a three-kilometer walk to Kuohkimajärvi and the point where Finland's, Sweden's and Norway's borders meet.
Nordkalott Trail to the west; Kuohkimajärvi - Pältsastugan 13 km
Nordkalott Trail crosses into Sweden at the point where Finland's, Sweden's and Norway's borders meet. The trail climbs a 100 m incline to the bare top of Tuipali and descends to the lush Pältsa Valley.
Ruotsin tuville ei tarvita avainta, sillä siellä on sesonkiaikana paikalla tuvanhoitaja, joka perii maksut ja opastaa. Ruotsissa tuvat omistaa Svenska Turistföreningen (svenskaturistforeningen.se, ruotsiksi). Ruotsin puolella vaeltaessa hyvä kartta on Fjällkartan BD1.
No key is needed to get into huts in Sweden, as each hut has an employee present during peak season. This person takes payment for accommodation and can offer information to visitors. Huts in Sweden are owned by Svenska Turistföreningen (svenskaturisforeningen.se). Maps which would be useful when hiking in Sweden along Nordkalott are for example Fjällkartan BD 1.