Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park Trails

Two women hiking in an open fell in a sunny day in autumn.

 

There are a total of 500 kilometres of marked summer trails in the Pallas-Yllästunturi area for short day trips and longer hikes. Winter go by skis, on foot, on snowshoes or on a moutain bike with wide tires. There are more than 500 kilometres of maintained ski tracks and 100 kilometres of winter hiking trails in the national park and in the surrounding areas. The network of Fell Lapland trails takes you from villages to fell tops and back to villages.

Recommended Trails

In Ylläs

In Pallas

In Hetta

 

How to read trail signs?

Mountain Biking Trails

In Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park biking is allowed on all official marked summer trails. The most suitable biking trails are located in Ylläs. Longest trail is Ylläs-Levi Mountain Biking Trail (50 km).

Biking is prohibited due to nature conservation or safety reasons at the Palkaskeron kierros Circle Trail (pdf 386 kt), the Varkaankuru Ravine (pdf 320 kt), the Tuomikuru Ravine (pdf 325 kt), the Pirunkuru Ravine (pdf 329 kt) and Keimiötunturi Fell. 

 
A mountain biker on a gravel path on top of a fell. Fells can be seen in the background and the sun is low in the sky. Vegetation in autumn colours can be seen in the foreground.
 

At the Yllästunturi Fell there are also snowshoeing trails that can also be used for winter mountain biking. Please note that winter mountain biking is prohibited on the skiing trails!

More information about biking in the Ylläs Fell area can be found here (yllas.fi).

Mountain Bikers Rules

  • Considerate cyclists take account all other hikers.
  • Cyclist is faster and dodges others.
  • Controlled speed brings security to all.
  • We avoid lock braking and deviations from the trails.
  • We stay on mountain biking designated routes.
  • We follow the national park rules and the principles of litter-free hiking.
  • We enjoy nature and keep in mind also our responsibility.

Winter Walking and Biking Trails

Around Yllästunturi Fells there are 100 km marked winter trails. They are marked with blue-white signs. They are maintained for fatbikers, snow shoe walkers, hikers and dog walkers. Sled dog riding is not allowed on winter trails. Two dogs pulling a sled, a bike etc. is considered to be a dog sled.

In Hetta the snow shoe trail leads to the top of Jyppyrä Hill.

A smiling woman with a dog during the polar nigh are looking towards the camera. The woman is wearing snowshoes. A fell lit in red colours and snow-covered trees can be seen in the background.

Remember Snow shoe walking, walking or fatbiking is not allowed on skiing trails!

Skiing Trails

There are over 500 km of cross-country skiing trails in the area. The majority of these are maintained with machines. Skiing trails are marked with crosses on fells and mires and with blue ribbons or blue paint triangles on trees in forests. Skiing trails close to the villages of Äkäslompolo, Ylläsjärvi and Jerisjärvi, Pallastunturi Fell, Kyrö and Hetta village are suitable for both classical cross-country skiing and free style skiing. Some of the most remote trails which are so-called wilderness skiing trails are maintained only by snowmobiles. Local enterprises maintain the trails and have published maps of skiing trails in Aakenus, Muonio and Hetta. These maps are sold by local tourist services, visitor centres and nature centres.

Skiing Trail Maps 

A hand holding a mobile phone showing Excursionmap.fi. Open the map of Pallas-Yllästunturi in Excursionmap.fi.

Suggested Trips

Suggestions for Winter:

Half a Day: Visit one of the three Visitor Centres and go snow shoe walking the nearby winter trail.

1 Day: Make a snowshoe trip to fell tops.

2 Days: Take a ski trip from village to village in Ounastunturi, Pallastunturi, and Yllästunturi Fells.

3 Days: Take a winter photography holiday and capture northern lights, moonlit landscapes, and the fells with red winter clouds or snow-covered trees.

Suggestions for Spring:

Half a Day: Enjoy the spring sun on maintained ski trails.

1 Day: Take a ski trip to a fell hut, stopping for coffee and grilled sausages along the way.

2 Days: Go ice fishing and skiing on a frozen lake to enjoy the Arctic sun and fell sceneries. Visit the nature evenings organized at visitor centres.

3 Days: Rest and enjoy the services of cooperating partners in between trips to the fells. Try dog or reindeer sledge rides and horseback riding in the wilderness. A ski trek from a wilderness hut to another is a good option too.

Suggestions for Summer:

Half a Day: Hike a nature trail.

1 Day: Climb onto the fells and hike for a day carrying coffee and a packed meal with you. Enjoy the fresh air.

2 Days: Climb on a bike and cycle from village to village through the fells. Let local operators organize accommodation, delicious food, and luggage transportation for you.

3 Days: If hiking from a wilderness hut to another is not your cup of tea, make day trips to different destinations. Hike to Varkaankuru and Kiirunankieppi on the day one, in Teuravuoma on the next, and from Lake Pyhäjärvi to Aakenustunturi Fell on the third.

Suggestions for Autumn:

Half a Day: Visit the Fell Lapland Visitor Centre and Jyppyrä vantage point.

1 Day: Cross Lake Ounasjärvi on a boat and hike to Pyhäkero.

2 Days: Hike from Hetta to Ketomella and spend the night in between in Sioskuru or Pahakuru. Those who are fit enough will have time to hike onwards to Lake Vuontisjärvi in Ylikyrö via Hannukuru.

3 Days: Autumn is the best time for travelling from village to village. In addition to pleasant accommodation and excellent food, you will meet the locals and can enjoy the freedom of not having to carry any luggage with you.

Hetta–Jyppyrä
Trail Map

Pdf-file 4,5 Mb  (julkaisut.metsa.fi)

Pallastunturi Fell
Trail Map


Pdf-file 2.2 Mb  (julkaisut.metsa.fi)

Self-guided Tour: "From the Bothnian Bay to the High Fells of Arctic Lapland"

Pdf-file 570 KB (julkaisut.metsa.fi)