Kolari Hiking Trails

For national park rules, maps, and the staffed desk beside this line’s main start, use Yllästunturi Visitor Centre Kellokas on Luontoon.fi(1). The same Luontopalvelut entry is the clearest official hub before you leave the yard. Ylläs.fi, the area’s main visitor site, describes the free Meän elämää exhibition, logging museum corner, shop, and how trails roll out from the courtyard into Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park landscapes(2). Kolari is the home municipality for both Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi in Lapland, and press coverage of the renewed cross‑village link notes a joint Municipality of Kolari and Metsähallitus Luontopalvelut project with EU Maaseutu funds, durable surfacing built from crushed stone and steel‑grid duckboards, and a total budget estimate of 389 000 euros(3)(4). Kuukkeli’s on‑site report from the opening week highlights how the easy‑going corridor lets people wander along the gravel bed or peel upward onto the open fells when they want more climb(3). The trail is about 13.8 km as one point‑to‑point summer line from Yllästunturin luontokekus Kellokas, piha- ja pysäköintialue across the Tunturijärvi shoreline band to Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi. At the Kellokas end you pass Kellokas uusi kota and Yllästunturin luontokeskus Kellokas before the path drops toward Äkäslompolo services: Ylläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo mutterikota, Yläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo laavu, the Ylläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo village yard with Yläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo perhekota, and the resort address at Tunturintie 56. About 4.8 km into the walk the Tunturijärvi kota, Tunturijärven tulentekopaikka, and Tunturijärven laavun UUSI kuivakäymälä form the main mid‑route shelter ring beside the lake. Approaching Ylläsjärvi you reach Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi, länsirajan laavu roughly 12.3 km out, then Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi laavu and the Iso‑Ylläksentie services around Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi, gr8 Ylläs Bowling, Ski Ylläsjärvi frisbeegolfrata, Lapland Hotels Saagan kuntosali, and Lapland Hotels Saagan kylpylä. Read more on our pages for the kota, laavut, and resort stops when you plan meals or bookings. If you want a short side trip from the same parking, Varkaankurunpolku shares the Kellokas trailhead. The long Ylläs–Levi mountain biking corridor also begins from Kellokas on our map when you ride instead of walk. Ylläs.fi reminds hikers that junctions in the national park carry brown hiker pictograms and that the flagship walking spines add green markings, which helps when you thread this busy fell destination(5). Patikka.net’s open hut notes echo what maps show at Tunturijärvi kota: an eight‑sided log kota with a door, flue fireplace, outdoor fire pit, and a sauna‑kiosk partner business opened in the mid‑2010s beside the shelter yard(6).

Varkaankuru Trail is an easy, marked hike of about 3.4 km through Varkaankuru gorge in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, starting and finishing at Yllästunturi Visitor Centre Kellokas above Äkäslompolo. Kolari is the municipality, and Lapland frames the wider fell country. Metsähallitus manages the park; Luontoon.fi’s Kellokas hub(1) is the best place to confirm opening hours, services, and access. Metsähallitus has also explained why the route’s steel duckboards were renewed in 2023 and how the Varkaankuru restricted zone is meant to protect fragile grove vegetation(2). From Kellokas you pass Kellokas uusi kota and the main Kellokas yard parking. After a short stretch the path reaches Yläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo laavu and, farther on, Ylläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo mutterikota. About 1.6 km along, Varkaankurun kota sits in the heart of the gorge with a campfire site; dry toilets are available there so you can settle in for a break without hunting for separate facilities. The return leg climbs back through the western flank of the gorge toward Yllästunturin luontokeskus Kellokas. Much of the hollow is lush spruce–deciduous forest with a small stream, stone steps at the entry to the gorge, and viewpoints toward the little cascade. The popular summer hiking route shares Kellokas with the start of the Ylläs-Levi maastopyöräilyreitti, but Yle reports that on the Varkaankuru walking route itself cycling and pushing a bicycle are prohibited(3). Taipaleita’s hike write-up suggests hiking the ring clockwise through the hollow for a gentler climb on the duckboards, while the stone steps feel steeper if you approach from the other direction(4). If you want more altitude after the gorge, combining with an off-route climb toward Kellostapuli is a common extension described by independent hikers(4); that summit leg is not part of the marked Varkaankuru circuit.

For descriptions of Pirunkuru, fell wind and weather notes, and national park rules that apply on Kesänkitunturi, plan from the Pirunkurun ponnistus page on Luontoon.fi(1). The Pirunkurun ponnistus Trail is about 8.1 km as one loop from the Kesänkijärvi shore in Kolari, in Lapland on the Äkäslompolo side of the Ylläs visitor area, inside Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park. It shares the same green-marked start as Kesänkijärven kierros near Kesänkijärvi pysäköintialue and Kesänkijärvi pysäköintialue 2; the first couple of kilometres stay on wide, easy footing beside the lake, with Kesänkijärven veneenlaskupaikka and Kesänkijärvi kalastuspaikka close to Sahatie. Near Kesänkijärven laavu, Kesänkijärven uusi kota, and Kesänkijärven uusi kuivakäymälä, a branch climbs away from the gentle lake circuit toward Pirunkuru. Kesänkijärvi itä esteetön laituri sits at the east end of the lake for a swim stop with open water and fell views. Past the shore woods the character changes: the path enters Pirunkuru, the steep rocky ravine on the flank of Kesänkitunturi Fell, with loose stone underfoot where Luontoon.fi warns walkers to work hard and pause often(1). Taipaleita logged roughly 280 m of ascent and 270 m of descent over a counter-clockwise day, about three hours on foot, with green markings and orange-capped posts(2). Metsien olento highlights how impressive the boulder-filled ravine feels and how carefully to place feet on shifting rocks(4). After the saddle between Kesänki’s tops, gravelled fell slopes lead to Tahkokuru kota with Tahkokuru tulentekopaikka, a woodshed, and Tahkokuru kuivakäymälä nearby—the main sheltered break before the downhill returns through forest and a short gravel road stretch back toward Sahatie. The same trailhead links you into longer rings: Kesänkijärven kierros keeps to the lake if you want a shorter outing, while Kukastunturin kierros and Kukastunturin polkaisu continue across the Äkäslompolo network with overlapping segments—expect occasional mountain bikers only where biking is allowed, because Pirunkuru itself is hiking-only(3). In the Woods, Dear mentions interpretive boards about stars and aurora along the climb, a tradition also referenced under the older Tähtipolku name, and seasonal opening hours for the Kesängin Keidas café near the east-shore laituri when you need a counter-service break(3). Taipaleita and Metsien olento both praise the wide views over Kesänkijärvi, Kellostapuli, and Ylläs once you leave the treeline, and the easy contrast between lake shore, ravine, and open fell(2)(4).

Pikkulaen reitti is about 3 km on our map as a one-way climb toward the small summit of Pikkulaki in Kolari, Lapland, in the Ylläs fell landscape west of Iso-Ylläs. For summer trail maps, brown-and-green hiker waymarks, and ideas for longer outings nearby, start with Visit Ylläs(1). Taipaleita describes a July 2023 walk on the same path under the name Pikkulaki: duckboards across wet ground, a forest climb that steepens after you pass beneath Maisematie (Scenic Road), scree on the open top, views to Iso-Ylläs and—on a clear day—the Hannukainen mine headframe on the horizon, and markers that combine orange-topped posts with occasional blue hanging discs(2). If your day also includes Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park trails, review Metsähallitus rules for marked routes, restricted zones and fireplaces on Luontoon.fi(3). The route feels like a compact day hike even though the mapped segment is short: most people walk up and back on the same line, which fits well with Visit Ylläs guidance to carry extra layers and check conditions before heading onto the fells(1). Taipaleita allowed about three hours for their outing including summit time and photographs(2). On the ground the character is mostly easy forest walking with a noticeably steeper step through a small gorge after Maisematie, then breezy rock underfoot on Pikkulaki itself(2). The line joins the dense Ylläs outdoor network that also appears on our map: it crosses or touches the same landscape as Ylläs Bike Park - Full Enduro and Ylläs kesäretkeilyreitit kansallispuiston ulkopuolella, and it sits in the same recreational world as the long Luontokeskus-Tunturijärvi-Ylläs Ski Resort, Ylläsjärvi -kesäreitti toward Kellokas and Ylläsjärvi village services. Treat those as separate itineraries with their own maps even when you hop between trailheads by taxi or bike(1).

The Keskisenlaki circuit trail is about 10.3 km as one continuous hiking and mountain-biking line between the Äkäslompolo side of Ylläs and the Ylläsjärvi side, in Kolari in Lapland along the margin of Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park. For GPX, rules, closures, and the maintained description of this trail, use the Keskisenlaen kierros page on Luontoon.fi(1). The route crosses the Varkaankuru stream gorge, climbs and traverses the flank of Keskisenlaki with open views toward Ylläsjärvi and nearby fells, then drops toward village services at Ylläsjärvi. About 2.8 km along the line you pass Ylläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo mutterikota, a short detour from the main tread. In Varkaankuru you reach Varkaankuru tulentekopaikka, Varkaankurun kota, and dry toilets a few hundred metres apart—natural breaks before the steeper work begins(2)(3). This segment overlaps Varkaankurunpolku, so day hikers coming from Kellokas or Ihmisen ringi often share the narrow tread with bikes(3)(4). Further south along Keskisenlaki the terrain opens; Tuomikurun kota, Tuomikurun tulentekopaikka, and Tuomikuru kuivakäymälä cluster near kilometre eight and mirror the Varkaankuru rest pattern, with a stream in the gorge bottom for filling bottles where conditions allow(3). The last kilometres approach Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi: you pass Lapland Hotels Saagan kuntosali and Lapland Hotels Saagan kylpylä at Iso-Ylläksentie, then Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi laavu, gr8 Ylläs Bowling, and Ski Ylläsjärvi frisbeegolfrata before finishing near Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi and the länsirajan laavu spur. Signs and orange paint marks are easy to follow, though Pallas-Ylläs Outdoors stresses tight corners, shared traffic, and the need to control speed on gravel serpentines and short road connections(3). Taipaleita’s clockwise walk from Ihmisen ringi in July 2023 took just under four hours with photo stops and noted roughly 324 m of ascent on their GPS loop, mostly gravel and short asphalt near ski infrastructure(2). Kävelystä ja elämästä describes rebuilding of boardwalks in Varkaankuru into metal-and-wood structures during 2022—worth checking recent photos if you liked older wooden duckboards(4).

The Varkaankuru kota challenging accessible trail is a short, crushed-gravel connection of about 1.1 km one way in Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park, between Äkäslompolo in Kolari and the day-use yard at Varkaankurun kota. Lapland’s open fells form the backdrop. For the latest route grading, seasonal conditions, and national park rules, check the Luontoon.fi trail page(1) that Metsähallitus maintains. Yllas.fi’s Esteetön Ylläs overview adds practical reminders about assistants on steeper barrier-free paths in the area(2). From the trailhead near Ylläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo you look toward the rocky, largely treeless mass of Yllästunturi while the tread crosses varied taiga forest toward Varkaankuru(1). Early on you pass Yläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo laavu roughly a hundred metres in—a simple lean-to for a quick pause—and a little farther Ylläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo mutterikota, a hex kota that often works well as a windbreak on breezy days. The destination cluster gathers around Varkaankurun kota on the shore of Varkaanlampi, together with Varkaankuru tulentekopaikka and Varkaankuru kuivakäymälä a few steps away; dry toilets serve the yard so you are not hunting facilities halfway through the outing. Luontoon.fi describes the trail as demanding among accessible routes: the out-and-back alignment gains noticeable height, spring meltwater can cut ruts across the tread, and occasional stones protruding from the surface make progress harder with wheeled mobility devices—many visitors therefore plan on an assistant and a nature-suitable aid(1). The same corridor ties into longer summer walking and biking networks around Ylläs—Varkaankurunpolku loop from Kellokas, Ylläs summer hiking route 1, Kesäretkeilyreitti 2, and the Ylläs–Levi MTB corridor all touch many of the same service points if you want a longer day after this short approach.

The Summer hiking trail to Yllästunturi summit is about 2.6 km one way as a point-to-point climb on the Ylläsjärvi side of the fell in Kolari, Lapland. Luontoon.fi groups it with other Ylläs summer hiking routes that lie outside Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park and explains how those routes relate to the national park network(1). Visit Ylläs highlights signposted summer walking across the fells, varied terrain, and the mix of easy and more demanding day hikes around Ylläs(2). The trail starts in the Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi service area and climbs toward the open fell: early on you pass Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi, länsirajan laavu and Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi laavu within the first few hundred metres, handy for a break before the steeper uphill. The route threads past resort buildings and gr8 Ylläs Bowling, then reaches the Lapland Hotels Saagan kuntosali and Lapland Hotels Saagan kylpylä sector farther along the climb—useful landmarks if you are meeting someone or combining the walk with spa or gym visits. At the fell top, the same resort operates the gondola to 719 m; cabins take about seven minutes, some cabins are dog-friendly, and Restaurant Gondol and YlläsKammi sit on the summit(3). Matkablogi Mangostania describes a demanding on-foot ascent of Yllästunturi from another starting point and notes how ski-slope infrastructure, masts, and open rock change the feel of the summit compared with quieter backcountry fells—useful context for what a walk to the top here can look and feel like in summer(4). Terrain is typical western Lapland fell: forest and built-up resort edge at the foot, then increasingly open rock and slope toward the top. Weather can turn quickly even in summer; Visit Ylläs reminds visitors to dress for wind and cooler temperatures higher up(2). For a different loop from the same resort base, Tuomikurun kierros is a well-known signed round trip; near the summit area, Ylläksen historiapolku, vaativa esteetön reitti offers a short accessible history-themed loop, and other bike park and link trails cross the lower section—worth knowing if you are combining activities.

The Teurajärvi Telatie trail is about 17.4 km as one continuous hiking line in Kolari, western Lapland. It follows the historic Telatie, a duckboard-linked path around Suur-Teuravuoma that once connected the villages of Teurajärvi, Kurtakko, and Venejärvi. For the latest local notes on duckboard condition and village access, Kylien Kolari summarizes what walkers are seeing on the ground(1). The Finnish Heritage Agency describes the Kurtakko–Venejärvi corridor as a nationally significant built heritage reminder of sparsely settled Aapa Lapland travel from the late 1800s into the mid-1900s, including the 1878 imperial-funded project and later upkeep cycles(2). Day hikers and birders looking for a feel of the terrain, towers, and seasonal bird activity will find colour in Retkipaikka’s Teurajärvi outing report(3). The trail lies beside Teurajärvi in Europe’s largest aapa mire complex; the wider Teuravuoma–Kivijärvenvuoma ensemble is a Ramsar and Natura 2000 wetland complex with open fens, forested bogs, and strong bird habitat(4). From the Teurajärvi access side you quickly reach Telatie luontotorni, a compact nature tower suited to scanning the lake edge and mire fringe. About 5 km into the route, Telatie Saarijärven laavu and Telatie Saarijärvi polttopuusuoja kuivakäymälä form a natural rest cluster overlooking Saarijärvi—good for sandwiches, a fire, and a pause before deeper mire sections. Around 10 km, Särkilehto puusuoja kuivakäymälä and Särkilehdon vesikaivo sit together near Rantaherko laavu in the same recreational strip where the Ylläs ja Kolari moottorikelkkareitit line runs; treat crossings with care when snowmobile traffic is active. Farther along, Luontotorni is another lookout over wide mire and, in clear weather, toward the Ylläs skyline as described by visitors at the tower(3). Kurtakon kesänavetan laavu and Venejärven lähtöpaikan laavu bracket the Venejärvi trailhead area with shelters; dry toilets at Venejärven lähtöpaikan kuivakäymälä sit nearby. Jämäräoja tulipaikka and Jämäräoja Kuivakäymälä add a campfire and toilet pair toward the east before the route closes again at Särkilehdon laavu. Winter travellers share markings with Ylläs maastohiihtoladut near Rantaherko laavu; check local grooming and motor-traffic notices before choosing skis versus snowshoes. Kolari is an easy base in western Lapland: trains and Kittilä airport feed the valley, and snowmobile routes reach Teurajärvi in season(1).

The Olos–Ylläs hike is a long point-to-point marked summer hiking connection of about 43.9 km between the Olos area in western Lapland and the Ylläs village of Äkäslompolo in Kolari. It forms part of the wider Pallas–Ylläs summer hiking corridor that Metsähallitus maintains in and around Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park; for the full network description and rules, start from the Pallas–Ylläs hiking route entry on Luontoon.fi(1). The trailhead cluster at Kuusikonmaa, beside Kuusikonmaa autiotupa and its campfire and dry toilet, is a natural first-night or first-break area for people arriving from Olostunturi and Muonio. After the forest and fell transition, Pahtavaara’s campfire and dry toilet sit about 11 km from the start—useful if you are pacing a two-day walk. Around 19.5 km you reach Äkäsmyllyn pysäköintialue, a road-access parking area that also works as a drop-off or resupply point for the Äkässaivo area. The Äkässaivo kota, fireplace, and dry toilet sit where the Saivonkierros nature trail meets the long-distance line; the Äkässaivo trail article on Luontoon.fi(2) describes the sacred Seitapahta rock and Äkässaivo canyon lake beside the trail, and notes a link from Saivonkierros onto the Pallas–Ylläs summer hiking route. Kutujärvi autiotupa and its dry toilet (about 32.5 km) are a strong wilderness-hut stop before the final pull into Äkäslompolo. The route finishes among village services: Navettagalleria hiihtomaa, Äkäslompolon uimaranta and Äkäslompolon lintutorni, Lapland Hotels Äkäshotelli/Pirtukirkko, and the Kotamaja kota and latukahvila near the Ylläs fell tracks—handy for food and indoor warmth after a long stage. Kolari is the municipality for the Ylläs side; the landscape is classic western Lapland fell and forest. Ylläs.fi’s hiking overview explains brown hiker waymarks at junctions and green priority hiking markers on main walking connections, and reminds visitors to follow Metsähallitus outdoor etiquette in the national park(3). For a personal journal of a longer Hetta–Pallas–Olos tour that uses the same broad trail system, Outdoor Oksanen’s four-day write-up is worth reading for pacing and hut culture in the region(4). Weather and insects can change quickly in summer; carry windproof layers and enough water for long forest stages.

Metsähallitus lists this demanding accessible shore walk under Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park on Luontoon.fi(1), with the practical planning tone visitors expect from the national park service. Ylläs.fi introduces accessible summer routes around the fells and singles out the roughly 3.4 km return path to Kesänkijärven laavu as one of the country’s unusually long accessible trails, with a scenic floating pier facing Yllästunturi’s Kellostapuli profile(2). Retkipaikka ran Jonna Saari’s late-summer account of the same outing: a wide gravel tread along Lake Kesänkijärvi, forest on the inland side and open water on the other, reindeer and Siberian jays along the way, and a calm mirror surface that reflects Kesänkitunturi and Kellostapuli until you reach the east end(3). The trail is about 1.7 km one way. Most people start from Kesänkijärvi pysäköintialue or Kesänkijärvi pysäköintialue 2 on Sahatie near Äkäslompolo and roll or walk straight into lakeshore scenery. Within the first minutes you pass Kesänkijärven veneenlaskupaikka and Kesänkijärvi kalastuspaikka on Sahatie. The eastern turnaround clusters accessible services: Kesänkijärvi itä esteetön laituri reaches over the water, Kesänkijärven uusi kota and Kesänkijärven laavu offer wind shelter and a place to pause, and Kesänkijärven uusi kuivakäymälä sits a few steps away. A seasonal café operates at this corner as well—check opening hours before you rely on it(3). Dry toilets serve the area so you can plan a slow break without hunting for facilities. Because Metsähallitus classifies the route as vaativa esteetön—demanding accessible—expect short pitches and cross-slopes that feel harder than a perfectly flat promenade(1). Ylläs.fi recommends taking an assistant the first time you try any accessible trail in the landscape, even when most of the tread is easy(2). Hikers who do not need full accessibility often continue from the east end toward Pirunkurun ponnistus, Kesäretkeilyreitit, or Kukastunturi round trail for a bigger day in the same trail network(3). The lake lies in Kolari municipality in Lapland. Kolari anchors the visit administratively, while Äkäslompolo village is the everyday gateway for parking and services.

The Lake Kesänki circuit trail is about 5.6 km as an easy circular walk around Lake Kesänki in Kolari in Lapland, on the Äkäslompolo side of the Ylläs visitor area, inside Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park. For map downloads, route descriptions, and national park rules, plan from the Kesänkijärven kierros page on Luontoon.fi(1). Most of the loop follows a wide, gravelled forest track with modest height difference; boardwalk sections cross mires and wet ground toward the east and north sides of the lake(2). Along the north shore you stay within a short distance of the water, with informal pull-offs toward the beach; Kellostapuli and Kesänkitunturi frame the view to the south and east. Interpretive boards describe local plants and habitats, similar to other nature trails in the park(2). About three kilometres into the loop you reach the east shore service cluster: Kesänkijärven laavu, Kesänkijärven uusi kota, and dry toilets, plus Kesänkijärvi itä esteetön laituri facing open lake and fell views. Kesänkijärvi kalastuspaikka and Kesänkijärven veneenlaskupaikka sit near Sahatie closer to the car parks. Many families walk only the first leg from Kesänkijärvi pysäköintialue or Kesänkijärvi pysäköintialue 2 toward Kotamaja latukahvila before turning back; completing the full ring adds duckboards, a stream crossing, and a short roadside walk along Kesänkijärventie where you should watch for traffic(2). At a signed junction early on, the same green-marked start is shared with Pirunkurun ponnistus; staying on the lake loop keeps the circuit shorter and gentler than that fell ascent option(2). Later, the route meets Kukastunturin kierros, a roughly twenty-kilometre hiking ring through Äkäslompolo toward Äkäshotelli(2). Mountain bikers use the overlapping Kukastunturin polkaisu line on shared sections—expect occasional bikes where the networks join. Retkipaikka notes how popular the trail is and that calm seekers may prefer early morning or evening starts(2). JOKIVARRESTA describes mid-morning crowding near Kesängin keidas and reminds readers that, on reindeer herding land, dogs must stay leashed year-round if you continue beyond a dog park detour(3).

Keskisenlaen kierros (2021) is a summer hiking and mountain-biking loop on the Ylläs massif near Kolari in Lapland. Metsähallitus lists the route on Luontoon.fi as part of the Pallas–Yllästunturi area trail network(1). Pallas-Ylläs Outdoors describes it as a demanding scenic loop where elevation change matters more than short technical rock steps, with resurfacing work on parts of the Tuomikuru section in summer 2020(2). Kolari is the municipality; the trail sits in the Ylläs–Äkäslompolo outdoor belt with views toward Ylläsjärvi and the surrounding fells. The loop is about 8.7 km on the map as one continuous ring. Early along the ring you pass Varkaankuru tulentekopaikka, Varkaankurun kota, and the Varkaankuru kuivakäymälä—good places to pause before the path climbs toward the Kellostapulinkuru side of the circuit. Around the midpoint, Tuomikuru kota, Tuomikurun tulentekopaikka, and Tuomikuru kuivakäymälä form the main rest cluster; Taipaleita notes that Tuomikurun kierros shares the same short section here, so expect other hikers(3). The climb continues along the flank of Keskisenlaki with open views; the route then drops toward Ylläsjärvi and climbs again before returning toward Varkaankuru. Near the end you pass Ylläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo mutterikota before closing the loop. Taipaleita’s on-foot report from Äkäslompolo highlights orange paint blazes and orange-topped posts, clockwise travel as the signed preference, and roughly three to four hours of walking for their longer GPS trace—useful context for pacing and marking even though their start was from Ihmisen rinki rather than Kellokas(3). Visit Ylläs reminds readers that the wider Varkaankuru valley is a seasonal restriction zone where leaving the marked routes is prohibited between 1 May and 30 November to protect the brook-side forest; stay on the marked path through that section(4). For shared-use etiquette, Pallas-Ylläs Outdoors stresses yielding and controlled speed where the trail is narrow and popular with cyclists(2). The route connects logically to Varkaankurunpolku from Kellokas and to the long Kesäretkeilyreitti 1 network for longer days.

Lukkarinvainio Nature Trail is about 3.7 km as a loop on Kolarinsaari in Kolari, winding through pine forest, riverside birch, and open mire with duckboard crossings. Kolari sits in Lapland north of the Arctic Circle; the route stays on the village island between the Torniojoki arm and quieter backchannels, with only small elevation changes along the way. For the latest on municipal sports facilities, outdoor routes, and who maintains tracks in the area, start with the City of Kolari’s sports and outdoor facilities information(1). Kylien Kolari lists the official Kolarin uimaranta beach on the island with changing rooms, a dry toilet, and a grill shelter at Siltatie 6—handy if you combine a swim with your walk(2). Taipaleita’s on-the-ground account describes orange-topped marking posts, short side paths toward the water, views toward Saaripudas, and Hirsipalon nuotiopaikka campfire roughly a kilometre from the trailhead(3). Along the loop you pass near Kolarin uimaranta, Myllyojan puiston ulkokuntosali outdoor fitness equipment, and the sports facilities around Kolarin lukion liikuntasali, Kolarin kirkonkylän pienkenttä, and Kolarin nuorisoseuran liikuntasali—so the nature trail sits in the same island recreation area as swimming, strength stations, and ball fields. Near the bridge, Saaren latu ski tracks overlap the line in winter, and the Kolarin kylälatu, Teuran lenkki, Melakangas running network shares the island’s paths for a longer outing. After your walk, the Kolarinsaaren kulttuuripolku cultural trail starts on the west side of Siltatie if you want a different short loop on the same visit(3).

For trail etiquette, brown and green visitor-route poles, and how day walks sit inside the wider Pallas-Yllästunturi landscape, Visit Ylläs pulls the regional picture together on its hiking pages(1). Ylläsjärven kyläkierros is a short, easy lakeshore walk of about 2.7 km around Ylläsjärvi village in Kolari, Lapland. It is not a closed loop. The path runs toward the Niementie shore area where Ylläsjärven lähiliikunta- ja toimintapuisto, Ylläsjärven uimaranta, and Ylläsjärvi laavu sit together—natural stops for a swim, a lean-to picnic, and playground or pump-track time in summer. The Ylläsjärven kyläyhdistys village pages add practical notes on life by the lake, from the sports park to seasonal village events(2). Kylien Kolari presents Ylläsjärvi as the growing southern gateway village to Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, with tourism roots reaching back to the 1930s(3). When you want to compare this short village segment with longer marked summer walks outside the park boundary, Luontoon.fi lists the Ylläs kesäretkeilyreitit network that links villages and shores across the destination(4). Along the same shore band, our data shows shared geometry with popular bike circuits such as Ylläslompolon kierros and Ylläsjärven kierros, and with the long Ylläs kesäretkeilyreitit kansallispuiston ulkopuolella hiking collection—useful if you extend onto wheels or step onto a longer marked walk after warming up in the village. Snowmobile and ski route networks also cross nearby; read junction signs each season and follow the mode shown on the ground. Kolari lies in Lapland. The names Kolari and Lapland appear here in plain form so city and region pages link cleanly.

The walk lies in Kolari on the Ylläsjärvi side of Ylläs Fell in Lapland. Metsähallitus describes Tuomikurun kierros on Luontoon.fi as a moderate summer hiking circuit on Ylläs; the same page explains that you can start from the Ylläs summit by gondola and then join the main marked route, which adds roughly two kilometres compared with beginning at the Ylläsjärvi trailhead(1). The upper connector segment for that choice is about 1.6 km and links the fell-top area to the main circuit — the link hikers use when they pick a summit start instead of walking the full climb from the valley. Check current gondola hours, wind closures, and ticket options with Visit Ylläs before you plan a summit start — summer operation is tied to bike-park season and winter operation follows the ski resort calendar(3). Taipaleita’s on-the-ground report on the main Tuomikurun kierros still helps picture what you are walking toward: the approach from Ylläsjärvi mixes wide, partly gravelled tread with short stretches shared cautiously with mountain bikers, while the Tuomikuru gorge section itself is closed to cycling and narrows to rooty tread, duckboards, and stone steps above a small stream(2). Orange paint marks and orange-capped posts lead the main ring past nature boards toward Tuomikuru kota at treeline; Metsähallitus lists a dry toilet and a fireplace as separate service points for that kota cluster(1). From the summit you are on the same fell-top trail fabric as Kesäretkeilyreitti Yllästunturin huipulle, near Ylläs Bike Park - Top Red and Top Blue and a short walk from Ylläksen historiapolku, vaativa esteetön reitti. The long Ylläs maastopyöräilyreitit kansallispuiston ulkopuolella line passes Tuomikuru kota, Tuomikurun tulentekopaikka, and Tuomikuru kuivakäymälä along the Tuomikuru area when you approach from the bike network, which is why those shelters show up beside this hike in resort mapping even though this researched line is only the summit connector.

The Kukastunturi round trail is about 20 km as one continuous loop in Äkäslompolo, Kolari, on the edge of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. It climbs Kukastunturi (about 477 m) and returns through forest, bogs, and gorge scenery, sharing tread with other users in a busy Ylläs trail network. For permits, closures, and the official route sheet, start with Metsähallitus, Parks & Wildlife Finland on Luontoon.fi(1). The regional Pallas-Ylläs Outdoors pages describe how blue-topped posts and junction signs guide you along the lake shore toward Karila, then up roughly 4 km of climb where the grade steepens just below the treeline, and how the exposed fell shoulder catches wind and drifted snow in winter(2). In the Woods, Dear gives a plain-language overview of the shorter Karila–summit out-and-back versus the full loop, and notes the wind-sculpted pine, summit bench, and brown park sign at the top(3). From the Äkäslompolo end you pass Äkäslompolon uimaranta and Äkäslompolon lintutorni before the line swings toward Karilan Navettagalleria hiihtomaa; many people stage cars at Karila for the quick summit trip, while the longer circuit also threads past Lapland Hotels Äkäshotelli/Pirtukirkko later on. After a long forest and mire climb, about 8.3 km into the loop you reach the Kotamaja cluster: Kotamaja latukahvila for coffee and meals when open, Kotamaja kota, and a dry toilet at Kotamaja kuivakäymälä—Matkalla Missä Milloinkin remembers soup lunches and pastries there on an autumn round(4). Kävelystä ja elämästä hiked clockwise from Karila, rested in the wind on the plateau, and noted how older duckboard crossings toward Kotamaja have given way to wider, graveled crossings in places(5). Beyond Kotamaja the circuit works along Hangaskuru puolikota and Hangaskuru kuivakäymälä about 11 km from the start: a lean-to and toilet between mire and forest, handy if you want a break before Tahkokuru. Near 12.6 km the route passes close to Tahkokuru tulentekopaikka, Tahkokuru kota, and Tahkokuru kuivakäymälä (slightly off the main line but easy to visit if you have time). The later leg eases along forest roads and mire edges toward Kesänkijärvi pysäköintialue and Kesänkijärvi pysäköintialue 2, then drops back toward Äkäshotellin kuntosali and the village shore. The same corridor is part of the long Ylläs–Levi summer trail and the Ylläs–Levi mountain bike route in places; lighter-fatbike and ski traffic can be heavy, so keep to the marked track and yield at ski-track crossings(2)(5). Matkalla Missä Milloinkin found the day quiet for hikers despite the loop’s popularity with cyclists(4). The trail sits in Lapland in Finland’s northwest. Kolari is the home municipality of Äkäslompolo. Read more on our pages for Kotamaja latukahvila, Hangaskuru puolikota, and Tahkokuru kota when you want hut or fire-ring specifics.

Ylläs summer hiking trails outside the national park is a long marked hiking network of about 84.5 km on the Ylläs fells in Kolari, Lapland, linking forest, village, and fell scenery outside Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park while staying close to its services. Metsähallitus lists this corridor on Luontoon.fi as the official summer hiking entry for the area outside the park boundary(1). For trail etiquette, seasonal tips, and examples of shorter loops you can stitch into a longer tour (such as Tuomikuru and connections near Kellokas), Ylläs.fi’s hiking and trekking article is a practical companion(2). The line on our map runs as a single continuous path from the Tunturijärvi shore area toward Äkäslompolo, past Yllästunturin luontokeskus Kellokas and across to Ylläsjärvi, with shelters and campfire sites spaced for multi-day use. About 10 km from the start you reach Tunturijärven tulentekopaikka, Tunturijärvi kota, and the renewed dry toilet at Tunturijärven laavu—good early stops before the route swings toward Äkäslompolo. In Äkäslompolo the trail passes Äkäslompolon lintutorni and Äkäslompolon uimaranta, then continues toward Kellokas: Yllästunturin luontokeskus Kellokas and its parking area are natural hubs for information, and nearby you find Kellokas uusi kota, Ylläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo laavu, and the Varkaankuru rest area with Varkaankurun kota and Varkaankuru tulentekopaikka. Taipaleita’s Varkaankurunpolku report adds useful detail on boardwalks and pacing through the gorge near Kellokas(3). On the Ylläsjärvi side the route serves Aurinkotupa laavu, Tuomikurun kota with Tuomikurun tulentekopaikka, Kahvikeitaan laavu, Ylläsjärvi laavu, and beaches such as Ylläsjärven uimaranta before finishing near Ylläslompolon lintutorni. Kolari sits in Finnish Lapland; the fell landscape here is a major draw for multi-day hikers and day visitors alike. Junctions along the Ylläs network use brown waymarks with a hiker symbol; priority hiking connections add green waymarks with a walker or cone symbol(2). Everyone using the maintained Ylläs trail network is expected to contribute via the visitor trail fee, which helps fund grooming and upkeep across seasons(4). Weather on the fells can change quickly even in summer; pack windproof layers and water for long stages.

The Tunturit viewpoint accessible trail is a very short loop of about 100 metres behind Yllästunturin luontokeskus Kellokas in Kolari, Lapland, on the edge of the Pallas-Yllästunturi national park access network. For opening hours, exhibitions, and up-to-date national park guidance, use the visitor centre service page on Luontoon.fi(1). Ylläs.fi describes this as one of the area’s shortest and easiest accessible paths: a wide route to the mire edge with open views toward Kesänki and Ylläs, and suggests combining it with the centre’s indoor exhibitions(2). Visit Finland’s Kellokas overview notes that the visitor centre itself is fully accessible and a family-friendly place to start before walking out into the yard, where marked routes begin(3). You begin from the Kellokas courtyard and parking area beside Yllästunturin luontokekus Kellokas, piha- ja pysäköintialue. The outdoor loop is level, short, and designed for wheelchairs, rollators, and strollers on a wide tread; Ylläs.fi still recommends an assistant for a first visit, because short ramps or slope changes can feel harder alone(2). Kellokas uusi kota stands near the yard—handy if you are pairing the walk with a break at the kota. From the same hub you can continue onto longer hiking and cycling corridors when you need more distance: Varkaankurunpolku is the most obvious walking extension that shares the visitor centre end, and cyclists can link into the long Ylläs-Levi maastopyöräilyreitti from the same visitor-centre complex when they want a big backcountry day. Inside Kellokas, Metsähallitus runs the free “Meän elämää” nature and culture exhibition plus changing art shows and the Savotta logging museum—worth the time either before or after the outdoor loop(1)(3). The café and shop add practical services for maps and local products. Check Luontoon.fi before travel if the centre has special hours around holidays.

The Tuomikuru loop is about 5.9 km of hiking in Kolari in Lapland, starting and finishing at the Ylläsjärvi side of Ylläs Ski Resort inside Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park. Kolari hosts the Ylläs villages, and this walk climbs the northwest flank of Ylläs before dropping through Tuomikuru gorge back toward the resort. For maps, national park rules, and the formal route description, plan from the Tuomikurun kierros page on Luontoon.fi(1). Ylläs.fi highlights the trail as a moderately demanding family hike of just over six kilometres and about two hours, with a wide easy path up to the rest point, then a narrower, rougher descent beside the stream through the leafy grove(2). Luontopolkumies describes the same walk on Retkipaikka in vivid detail: a broad, gravelled start that can overlap mountain bike traffic, then orange-topped posts and green arrow junction signs once the climb bites; interpretive boards along the way cover wildlife quirks and geology, including lieveuomas—shallow hollows along the fell flank(3). The highest point is about 407 metres shortly before Tuomikuru kota; on clearer days the open view south and east toward Lake Ylläsjärvi is striking, and Aakenustunturi can appear far to the northeast(3). From the resort edge you soon pass Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi laavu. The trail then climbs toward Kahvikeitaan laavu before reaching Tuomikuru kota and Tuomikurun tulentekopaikka, where you can pause at the fire ring and seating overlooking the eastern skyline(2)(3). Dry toilets sit beside the kota. The return leg follows Tuomikuru downstream through spruce and deciduous forest with ferny ground, metal grate walkways over wet ground, and short bridges—Luontopolkumies notes a bouncy grid bridge over Tuomikurun oja before the path widens again(3). Near the finish the broad track passes Latukahvila Kahvikeidas at Kahvikeitaan laavu, a popular coffee stop, and skirts Lapland Hotels Saagan buildings before closing on the lifts(2)(3). The signed line shares its first minutes with Kesäretkeilyreitti Yllästunturin huipulle toward the summit summer trail, and the lower slopes are also used by the Ylläs–Levi mountain biking route, so stay alert where wheels and boots meet(3). A separate YouTube Short titled Tuomikurun kierros gives a quick visual overview of the same national park walk.

The Ylläs History Trail, demanding accessible route, is a short loop of about 0.6 km on the summit of Yllästunturi in Kolari, Lapland. Metsähallitus lists it on Luontoon.fi as a demanding accessible trail in the Pallas-Yllästunturi destination area(1). You reach the summit by gondola from Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi in summer; Ylläs.fi notes that the gondola follows Bike Park opening hours and that the History Trail on the top is accessible with a wheelchair, though stones on the surface can make parts of the travel taxing, so taking an assistant is recommended(2)(5). On a clear day the view from the fell stretches wide across the Ylläs landscape and, in the best weather, toward the Pallas fells(2). This is a summit interpretive loop rather than a backcountry hike: combine it with the same summer hiking connections that use the Ylläsjärvi side of the fell—for example the marked summer hiking trail to the Yllästunturi summit and the wider Ylläs summer hiking route network outside the national park boundary, which share the same outdoor hub as the bike and ski resort infrastructure(3). The area’s trail marking system uses brown direction signs at junctions and, on main routes, green visitor icons where the best routes are highlighted(3). Because the lower and upper gondola stations can be snow-covered in winter, movement on foot is often difficult off-season; summer is the practical season for this accessible summit loop(2). For first-time visitors to accessible trails in the area, Ylläs.fi suggests considering an assistant for steep ramps and ramps at the resort as well(2).

The trail is about 19.6 km point-to-point across the Ylläs–Äkäslompolo–Ylläsjärvi recreation area in Kolari, Finnish Lapland. Luontoon.fi groups the numbered Ylläs summer hiking routes that run outside strict national-park boundaries with other maintained connections in the landscape; check that trail page for Metsähallitus updates before you go(1). Visit Ylläs collects practical, family-oriented descriptions of the lake loops and gully walks you meet along this line, with links from kartta.yllas.fi to parking and collection routes(2). Most people start near Ylläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo, pass Yläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo laavu almost at once, and reach the Kellokas cluster about 2 km in: Yllästunturin luontokeskus Kellokas, Kellokas uusi kota, and the Yllästunturin luontokekus Kellokas, piha- ja pysäköintialue if you prefer to begin from the nature-centre parking area. The open Ylläs Ski Resort Äkäslompolo mutterikota sits a little farther along the resort fringe. Between roughly 6 km and 6.1 km the route threads Varkaankuru, where Varkaankuru tulentekopaikka, Varkaankurun kota, and Varkaankuru kuivakäymälä sit together—an easy half-day break in leafy birch country that overlaps the shorter Varkaankurunpolku circuit from Kellokas. Visit Ylläs reminds travellers that the whole Varkaankuru restriction zone allows travel only on marked routes from 1 May to 30 November, without camping off the trail(2). From about 12.3 km the Kesänkijärvi shore opens up: Kesänkijärvi itä esteetön laituri, then Kesänkijärven uusi kota and Kesänkijärven laavu on the east shore. This shoreline is the same lake ring that Kesänkijärven kierros hikes in a shorter loop from Sahatie parking; Retkipaikka describes the northern shore as wide, gravel-surfaced walking with bridges over Varkaanoja before the long duckboards across Hormistonjänkä(4). After Tuomikuru kota, Tuomikurun tulentekopaikka, and Tuomikuru kuivakäymälä near 14 km, the line drops toward Ylläsjärvi village terrain, passing Ski Ylläsjärvi frisbeegolfrata and finishing near Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi, Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi laavu, and Kahvikeitaan laavu—a natural end point if you want a warm drink near Kahvikeitaan after a long day. The same landscape ties into Kesäretkeilyreitti 2, the Ylläs–Levi kesäreitti long connection, and Luontokeskus-Tunturijärvi-Ylläs Ski Resort, Ylläsjärvi -kesäreitti where signposting meets other trail networks(1). Junctions between summer walks use brown posts with a hiker pictogram, with the busiest touring routes picking up extra green-marked arms(3). Carry a wind shell even on warm days: weather on the open fells shifts quickly(3).

For how the Kahvikeitaan circuit fits family cycling and hiking from Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi, and for practical variants toward Ojanlatva, start with Visit Ylläs(1). Pallas-Ylläs Outdoors describes the maintained trail toward Kahvikeidas in winter: an easy-graded, marked path through forest, ski-trail crossings, and the possibility of snowmobiles sharing the corridor when construction or deliveries related to the wilderness café project is underway(2). Kahvikeitaan summer trail is about 3.8 km on our map from Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi to Kahvikeitaan laavu in Kolari, Lapland. It follows a wide, easy-treading outdoor route—summer materials describe it as groomed-track width familiar from the area’s trail network—through spruce forest toward the lean-to and wilderness café node. The outing suits families and anyone looking for a short forest trip without big climbs. Visit Ylläs rounds the family loop to just under four kilometres and notes you can return on a slightly lower line closer to the Tunturipalo area for variety(1). Right at the resort you pass services such as Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi, Ylläs Ski Resort Ylläsjärvi laavu, gr8 Ylläs Bowling, Ski Ylläsjärvi frisbeegolfrata, and Lapland Hotels Saagan facilities; read more on our pages where you plan to stop. About 3.8 km along the route you reach Kahvikeitaan laavu. When Latukahvila Kahvikeidas is open, the courtyard lean-to may be available as part of that service; outside opening hours you still have the forest shelter for a break and fire when rules allow(1)(3). Pallas-Ylläs Outdoors notes the lean-to is commercially managed and use can be paid by mobile phone in some situations(2). If you still have energy, Visit Ylläs suggests adding just over a kilometre each way to Ojanlatva päivätupa and Ojanlatva uusi laavu for your own snacks—those segments run along the edge of Pallas-Yllästunturi’s wilderness mire landscapes(1). A longer hiking loop that also touches Kahvikeitaan laavu from the same resort side is Tuomikurun kierros. Seikkailujen helmiä’s 2017 snowshoe story still gives a clear sense of how wide and well marked the forest approach to Kahvikeitaan laavu feels for families, even though the outing is written for winter(4). Dedicated YouTube searches did not surface a short overview clip clearly focused on this exact summer route as of this research; the Visit Ylläs guide and Pallas-Ylläs pages are the most reliable visual planning aids(1)(2).