Pelkosenniemi Hiking Trails

Soutaja summer trail is about 15 km as a point-to-point hiking and mountain-biking route along the east side of Lake Pyhäjärvi in Pelkosenniemi, Lapland, below the Soutaja fell and next to Pyhä–Luosto National Park. The outing is quieter than the busiest Pyhä gorge trails but still ties into the same resort and trail network. Metsähallitus publishes summer trail maps and national park guidance for Pyhä–Luosto on Luontoon.fi(1). Pelkosenniemi municipality lists Soutajatunturi among Pyhätunturi-area summer options and notes the about 15 km length, the kota along the route, and use for mountain biking in summer and snowshoeing in winter(2). Early on you pass Kairosmajan rantasaunan talviuintipaikka near Pyhäntie, then Tajukankaan kota about 1.7 km into the route—a good first shelter if you started from the resort side. Soutajan kota sits near the Soutaja fell at about 5.5 km: there is a Lappish hut, an open campfire area, a dry toilet, and a woodshed, with a short branch to the open fell top for wide views over the lake and surrounding fells(3). Independent trip reports describe the classic Soutajantie-to-kota section as marked with purple square symbols and wooden waymarks, with forest climb, rocky stretches, and optional extension toward Pyhäjärvi village(4). Further along, Lucky Ranchin kenttä and Pyhäjärven uimapaikka Pelkosenniemi offer activity and swimming context on the lake shore. The route shares trailhead logic with the shorter Aittakuru kesäreitti near Pyhä centre and links to lit ski and running tracks and to Pyhätunturi - Karhunjuomalampi kesäreitti in the same network—handy if you want to combine days in the Pyhä–Luosto area. Retkipaikka’s Soutaja article highlights reindeer encounters, gentler lower slopes for a wide range of fitness levels, and fewer crowds than Isokuru—worth reading for on-the-ground pacing notes even though the author’s distance varies with side trips(3). Check Luontoon.fi and Pelkosenniemi pages for closures, hunting seasons in surrounding forests, and national park rules before you set out(1)(2).

For route facts, seasonal access, and the wider trail network around the village, the Municipality of Pelkosenniemi(1) is the place to start. The same pages link to Retkikartta.fi and Infogis(3) for geometry and summer-only display rules(1)(2)(3). Kilpiaava hiking trail is about 3.1 km on our map as a summer hiking line through Kilpiaava—aapa mire country that their outdoor pages describe as Finland’s tenth largest such mire(1)—just outside the church village in Pelkosenniemi, Lapland. Pelkosenniemi sits in eastern Lapland; Pyhä-Luosto National Park and the Pyhä tourist centre are part of the same municipality, but this trail is its own local mire outing near everyday services rather than a fell traverse. The outing is a one-way summer route of about three kilometres in the direction of travel described on the municipal pages(1). Very soon along the line you reach Kilpiaavan laavu, one of two campfire areas the municipality mentions on the mire route(1); the lean-to makes a natural early stop. Farther on, where the route meets the lit fitness-track cluster beside the school grounds, Pururadan esteetön laavu offers an accessible lean-to and dry-toilet convenience tied to that track network(1). The same neighbourhood includes Valaistu pururata Pelkosenniemi and Pelkosenniemi DiscGolfPark, so families often combine a short mire walk with running-track laps or a disc round. In winter the ski track network reaches toward Kilpiaava’s bird tower and links toward other village loops described on the municipal winter map pages(1); summer geometry for this hiking line is what you see on our page. The municipality also points to a webcam overlooking mire life(4); its municipal homepage has carried service bulletins when that camera is offline, so it is worth checking their news if you plan around the feed(5).

For the wider Pyhä–Luosto summer hiking network, permits, and current access rules in Pyhä-Luosto National Park, rely on Luontoon.fi(1). Luosto.fi describes Luoston portti beside Santa's Hotel Aurora as the main gateway beside the ski hill parking, with information boards and a straightforward link to Luontokeskus Naava for questions(2). The trail is about 16 km as one point-to-point line in Pelkosenniemi, Lapland. It threads the national park between the Lampivaara service corner and Luosto village, staying mostly on forest and fell shoulder paths rather than aiming for the short Ukko-Luosto summit loop. Early on, Lampivaara latukahvila and the Lampivaara laavu and Lampivaaran laavu pair sit within about a kilometre of the line—this is the same service hub visitors use before or after the amethyst mine and winter café. Lampivaara talousvesikaivo is on the same spur for water. The scenery here sits inside the broader Pyhä–Luosto system that Luontoon.fi documents as a multi-day backbone between Luosto and Pyhä; this segment is the Ukko-Luosto–Lampivaara corridor many day hikers use when connecting village services to fell shelters(1). About 5 km into the route you reach the Ukko shelter cluster: Ukkokota, Ukko kota, Ukkolaavu, and Ukko laavu with Ukko käymälä in the same cluster. These are natural lunch stops on a longer day. Luosto.fi’s Ukko-Luosto pages focus on the separate circa 5–6.5 km summit circuit with 575 timber stairs and the clifftop viewing platform, and on branching to Tikkalaavu or Ukko-Luoston maisematupa(2). This 16 km line follows the same shelter geography without requiring that you complete every stair flight; if you want the full huippu circuit description, seasonal limits, and wind exposure notes, start from the Luosto.fi trail page(2). Past the Ukko shelters the path trends toward Luostonoja laavu and Luostonojan laavu around 11.5 km, then Tikkalaavu and Tikkalaavu käymälä near 13 km—useful breakpoints before the route drops toward resort buildings. Lapland Ski Resort Luosto and Luosto DiscGolfPark sit just off the line on Offpiste 4; Ahvenlampi keittokatos and Ahvenlammen keittokatos, plus Ahvenlampi käymälä, give a cooking shelter and dry toilet before the spa and beach zone. Ametistikylpylä on Luostontie and Luoston uimaranta on Aarnitie mark the Luosto end of a typical through hike along this geometry. Kävelystä ja elämästä’s Rykimäkurun reitti walk describes easy rolling forest between Lampivaara’s café and Pyhälampi, metal-grid bridging replacing older duckboards on wet lines, and the popularity of the track with mountain bikers—helpful background for how the Lampivaara end of the park feels underfoot even when your exact line differs slightly(4). Retkipaikka summarizes how Luosto-side parking and trailheads tie into longer Pelkosenniemi hikes and lists the shared Rykimäkero–Lampivaara parking option for routes that visit the mine(5). You can lengthen the day by stepping onto Rykimäkurun polku toward Pyhälampi and Rykimäkuru, follow Ukko Luoston pyöräreitti where bike rules allow, or join Pyhä-Luosto kesäreitti for the full Pyhä–Luosto traverse(1). The walk sits in Pelkosenniemi on the Luosto side of Pyhä-Luosto National Park, in Lapland.

Luosto Nature Hiking Trail (Luoston vaellusluontopolku) is a long marked hiking route of about 15.6 km through Pyhä-Luosto National Park on the Luosto side, in Pelkosenniemi, Lapland. Metsähallitus lists the trail on Luontoon.fi as the reference route page for this hike(1). Luosto.fi describes it as the longer day route that reaches the top of Ukko-Luosto fell (514 m) and passes centuries-old pine forest and open aapa mire landscapes before returning toward the Luosto visitor services(2). The Municipality of Pelkosenniemi introduces Pyhä-Luosto as one of Finland’s most visited national parks: ancient forest, fells, and deep river valleys in the southernmost fell chain(3). The Luosto resort cluster sits at the edge of that scenery, so you can stitch the hike with slopes, Lampivaara amethyst mine visits, and other marked summer routes such as Ukko Luoston retkeilyreitti or the short Ahvenlammen kesäreitti Luosto. From the visitor-centre side toward Luosto, the first kilometre passes near Lapland Ski Resort Luosto and Luosto DiscGolfPark, then Ahvenlampi keittokatos, Ahvenlammen keittokatos, and Ahvenlampi käymälä around Ahvenlampi. Roughly 10 km along, the Yrjölä corner groups Yrjölä tulentekopaikka, Yrjölä vuokratupa, and Yrjölä sauna; just beyond, Pyhänlatvan laavu and Pyhänlatva laavu sit in the Pyhänlatva lean-to area for a long lunch stop. Closer to the high ground you pass Ukko-Luoston maisematupa, then reach Tikkalaavu and Tikkalaavu käymälä toward the Luosto end of the hike. Dry toilets sit with several of those stops; use them as part of the area rather than separate destinations. The Ukko service cluster (Ukko kota, Ukkokota, Ukkolaavu, Ukko laavu) lies slightly aside from the busiest footpath at the Luosto end but belongs to the same day-hike network many people combine on foot. Independent walkers report a demanding day: noticeable climbs, rocky footing before the fell top, long duckboard crossings over wet mire where planks can be narrow and sunken after rain, and occasionally inconsistent distance figures on older field signs(4)(5). Waterproof boots and spare socks pay off when the mire sections stay wet. Luosto.fi reminds autumn visitors that hunting is part of life here and recommends bright clothing for visibility(2). For atmosphere and detail beyond the official listing, Marika / Matkalla Missä Milloinkin describes ruska hiking on the nature trail, wide views toward Ukko-Luosto from the bog, and how the long stair climb feels after crossing blockfield(5). Tiinan patikointi’s walk notes green-painted trail posts, a Pyhänlatva laavu stop shared with other counter-clockwise parties, and how duckboard condition drew comment even though the mire itself was memorable(4).

Kultakero summit route is about 1.2 km one way on the map, climbing from the Pyhätunturi ski area to the open top of Kultakero above Pelkosenniemi in Lapland, beside Pyhä-Luosto National Park. For current summer lift dates, ticket types (including one-way tickets that let you walk back down), bike transport on the PyhäExpress chairlift, and wind or thunderstorm closures, check the Pyhä Ski Resort summer scenic lift information(1). The Municipality of Pelkosenniemi outlines the free Huttu-Ukko art circle beside the upper lift station and what to expect when snow covers the sculptures in winter(2). The trail is a short, wide gravel shoulder beside resort infrastructure: fit walkers often hike up the maintenance road instead of riding the lift, and the same surface leads toward Huttu-Ukko once you step out by the top station(3). At the summit, Restaurant Tsokka, Pyhä Dreams summer bar, a panorama kota, disc golf, and downhill bike trails share the compact fell top, so midday can feel busy even though the walk itself is quick(1). Huttu-Ukko is a pocket art walk co-created by local artist Tapio Uusitalo and the resort, with carvings rooted in local story; a Retkipaikka article describes the gate, gravel tread, and how families pace the figures(3). From Kultakero you can branch into longer national park days. Pyhätunturi - Karhunjuomalampi kesäreitti meets the same summit neighbourhood and drops toward Karhunjuomalampi päivätupa, Karhunjuomalampi laituri, and the half-kota shelters around the pond before looping back through forest and fell shoulders(4). Aittakuru kesäreitti and Soutajan kesäreitti stay in the same trail mesh: Tajukankaan kota appears on both of those summer links, Soutajan kota and Pyhäjärven uimapaikka Pelkosenniemi reward a longer outing toward the lake, and Metsähallitus publishes park-wide visitor guidance on Luontoon.fi for Pyhä-Luosto National Park(5).

Rykimäkuru Trail is about 16.3 km as one line through Pyhä-Luosto National Park, from the Luosto resort side toward the Rykimäkuru gorge and Rykimäkero resting place in Pelkosenniemi, Lapland. Metsähallitus publishes this as a recommended hiking route on Luontoon.fi(1). Visit Pyhä-Luosto explains that Rykimäkuru is a striking fault-line gorge: unlike the ice-melt gorges common elsewhere in the park, this one formed along a bedrock fracture, with steep sides worth treating carefully at the edge(2). The trail is on the easier side of Luosto–Pyhä day hikes but still crosses forest, low ridges, and wetlands with maintenance typical of the park network. From the Luosto end you soon reach Luoston uimaranta for a swim on warm days, then climb toward Lampivaara where Lampivaara latukahvila sits next to the amethyst mine area — a favourite stop for coffee and famous pastries before you drop toward Pyhälampi. Around 7 km along the line, Pyhälammen päivätupa and the Pyhälampi and Pyhälammen laavut cluster offers a sheltered lunch break before the path crosses wetter ground toward Kuukkeli vuokratupa farther east. Nearing Rykimäkuru you pass Rykimäkurun laavu and Rykimäkuru laavu at the gorge rim; Rykimäkero kota and Rykimäkero tulipaikka cap the day at the Rykimäkero end, with a hand-pump well noted on the ground for water(3)(4). The same path mesh ties into longer Luosto networks: Ukko Luoston retkeilyreitti, Luoston valaistut kuntoradat, and Luoston valaistut ladut share segments when you are linking village facilities with winter-maintained exercise tracks. Kävelystä ja elämästä describes easy grades in places, refreshed bog crossings (including metal-grid decking letting plants grow through), and a counter-clockwise loop choice that keeps much of the Lampivaara–Pyhälampi leg gently downhill(3). Taipaleita notes red square route marks and a barrier-free approach from Rykimäkero parking up onto Rykimäkero itself, with a large kota and historic cache structures for groups(4). Pelkosenniemi municipality hosts part of this national park landscape. Lapland’s Pyhä-Luosto area is busy in summer and winter; for closures, hunting-season awareness, and grooming versus summer routing, lean on Luontoon.fi and Visit Pyhä-Luosto updates.

For national park rules, seasonal bulletins, and the wider Pyhä-Luosto trail network, Metsähallitus publishes the main hiking overview on Luontoon.fi(1). Pyhä.fi describes how marked hiking routes cross the park between Pyhä and Luosto and notes roughly 101 km of signed hiking trails in total, from short outings to multi-day walks(2). Luosto.fi’s description of the Luosto–Pyhä corridor names Porontahtoma lean-to as a rest spot and Kuukkeli rental hut as an overnight option along the same landscape link between the two fell centres(3). Pelkosenniemi lies in Lapland. The Porontahtoma–Kuukkeli Trail is about 3 km as a point-to-point line in Pyhä-Luosto National Park. It connects the Kuukkeli service area with the Porontahtoma lean-to cluster along the larger Pyhä–Luosto route system. Near the Kuukkeli end you pass Kuukkeli vuokratupa and Kuukkeli käymälä within the first few hundred metres of the line—convenient if you are staying in the rental hut or pausing before continuing toward Rykimäkuru or the long Pyhä-Luosto kesäreitti. Toward the Porontahtoma end, Porontahtoman laavu, Porontahtoma laavu, and Porontahtoma käymälä sit together as the main break and campfire area for this short segment. Dry toilets are available at Kuukkeli and Porontahtoma without needing to name each structure in turn. The same landscape ties into Rykimäkurun polku, the Pyhä-Luosto kesäreitti, the Pyhä-Luosto mountain biking route, and winter ski trails—useful if you are stitching together a longer day or an overnight from Kuukkeli toward Pyhä or Luosto(3).

Aittakuru summer trail is about 2.4 km on the map as a snow-free hiking line across Pyhätunturi in Pelkosenniemi, Lapland, climbing into the Aittakuru ravine inside Pyhä-Luosto National Park. Metsähallitus publishes park-wide maps, rules, and seasonal guidance for Pyhä-Luosto on Luontoon.fi(1). The Municipality of Pelkosenniemi lists local access options, noting the summer route from the Pyhä hotel area and links from beside Soutajantie, plus a culture stage in the gorge where events are held(2). Pyhä Ski Resort introduces the Aittakuru amphitheatre for visitors, including parking on the Pyhä–Luosto road roughly 2.2 km from Pyhä toward Luosto and a walk of under half a kilometre on a wide, easy surface toward the boardwalk(3). Karoliina Kaski’s Retkipaikka write-up describes large wayfinding along Pyhäntie to a roadside parking area with space for about ten cars, a safe road crossing, and about ten minutes on a broad winter ski track corridor before the boardwalk begins, with an accessible dry toilet before the themed gate that asks for quiet(4). Vaeltajan arki captures how the tight rock walls read as a natural amphitheatre and how soft light filters into the ravine on summer days(5). Along the first kilometre you pass the Tajukankaan kota lean-to shelter that also appears on Soutajan kesäreitti, Pyhätunturi - Karhunjuomalampi kesäreitti, and several lit ski and running loops, then Adventure Park Pyhäkuru and the compact Pyhä resort services before Pyhätunturi DiscGolfPark. From there the landscape tightens into boardwalks and boulders leading to the outdoor stage, small pond, and accessible spectator benches described on the resort pages(3)(4). Treat stairs, boardwalks, and bedrock as potentially slippery in rain(3). The route is for the frost-free period because avalanches make the ravine unsafe in winter(3)(4). Retkipaikka’s editors note that the small lean-to and fire ring above the grandstand were taken out of use in summer 2024; plan breaks at Tajukankaan kota or connect toward Soutajan kota on a longer day(4). For dogs, the Municipality of Pelkosenniemi reminds visitors that Pyhä-Luosto National Park requires dogs to stay leashed(2). You can stitch longer fell days from the same junction: Soutajan kesäreitti runs toward Pyhäjärvi and Soutajan kota, Pyhätunturi - Karhunjuomalampi kesäreitti drops to Karhunjuomalampi päivätupa and the pond shelters, Tunturiaavan luontopolku starts near Visitor Centre Naava for Isokuru viewpoints, and Kultakeron huippureitti offers a short climb toward the ski summit if you want more vertical(1).

Huttujärvi summer trail is about 2,3 km as a one-way link inside Pyhä-Luosto National Park in Pelkosenniemi, Lapland. It connects the Huttujärvi lake service cluster with the Huttuloma rest area and finishes near the Huttujärventie parking area. Metsähallitus publishes rules, maps, and current visitor information for Pyhä-Luosto National Park on Luontoon.fi(1). The Municipality of Pelkosenniemi lists regional trails, links to Retkikartta.fi, and notes that Pyhätunturi-side summer hiking is described further on Luontoon.fi(2). Eräluvat.fi gives detailed driving and access notes for Huttujärvi rental hut visitors, including how the wider yellow-marked Pyhä-Luosto hiking trail passes about 1,3 km from the hut and how summer access is by foot or mountain bike(3). Pelkosenniemi sits in Finnish Lapland north-east of Rovaniemi. At the Huttujärvi end you reach Huttujärvi grillikatos, Huttujärvi porakaivo, and Huttujärvi vuokratupa on the forested shore of Lake Huttujärvi. The reservable Huttujärvi vuokratupa is a compact rental cabin with a wood sauna and shared cooking shelter in the yard; bookings, prices, and hut rules are handled through Eräluvat.fi(3). About 1,2 km along the line toward the road, Huttuloma keittokatos, Huttuloma tulipaikka, and Huttuloma autiotupa form a popular day-stop cluster on the Pyhä-Luosto hiking network, with a campfire point and open wilderness hut for short breaks or overnight stays according to hut etiquette. Dry toilets and firewood storage sit in the same yard area. At roughly 2,3 km the route reaches Huttujärventie pysäköintilaue, the beam-gated forest-road parking that most drivers use when visiting Huttujärvi from Pyhä–Luosto road (962)(3). The same footprint stitches into longer summer options: Pyhä-Luosto kesäreitti, Isokuru–Karhunjuomalampi, and the Pyhä-Luosto national park mountain-biking route share stops or junctions nearby, so you can treat this as a lake-and-hut approach leg or a return path from a longer Pyhä–Luosto day.

For local services, attractions, and the wider outdoor picture around Pelkosenniemi, the Municipality of Pelkosenniemi publishes an up-to-date visitor overview on its website(1). Retkeilyreitti Pyhäjärvi–Suvanto is a point-to-point hiking route of about 9.2 km in Pelkosenniemi, Lapland. It links the Pyhäjärvi lake area with the village of Suvanto along the Kitinen valley—useful as a connector on foot through forest and lakeshore country rather than a separate national-park circuit. Pyhäjärvi is the municipality’s largest lake: roughly 3.8 km long and about 1 km across, with Soutaja fells on the east shore and Pyhäjärvi village on the northeast shore; the main outflow heads toward the Pyhäjoki and Kemijoki system from the northwest side. That layout places this hike in the same broad recreation landscape as Pyhä-Luosto and the Kemijoki watercourse. Very close to the line, the snowmobile corridor Mairivaara–Suvanto–Pelkosenniemi moottorikelkkaura and the Pyhä-Luosto moottorikelkkailureitti overlap or touch the route geometry—worth noting for winter noise and shared forest roads, even though this entry is a summer hiking route. The nearby Soutajan kesäreitti summer trail serves Pyhäjärven uimapaikka Pelkosenniemi, Tajukankaan kota, and Soutajan kota; Taipaleita describes marked access from Soutajantie or Pyhäjärvi village, violet square markers on Metsähallitus summer maps, and a kota with a campfire below Soutaja rather than on the summit(2). If you combine days in the area, Luontoon.fi also lists other Pelkosenniemi hiking lines such as Kilpiaavan retkeilyreitti through the Kilpiaapa aapa mire near the village school access—another official starting point for longer peatland walking in the same municipality(3). Pelkosenniemi lies in Lapland. Standalone mentions of Lapland and Pelkosenniemi in the text below support map links.

Sokanaava nature trail is a short linear walk of about 0.6 km one way through the Sokanaapa aapa mire in Kairala, Pelkosenniemi, in Finnish Lapland. Pelkosenniemi lies on the edge of the Pyhä-Luosto visitor area, and this boardwalk link is an easy way to reach open fen scenery and birdwatching towers without a long hike. Metsähallitus lists the route on Luontoon.fi(1); check there for the latest visitor guidance. Birdwatching information on Pyhä.fi(2) describes Sokanaapa as a versatile spot roughly 10 km north of Pelkosenniemi church village, with species on the open mire that include whooper swans, black-throated divers, pintail, bean geese, hawks, and owls—most dramatic in spring migration when the wetland fills with sound. The trail connects the Sokanaapa lintutorni and Sokanaavan lintutorni area at the mire side with Sokanaavan lintutornin P-alue at the far end. You can walk in either direction; many people park at Sokanaavan lintutornin P-alue and stroll toward the towers. Sokanaapa invakäymälä sits within the first hundred metres from the tower end—useful if you want a purpose-built accessible toilet building before you head onto the duckboards. Samppanja muovimukista(3) walked the route from parking along Savukoskentie (road 965) and notes boardwalks and a timber approach to the tower with wide views over the bog; the same post cautions that while the trail was originally intended to be barrier-free, years of wear mean you should not expect fully accessible boardwalks today, even though it remained straightforward on foot when they visited.

For rules, maps, and service updates for this trail and the wider Pyhä-Luosto area, start with the Karhunjuomalampi Trail page on Luontoon.fi(1). The Pyhä.fi Karhunjuomalammen kierros article places Karhunjuomalampi in the middle of the famous circular day hike from Luontokeskus Naava and describes how the return leg runs along wide gravel paths past Kultakero toward the ski resort(2). This line is about 4.4 km as a summer hiking connection in Pelkosenniemi, Lapland, between the Karhunjuomalampi rest area and the Pyhätunturi resort side. It is not a loop: one end sits at Karhunjuomalampi laituri and Karhunjuomalampi päivätupa with Karhunjuomalampi puolikota and Karhunjuomalampi puolikota 2 for shelter and fires, and the other reaches Tajukankaan kota, Adventure Park Pyhäkuru, Pyhä, and Pyhätunturi DiscGolfPark near the fell services. The same marked network continues as Pyhä-Luosto kesäreitti, Noitatunturin valloitus, Isokuru – Karhunjuomalampi, and Aittakuru kesäreitti, so you can turn this segment into a longer day by linking those routes. In the Woods, Dear describes how, when walking back from Aittakuru toward Naava, you cross open ground to Tajukankaan kota and then follow the ski slope edge past lifts toward the nature centre parking—terrain and wayfinding that match this resort-side link(3). Expect easy-to-moderate forest and ski-area edge walking with wide gravel and short steeper pitches near the fell; stay on marked routes inside the national park recreation zone(1)(2)(3). Pelkosenniemi lies in Lapland. Carry water and wind shell even in summer; the Pyhä-Luosto fells can be breezy and weather can change quickly(2)(3).