AN UNFORGETTABLE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

Ylläs is proud of its scenery and nature. The Pallas-Ylläs fell National Park protects the profile of the seven fells and ensures the peace of one wandering in the nature. Most of the paths and hiking tracks wind in the National Park and take the hiker to the most beautiful lookouts and magnificent natural attractions. Take a step further!

Examples of hiking tracks:

History path at the top 700m
There is a History path on top of Ylläs. It tells you about the history of downhill skiing in Ylläs. There is also a scenery board along the track where you can recognize the nearby fells. You can get to this track using the Gondola-lift — which also allows access to wheelchair users, or those with a pram. The altitude range is great enough that we advise that you’d need an assistant if you are a wheelchair user.

Tuomikurun kierros 6.3 km from Kapua to the Tuomikuru hut, where the landscape is like a painting. On the way back, the trail leads into a lush deciduous forest, where the silence is broken only by the murmur of a stream. The Tuomikuru tour starts from the Ylläs Ski Resort and takes in spectacular scenery. The wide, easy trail ascends briskly to the hut where you are rewarded with a beautiful, far-reaching view. In such landscape, snacks taste even better!

From the hut, the trail descends into a ravine and a green forest. Here the old fir trees smell fragrant and a stream meanders through the ferns. Take a leisurely stroll along the narrow path covered in twisted roots, walk along duckboards and climb stairs. After the ravine, the forest becomes much easier to negotiate. The trail leads to the Kahvikeidas wilderness café with a gushing spring below, and from there back to the starting point.

Varkaankuru’s Velho-path 3,5km
If there was a competition between the prettiest nature paths in Finland, this one would surely be one of the winners: The nature path in Varkaankuru is unique with its scenery and very versatile nature. So, let one of Lapland’s most beautiful groves conquer your heart. Velho path offers magnificent scenery and information on nature, delivered in a fresh manner. The poems of Kalervo Uuttu — AKA ‘Uuttu-Kalle the wizard’ — give the path it’s own mythological level. In Velho-path the natural phenomena of Lapland and the world of beliefs walk side-by-side. Velho-path is easy to walk, thanks to its duckboards and stairs. There is a campfire place by the path, on top of Varkaankuru and there’s a lean-to a little bit further up the track.

Kiirunankieppi 15km
A fine hike, surrounded by the breath-taking fell scenery awaits you! The path is named after a bird — kiiruna — that used to live in the harsh conditions of the fells. It takes you to see the geology of the Ylläs area. Even though the rockiest areas are covered with steps and duckboards, this trail will still require moderate fitness. The Varkaankuru lean-to, at the Kellostapuli kuru and Varkaankuru junction, is an excellent place to make a fire.


Saivonkierros 3km
You get to know the rugged landscapes of Äkässaivo by walking along the Saivonkierros path. When you get there you’ll have one of the greatest “seitas”, a sacred place of the Sami people, to greet you. You’ll also encounter a crystal clear pond, Äkässaivo. The Sami believe that Saivo was populated by the deceased (“saivo-people”), who lived happy on the shores of a “mirror-lake”, which you could get to by going through a hole in the bottom of the deep lake. In the Saivonkierros, information signs will tell you about the forest, aquatic nature and the historical sites by the path — such as the ancient seita-plave of the Sami and a meadow barn that highlights the former peasant lifestyle of the north. There is a cozy lean-to along the path.

More routes

It’s possible to enjoy easy-going skiing, or push-your-limits on the more demanding tracks up the fells. There are multiple, well-equipped skiing cafes on the slope network, where you can stay and enjoy a variety of refreshment options.

Both villages have tracks for those skiing with dogs too.
It’s often possible to use the so-called “warm track” up the fell from as early as October. It winds at the tree line of the fell where it is only about half as cold as it is down in the village. So when it’s really freezing it’s best to head to the tracks that are as high up as possible and if it’s windy, go down to the canyons and the shelter of the forest. The warm track is lit and it connects Äkäsompolo and Ylläsjärvi. You can reach this track from both village centers, along a lit track.

The long skiing season makes it possible for competitive athletes to train regularly and for a long time. You can meet top skiers from many different countries on these tracks, as well as teams from Finland. The Ylläs skiing routes are their regular training grounds every year. Due to the well-maintained tracks, widespread lighting, warm tracks, versatile routes, skiing cafes and diverse terrain, Ylläs’ skiing possibilities are in a league of their own.

Ylläs ROUTES