What can one do in
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park?
Walk on Marked Trails
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park has around 350 km of
marked hiking trails. There are several nature trails
in
the National Park, which are not very demanding and have information boards on the
area’s natural features and culture. There are many options for day trips.
When planning a trek hikers should find out about the areas conditions during
different seasons.
Go Trekking
The most popular hiking trail in Pallas-Yllästunturi
National Park is the Hetta-Pallas Trail, which is 55 km long.
Hikers can also continue from Pallas to Ylläs. There are day trip, open and
reservable wilderness huts along this
trail. From
Ylläs hikers can head for Levi and Olos. The trails from Ylläs to Levi and
Ylläs to Olos have been bettered by renewing information boards and signs, and
by laying new duckboards in wet sections.
A trail, which is as of yet little-used, leads from the
Pallastunturi Fells, by Lommoltunturi Fell south towards the Yllästunturi Fells.
The trail has just been re-marked and hikers can get onto it, for example, in
the village of Rauhala. As there are no service structures between Rauhala and
Yllästunturi Fell, the trail is for experienced hikers only. When setting-off on
a trek, hikers should take the National Park’s restricted areas into consideration. Entering these areas is
partially forbidden during summer.
See the Sights and
Scenery
The scenery
in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park meets visitors’ expectations. The
fell-tops rise out of a sea of forest and change their look with the seasons and time
of day. Hikers experience the difference in the fells, forests, lakes and
mires during different seasons. The local culture is vibrant and visitors can get
a taste of it with the help of local entrepreneurs.
See the Nature and
Visitor Centres
The Nature and Visitor
Centres in Western Lapland provide information on the area’s natural features
and culture. A car route known as “Tunturientie” - the Fell Road - winds along
at the foot of the great fells. It leads from under the Yllätunturi Fells at
Äkäslompolo in the south past Lakes Äkäsjärvi and Jerisjärvi to Pallastunturi
Fells. From there the road descends eastward and follows the River Ounasjoki to
its headwaters on the shore of Lake Ounasjärvi at Hetta in Enontekiö.
Visitors will get to know the entire fell chain, when
they start at Kellokas Visitor Centre in Ylläs,
continue to Pallastunturi Visitor
Centre and finish off their trip at Skierri, Fell Lapland Nature Centre in
Hetta. Kilpisjärvi Visitor
Centre at the very northern
tip of Finland has an exhibit on the natural features and colourful history of
the people of fells in Yliperä Region.
Walk on Nature Trail
Visitors can get acquainted with the diverse natural
features of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park on nature trails.
The surroundings of Fell Lapland Nature
Centre
The 2-km-long
Peurapolku Trail begins from the
grounds of Fell
Lapland Nature Centre. This trail has information boards on
the area’s history and wild forest reindeer hunting.
Another
2-km-nature trail, which leads to
Jyppyrä lookout point, also
begins at Fell Lapland Nature Centre.
-
Piippovuoman suopolku Trail (10 km) has its starting
point at Ketomella to the east of the Ounastunturi Fells. The trail features
the area’s aapa bogs.
The surroundings of Pallastunturi Visitor Centre
The Vatikuru Nature Trail (3 km) begins at Pallastunturi Visitor Centre and winds
around the slopes of the Pallastunturi Fells.
Pyhäjoki Nature Trail (3 km) begins at Lake Pallasjärvi and leads visitors to lush brook
hollows.
- During winter, visitors can take the 3-km Pallas Ski
Trail and learn about winter and about nature adapting to these
extreme conditions.
- The surroundings of Kellokas Visitor Centre
- A very popular trail called
Velhopolku
Trail (Wizard´s Trail) begins at Kellokas Visitor Centre. The trail is
4-km-long and leads through Varkaankuru
Ravine.
- At Kellokas visitors can also get onto
Kiirunan kieppi Trail (12 km), which circles Keskisenlaki Fell in Ylläs, and
Seitapolku Trail (9 km).
- There is
a 1-km-long winter trail in the area.
A 17-km-long trekking nature trail at Aakenustunturi
Fell has exhibits on the area’s
animals, geology and history.
Joutsenpolku Trail (6 km) at Latvajärvi displays the area’s birds, mammals and fish.
- A 1-km-nature trail with information on volcanoes can
be found next to the road running between Äkäslompolo and
Kittilä.
Ski Cross-country on Maintained Trails or off Trails
No matter which part of the National Park one is in the
fells are the scenic backdrops. The skiing terrain is diverse; from the spruce
forests and mires around the Yllästunturi and Pallastunturi Fells to the pine
and birch forests of the Ounastunturi Fells. Ski trails are widest near the
Hotels in Ylläs, Jeris, Pallas and Vuontispirtti, near the centre of Hetta Village
and in the Ounastunturi Fell
area.
The Ounastunturi, Pallastunturi and Yllästunturi Fells
together have about 500 km of marked skiing
trails.
Part of the trails in the Pallastunturi to Ounastunturi area are not
maintained by machines. The winter tourist season and maintenance of trails
begins at Ylläs as soon as the first snow falls, in Ounastunturi Fells when
there is a sufficient amount of snow and in the Pallastunturi Fells in early
February. Before this, skiers can enjoy the silence and darkness of winter
while treading their own trails.
Go Canoeing
Lake Pallasjärvi and
the River Äkäsjoki, which flows from Lake Äkäsjärvi to the River Muonionjoki
are the bodies of water in the National Park suited for canoeing and boating.
Other bodies of water within the National Park are too small, too narrow or too
difficult to access for these purposes. The Rivers Muonionjoki and Ounasjoki,
which flow on the east and west sides of the fells, are perfect for canoeing,
as is the River Jerisjoki.
Go Fishing
Angling and
ice fishing are restricted in the National Park. They are permitted only in some
lakes, the most important of which is Lake Pallasjärvi. Local residents have the
right to fish in certain lakes there, but others do not. Lure fishing permits
for Lake Pyhäjärvi can be purchased at Kellokas
Visitor Centre and Pallastunturi Visitor Centre
. Local entrepreneurs rent boats for visitors
at Lake Pallasjärvi.
Wild North (www.villipohjola.fi) sells lure
fishing and recreational fishing permits for state-owned waters surrounding the
National Park. Private waters are managed by local fishing collectives. Permits
for each lake must be enquired about separately. More information about permits
is available at the Visitor and Nature
Centres.
Go Cycling
Pallaksentie and
Majavaojantie roads in the area of the Pallastunturi Fells are suited for
cycling. Cycling is also permitted on the road to Sammaltunturi and on the road
leading to the old hotel’s ruins. Cycling is forbidden off-trails and on hiking
trails. The best biking trails in the Ylläs-Aakenus area are found outside the
National Park’s boundaries. The trails are marked onto the Ylläs-Levi outdoor
map.
Go Horseback Riding
Horseback riding is
only allowed in the National Park, if you have a permit and only on trails
marked for this purpose. Tourist enterprises should contact the head of the
National Park for details.
Go Berry and Mushroom Picking
Berry and mushroom
picking is permitted in the area. There is an abundance of all of the northern
berries and mushrooms in the forests and bogs surrounding the fells.
Go Swimming
Pallas-Yllästunturi
National Park waters are excellent for swimming, if somewhat chilly. The best
swimming places can be found on maps. The words ‘hieta’ and ‘vuontis’ in place
names refer to sandy lake floors and sand dunes.
Go Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling is not permitted within the boundaries of the
National Park. Outside of the National Park there are, however, snowmobile
tracks, which run north to south on both sides of the fells. On tracks near the
National Park no permits are needed, but if continuing from Palojärvi Village in
Enontekiö to Lake Kilpisjärvi a Metsähallitus snowmobile track permit is
required. Permits can be purchased at Skierri, Fell Lapland Nature Centre.
The nature centre will also provide more
information if needed.
