Hiking & outdoor recreationLength78.3 km
Degree of difficultyHard
The trail is demanding as it leads across a vast wilderness area, which has no roads. This means that hikers should have good hiking, survival and orienteering skills. Hikers must also take into consideration that weather conditions in the fell area are very difficult to predict as they can change quickly. The southern half of the trail goes through pine forests, and the northern half through treeless mires and fell highlands. The terrain in the northern part of the route is marshy in many places. The waters can be crossed by a hand-operated ferryboat, wading, or over a bridge.
- This trail takes approximately 4 - 7 days to hike.
- This trail is not recommended for beginners.
- The trail is well suited for recreational fishermen.
- By the beginning of June snows have usually melted from the wilderness area, but this is when the area's rivers and streams flood.
- The best time to hike is from late June to the beginning of October.
- The Silisjoki boat is used from May to June to the end of September.
- The trail is marked with orange-topped wooden poles.
Contact information
Starting pointThe Skolt Sámi Heritage House, Sevettijärventie 9041, 99930 Sevettijärvi
Sevettijärvi - Opukasjärvi - Iisakkijärvi, 19 km
The southern end of the trail is located at the Skolt Sámi Heritage House in the Skolt Sámi village of Sevettijärvi. The northern end is on the south shore of the Lake Pulmankijärvi in Utsjoki, which is about 20 km from Nuorgam along the road. The trail can be traveled equally well from south to north as from north to south.
From its starting point at Sevettijärvi the trail leads through pine forests and along lake shores and river banks. Lake Sundeejärvi a long narrow lake can either be passed along its east side by hiking trail or along its west side by the ATV-track. If you choose the western ATV trail, note that the trail and route no longer converge at the southern of Sundeejärvi, but you will come to the road by Ahvenjärvi's reindeer separation fence further west.
Näätämöjokisuussa, joen pohjoispuolella. Before arriving to Opukasjärvi hikers must cross the River Äylijoki either by wading or along a bridge built for ATVs. About 2 km on from Opukasjärvi there is a campfire site.
It is situated on the south bank of the River Näätämöjoki, 0,8 km up-stream from the hanging bridge. After crossing Näätämöjoki, a river known for its salmon, hikers come to the River Silisjoki. This river is crossed by wading or by boat, when waters are high.
The landscape is diverse: there are pine forests, barren fells, mires, cliff walls, rocky patches and small lakes. This section of the trail ends at Iisakkijärvi open wilderness hut. The Silisjoki rental hut can be found on the shore of Opukasjärvi, about 300 meters downstream from the Silisjoki ford. This section of the trail ends at Iisakkijärvi open wilderness hut.
The first wilderness hut is the Iisakkijärvi wilderness hut, located at the southwestern end of Iisakkijärvi, north of Opukasjärvi.
Iisakkijärvi - Huikinvárjohka, 9 km or Iisakkijärvi - Rousajärvi - Huikinvárjohka, 15 km
From Huikinvárjohka the trail leads across almost treeless fell upland towards the Čárajávri lakes, which are separated from one another by isthmuses. Near Čárajávri open wilderness hut the trail travels through an opening in the fence separating lands owned by the Kaldoaivi and Näätämö reindeer herding cooperatives. At the intersection, there are two route options: the hiker can continue north to the Huikinvárjohka wilderness hut or turn northeast to the Rousajärvi wilderness hut. It is 5 km to either wilderness hut from the intersection. It is a 5 km hike to both wilderness huts from the crossroads.
The alternative route for this section is Iisakkijärvi - Rousajärvi - Huikinvárjohka, 15 km: the trail leading to Rousajärvi turns off the Iisakkijärvi - Huikinvárjohka 4 km north of Iisakkijärvi. At the north end of Lake Lyöttijärvi there is a small stream which must be crossed. The terrain along the trail alternates between fell birch forest and fell upland. Rousajärvi open wilderness hut is situated on the south shore of Lake Rousajärvi 9 km from Iisakkijärvi.
From Lake Rousajärvi the trail continues for 6 km before joining the main trail again leading to Huikinvárjohka. From Rousajärvi open wilderness hut the trail follows alongside a stream towards Lake Rousajärvi. It then passes the lake along its west side. The trail climbs up a fell slope, from where there is an open view of the surrounding landscape. Huikinvárjohka open wilderness hut is situated in the middle of fell birch forest.
Huikinvárjohka - Čárajávri, 12 km
From Huikinvárjohka the trail leads across almost treeless fell upland towards the Čárajávri lakes, which are separated from one another by isthmuses. Near Čárajávri open wilderness hut the trail travels through an opening in the fence separating lands owned by the Kaldoaivi and Näätämö reindeer herding cooperatives. The Caarajäuʹrrin wilderness hut is located in the northeastern corner of Inari, on the eastern shore of Caarajäuʹrr, which is divided by the border between municipalities of I Inari and Utsjoki. "on the border between the municipalities of Inari and Utsjoki.
Čárajávri - Čuomasjávri, 11 km
Here the trail leads across treeless fell tops. The peak of Golmmesoaivi (379 m), a fell along the trail, is the border mark between Finland and Norway. The last wilderness hut along the trail is Čuomasjávri open wilderness hut. Just behind the wilderness hut Čuomasvárri Fell rises to 435 metres. On clear days those who climb to the top are rewarded with a beautiful view over the wilderness area and over the border into Norway.
Čuomasjávri - Pulmankijávri, 13 km
The northern end is on the south shore of the Lake Pulmankijärvi in Utsjoki, which is about 20 km from Nuorgam along the road. The trail leads along the Finnish-Norwegian border towards its northern end point at the south end of Lake Pulmankijärvi. On the last section of the trail hikers cross the River Pulmankijoki by bridge.
End pointPulmankijärvi, Utsjoki, ETRS89 maantiet. koord. (~WGS84) 69° 55.905', 28° 01.721' null