Hiking & outdoor recreationLength4.4 km
Duration(6 hours)
Degree of difficultyMedium
The Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church Trail passes through a beautiful old-growth forest. Rocks and roots make the trail difficult to travel. You can see forest ponds, streams and lakes along the way. There are eight places for quiet meditation along the trail, which are based on the seasons of Sámiland and Bible verses. The Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church and the meadow are an important Sámi cultural heritage site. Winter villages have been built in the area since the 1400s and 1500s. The current Pielpajärvi Church was built between 1752 and 1760 and was in use until the end of the 19th century. The church and the winter village built around it were the centre of Inari. Church services are held in the church a few times a year.
The trail can only be used during the snow-free seasonThe trail is marked with orange wooden posts.
Campfire siteAlways check for any wildfire warnings in effect before making a fire.
Camping permittedCamping is allowed under everyman’s rights. Camping is prohibited in the archaeological area, within a radius of half a kilometre from the church.
HutPielpajärvi Day-use hut
Dry toiletRemember to bring toilet paper.
Remember to bring a trash bagThere are no waste bins on the trail. Bring along your own trash bag and take your waste out with you when leaving.
No water pointWe recommend to boil the natural water.
No winter maintenance
Contact information
Starting pointInari Pielpajärvi polun lähtöpaikka pysäköintialue
The trail starts from the Sarviniementie 270 parking area, approximately three kilometres northeast of the Northern Lapland Nature Centre Siida.
The first one-kilometre section leads through an old-growth pine forest in Rautiovaara. The trail is rocky and criss-crossed by roots, so it will be slow to travel. There are no major height differences. You will go through a reindeer gate along the trail.
After the forest section of Rautiovaara, you will reach landscapes filled with ponds and lakes and the pass by Lake Puntsijärvi. This section runs along a strip of land between Lake Iso Pielpajärvi and Lake Pikku Pielpajärvi.
After this, the terrain varies from rocky areas to forests to heaths and even wetlands. The most difficult places have been made easier with duckboards.
At the end of the trail, it follows the shore of Lake Pielpajärvi. You will spot the first building 4.5 kilometres before the parking area. The last section goes through a birch forest, after which you will see a meadow.
The end of the trail is the Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church, built in the 1760s. Go through the sheep gate and head to the church. The door of the church is always open.
End pointInari Pielpajärvi polun lähtöpaikka pysäköintialue