UKK Trail is a national hiking trail which leads across Finland, through the
municipalities of Salla and Savukoski as well as crosses through Tuntsa
Wilderness Area. It has been detailed from Naruska to Tulppio (112 km), of which
21 km is within Tuntsa Wilderness Area. This section of the trail is
wilderness-like which leads across rugged and grand landscape at times climbing
to fell peaks and at others following the banks of the River Naruskajoki in low
lands.
UKK Hiking Trail Level of Difficulty
Even inexperienced hikers can travel short sections of the UKK trail as long
as they choose a section which leads across relatively easy to travel and is
well marked. Those who plan on going for longer treks should at least have good
orienteering skills and be in good shape as there are sharp climbs at points.
The UKK Trail is a summer hiking trail. Though there are duckboards across the
wettest parts of the trail hikers should have waterproof footwear with them.
Hikers do not however need to cross any rivers by wading as there are bridges at
each crossing point. The trail is not suited for the disabled.
Starting Points for Excursions
- When setting off from the south hikers can get onto
the UKK Hiking Trail at the village of Naruska, where the trail leads along
the road leading to Tuntsa for a while.
- The trail can also be travelled from north to south
in which case Tulppio is the trail’s starting point.
Driving instructions
to trail starting points- Other possible starting points for the trail
- the village of Tuntsa
- Auermavaarankuusikko where the UKK Hiking Trail
crosses the road to Tuntsa.
- Tuntsa Pub
- Naruskan tammi - a dam in the River Naruskajoki on the south side of
Lake Naruskajärvi built during log floating days.
Trail Sections
- Naruska Village - Karhutunturi Fell 5 km
- Karhutunturi Fell - Naruskan tammi Dam 34 km
- Naruskan tammi Dam - Sorsatunturi Fell 16 km
- Sorsatunturi Fell - Takkaselkä Fell 10 km
- Takkaselkä Fell - Juntterivaara Fell 13 km
- Juntterivaara Fell - Härkätunturi Fell 18 km
- Härkätunturi Fell - Tulppio 16 km
Trail Markings
The trail is marked in the terrain for the most part with orange-red
markings. The section which leads around Karhutunturi Fell is marked with blue
markings.
Connecting Trails
- There is a connecting trail to the section of UKK
Hiking Trail which leads to the village of Naruska, from the section which
leads through the Sallatunturi Area, but the portion of this trail leading
from Kelloselkä to Naruska is poorly marked at some points.
- Hikers can continue northward from Tulppio along the
UKK Hiking Trail all the way to the starting point for Nuortti Hiking Trail.
Trail Sections
Naruska Village - Karhutunturi Fell 5 km
At the village of Naruska the UKK Hiking Trail leads along the road to Tuntsa
for some time. There is no actual starting point for the trail or a parking area
for hikers to leave vehicles at, but cars can be left by the side of the road
where it is suitably wide. At Siekaköngäs forest road turns to the left and
crosses a bridge across the River Naruskajoki. The UKK Hiking Trail follows the
route of the road along the west side of the river to the foot of Karhutunturi
Fell. From the foot of the fell hikers can stray from the main trail to see the
peak of Karhutunturi Fell and Karhutunturi campfire shelter, which is 2 km from
the main trail.
The Lapps had a trade route, which lead between Siekavaara Fell and
Karhutunturi Fell. It came from the direction of Saija and continued from here
east over the River Naruskajoki and along the bank of the River Saukko-oja to
Lake Saukkojärvi. From there the trade route lead to the mouth of the River
Tenniöjoki and onward via the River Sankarijoki and the east side of
Puitsitunturi Fell to Lake Hirvasjärvi in Russia. Lapps took flour and forest
prey with them on their trade journeys, of which some led all the way to Kemi.
Karhutunturi Fell - Naruskan tammi Dam 34 km
Karhutunturi campfire shelter is a wonderful place to stop and rest. A trail
leads from the campfire shelter to the peak of Karhutunturi Fell. There is an
old fire guard’s hut at the top of the fell. An old telephone line rose to the
hut and there are still signs of the cable left behind.
The UKK Hiking Trail continues down hill to Naruska river valley and on from
there towards the north following the River Naruskajoki at the foot of
Saukkosuunvaara Fell. The trail then descends even closer to the River
Naruskajoki and reaches Halti campfire shelter.
- The campfire shelter was built on a war time airfield. The airstrip is
completely tree stump free! The bunker hill with its airport was used by
Germans during the Second World War. The base was a guard front for the
wilderness area. From this air base there was a phone line to the nearest
village which was situated by the Salla - Saija road. An old trail also
leads from the village and rises along the embankment making it way to the
bunker hill and then ends when reaching the UKK Hiking Trail.
Halti campfire shelter is situated right next to the River Naruskajoki. From
the campfire shelter the trail first long along the river bank and then along
the River Alimmainen Suoltijoki all the way to the Suoltijoen alatammi Dam,
where the trail crosses the river. The trail then winds through dry forest and
makes it ways back to the edge of the River Naruskajoki. Soon after this the
rush of rapids can be heard and Pystökoski campfire shelter comes into sight.
From the
Pystökoski Rapids the trail continues northward along the river’s embankment.
The forest here is mostly pine and the UKK Hiking Trail travels for the most
part along dry sand and gravel ridge backs. Fishers can try their luck and if it
is good they can make fish soup at the next rest spot.
It is about 11 km from the Pystökoski
Rapids to Ministerikota campfire shelter. Before reaching Ministerikota campfire
shelter the trail travels high on the embankment in the shade of grand old
pines. The campfire shelter was named because of many ministers of parliament
visiting this area.
From
Ministerikota campfire shelter it is only a 4 km hike to Naruskan tammi Dam. At
the dam hikers can rest at the cooking shelter situated right by the river. The
rapids at the dam are a good fishing spot. Naruskan tammi Dam is an old dam
device which was used during log floating days to raise the surface of Lake
Naruskajärvi.
Naruskan tammi Dam - Sorsatunturi Fell 16 km
From Naruskan tammi Dam the UKK Hiking Trail first travels south along the
road to Tuntsa for 3 km. It then turns left off the road heading east and
follows the River Sorsajoki all the way to the foot of Sorsatunturi Fell. The
trail does not climb to the top of the fell, but it is possible to climb up by
following the sign for the snow mobile track. The slope up Sorsatunturi Fell is
rocky and difficult to climb, but the over 2 km long climb is well worth it as
the view of the surrounding fell landscape is magnificent. The source of the
River Tenniöjoki meanders down below behind the fell and acting as the divider
between Finland and Russia. The actual national border can be seen further in
the south on the right as a white stripe down a fell slope. The Tenniöjärvi Lake
back shimmers in the southeast on the Russian side of the border.
Hikers can get down from the fell top along the snow mobile track
which descends from the peak towards the northeast. The snow mobile track leads
to Sorsa campfire shelter where hikers can get back onto the UKK Hiking Trail.
The actual UKK Hiking Trail goes around Sorsatunturi Fell along its lower slope
to Sorsa campfire shelter.
Sorsatunturi Fell - Takkaselkä Fell 10 km
From Sorsa campfire shelter the UKK Hiking Trail leads along the eastern
lower slope of Kaunisoiva Fell and then arcs right towards Jäkälätunturi Fell
and climbs up to its peak. The upper slope of the fell and the top are notably
even and almost completely rock-free, only covered with lichen heathland. The
trail then circles the ravine between Jäkälätunturi Fell and Takkaselkätunturi
Fell on its left side and then begins the climb to the top of Takkaselkätunturi
Fell where Takkaselkä reservable wilderness hut is located.
Takkaselkä Fell - Juntterivaara Fell 13 km
The ridgeback between the fells is covered by spruce forest. Over 2 km of the
trail travels through this forest until it reaches an area burnt down by forest
fires. The UKK Hiking Trail forks off onto two separate trail options on the
west slope of the next fell, which is Kuskoiva. The trail options go west to
Pirunkirkko and north to Tuntsa.
- Pirunkirkko route option 13 km: From the fork in the
path it is 4 km to Pirunkirkko. The exceptional cliffs there rise high up and
are a natural sight. After passing Pirunkirkko the trail crosses the Naruska -
Tuntsa road and heads towards Juntterivaara Fell. You can also choose the
longer option which travels through Tuntsa.
Tuntsa route option 21 km: The route to Tuntsa leads along the western
slope of Kuskoiva Fell to Nuoluskuru campfire shelter. From there hikers can
go over the highlands along the edge of Nuolusoiva to the bank of the River
Aitto-oja. The trail then continues following the river loosely along an old
road to a bridge which crosses the River Ylimmäinen Nuolusoja and then reaches
the road to Tuntsa. Before the trail reaches the River Ylimmäinen Nuolusoja it
passes a campfire site. There is a cooking shelter by the River Tuntsajoki
about 350 m down the road to Tuntsa from the point where the UKK Hiking Trail
reaches the road. The UKK Hiking Trail continues along the Tuntsa road to
Saihoselkä and from there to Juntterivaara Fell.
The two route options for the UKK Hiking Trail, described above, meet again
on the north side of Juntterivaara Fell.
Juntterivaara Fell - Härkätunturi Fell 18 km
From Juntterivaara onward the landscape becomes spruce forest dominated hill
and ridgeback terrain. This watershed zone is the source of both the River
Värriöjoki and the River Tuntsajoki. West of Juntteri on the Saihoselkä
ridgeback there are a few pines which have persevered among the spruce trees. In
the driest forests the pines are grand and old.
After passing Juntterivaara the trail enters Tuntsa Wilderness Area. The
forest before reaching Murhahaara is spruce dominated. Only a few snow battered
pines stand defiantly in this pine and rock filled rugged landscape. Visitors
can rest for a good while at Murhahaara open wilderness hut which is situated on
the edge of Murhahaaranaapa bog, before setting off on the next section.
The UKK Hiking Trail continues from Murhahaara deeper
into the untouched backwoods. The rocky highlands and fells dominate the
landscape. The long ridge of Värriötunturi Fell slopes up and down on the right
to the north. Värriö Strict Nature Reserve is also in this direction. Short
spruce trees grow sparsely along the slopes, only growing taller when they are
near the river’s edge or in bogs. There are birch trees everywhere though they
have suffered great damage caused by the Autumnal moth (Epirrita
autumnata
).
There
are also some exceptional wide open spaces, which have sparse spruce and birch
trees dotting them. There are abundant amounts of juniper and all the growth
spots which had been left open now sprouting spruce saplings. A feature
characteristic of the Salla highlands are the types bare areas are usually only
seen on fell peaks but are now on low lands. These patches even feature fell
vegetation.
When descending from the rocky Värriötunturinmurusta
Värriönlatva aapabog, with its duckboards, opens before your eyes. The trail
leads through dense spruce forest with damp depressions to end at Härkätunturi
open and reservable wilderness hut. The grand hut has room for even large groups
and you can wash away the grime and dust from your hike in the sauna there.
Härkätunturi Fell - Tulppio 16 km
From Härkätunturi Fell the UKK Hiking Trail continues to Tulppio in
Savukoski. Hikers can rest at Saijanojanlatva campfire site which is by the
trail.
From Tulppio hikers can continue along the UKK Hiking
Trail if they wish all the way to Nuortti Hiking Trail (12 km). The UKK Hiking
Trail ends at Haukijärvenoja parking area, right where Nuortti Hiking Trail
begins.
