Käsivarsi Wilderness Area Trails

Hiking Trails

Starting Points for Trails

The starting points for the trails in Kilpisjärvi area and for the Nordkalottleden Trail are located in the village of Kilpisjärvi.
Trail to Ailakkajärvi has its starting point at Peera.
• There is a nature trail in Iitto.

Nature Trails

Iitto Nature Trail (500 m) has its starting point at Iitto, which is 50 km south of the village of Kilpisjärvi. The information boards along the trail feature palsa bogs, which are bogs with frost mounds. The Iito palsa bog is a mire reserve, which is used only for education and research.
• Services: information boards, duckboards, benches at the end of the trail.
• The 5-km-long Saana Nature Trail has its starting point at Kilpisjärven Retkeilykeskus, a local lodging and excursion centre. The trail winds around the west side of Saanatunturi Fell and crosses the River Skirhasjohka. After this it continues on to Jeahkas Fell and then returns to Kilpisjärvi. The trail features the area’s natural features and history.

Other Trails

Kilpisjärvi-Halti Trail is one section of the international Nordkalottleden Trail . Nordkalottleden Trail is 800 km long and has its starting point at Kautokeino in Norway. The trail crosses over to Finland at Lake Somasjärvi, passes Kilpisjärvi and has its end points at Kvikkjokk in Sweden and at Sulitjelma in Norway. Kilpisjärvi-Halti Trail is about 55 km long. Its starting point is at Kilpisjärvi. From there it heads towards Käsivarsi Wilderness Area crossing over into Norway occasionally. At Lake Pihtsusjärvi the trail parts into two branches, which lead to Lake Somasjärvi and Halti Fell.
• Services:
• Open wilderness huts at
Lake Saarijärvi, the River Kuonjarjoki, Lake Meekonjärvi, Lake Pihtsusjärvi, Halti Fell and the River Kopmajoki
• Reservable wilderness huts at Lake Saarijärvi, the River Kuonjarjoki, Lake Meekonjärvi, Lake Pihtsusjärvi and Halti Fell
• Sights: Saana Fell, Saivaara Hill, Pihtsusköngäs Falls, Halti Fell
An 11-km-long trail leads from the village of Kilpisjärvi to the point where Finland’s, Norway’s and Sweden’s borders meet.
• Services: Open wilderness hut at Lake Kuohkimajärvi
• Sights: Malla Strict Nature Reserve, the River Kitsijoki Falls, three nations’ border point
Saana Trail has its starting point at Kilpisjärven retkeilykeskus, a lodging and excursion centre. From there the trail heads up Finland’s longest set of steps to the top of Saana Fell. The return journey is along the same route and you can stop off at Saanajärvi day trip hut. The trail is 8 km long, but if you decide to return via the day trip hut its distance is 12 km.
• Services: Day trip hut at Lake Saanajärvi
• Sights: Saana Fell
The Tsahkaljärvi - Saanajärvi - Saana Trail has its starting point at Kilpisjärvi. It follows the River Tsahkaljoki to Lake Tsahkaljärvi. From the lake the trail leads back to the foot of Saana Fell. From there the trail continues to Saanajärvi day trip hut. From Lake Saanajärvi you can return to Kilpisjärvi, for example, via the top of Saana Fell. Depending on your choice of route the length of the trail varies from 9 to 12 km.
• Services: Day trip hut at Lake Saanajärvi
• Sights: Saana Fell, the River Tsahkaljoki Falls
• Salmivaara Trail has its starting point at Hotel Kilpis. The trail is 2 km long. It crosses the River Tsahkaljoki and from there leads to the top of Salmivaara Hill. The return journey is along the same route.
  • Sights: The River Tsahkaljoki Falls, the view from the top of Salmivaara Hill of the Malla, Saana and Parastunturi Fells.

Cross-country Skiing Trails

There are maintained ski trails in the area surrounding the village of Kilpisjärvi. One of these trails has lighting. There are no actual ski trails within Käsivarsi Wilderness Area, but you can ski along snowmobile tracks. There are tracks leading to Halti Fell, Lake Somasjärvi and Lake Lossujärvi and are marked with twigs. They are not maintained regularly so there is no way of knowing there condition at different times.

Boating and Canoeing Routes

Poroeno - Lätäseno River Route, 100 km

The Poroeno - Lätäseno river route is a wonderful canoeing route for those who want to be challenged. The entire route is 100 km long with 265 m in altitude changes. To get onto the river route, you must first transport your boat or canoe, for instance, to Lake Porojärvi. From there you can set off on your canoeing trip along the River Poroeno.

The river starts out from Lake Porojärvi as the River Poroeno. About 40 km downstream the Rivers Rommaeno and Toriseno join this river and its name changes to the River Lätäseno. The scenery at the beginning of the river route is rugged and rocky. Half of the altitude drop of the entire route occurs during the first third of the route. The last two-thirds of the route has greener scenery and at its end the waters are calm.

The Poroeno - Lätäseno river route is not suitable for beginners. Even experienced canoeists must prepare for the experience thoroughly. First it is good to know the routes water conditions. You can make inquiries for example at local enterprises that fly planes across the area.When there are heavy floods the river is too dangerous to canoe or boat down as the current is so strong and unpredictable and during very dry weather the water is too shallow and you are likely to hit rocks if you attempt to go down the river.

There are several open wilderness huts and two boat launch ramps along the river route. The open wilderness huts along the route are those at Lake Meekonjärvi, Lake Porojärvi, Lake Jogasjärvi, Tenomuotka, Hirvasvuopio and Isokurkkio. The two landing spots are at the River Saitsijoki and Neuhkana.

Snowmobile Tracks

An official maintained snowmobile track runs between the villages of Kilpisjärvi and Hetta. A track running between Saarikoski and Raittijärvi connects to this track. More information is available and permits can be purchased at Skierri, Fell Lapland Nature Centre and Kilpisjärvi Visitor Centre.