Kilpisjärvi: Trails, Fell and Lake

In Kilpisjärvi, marked trails through mountain birch forests and open fell landscapes meet lakeside experiences. This gives you different options when planning your trip: a hike, activities on the water or a visit to a remarkable border point. Nature and wildlife are also part of the region’s distinctive character.

Hiking trails and landscapes

The Kilpisjärvi–Halti Trail is part of the Kalottireitti and is about 55 kilometres long. Take this distance into account when planning a hiking trip. Marked trails in the Saana and Kilpisjärvi area pass through mountain birch forests, open fell landscapes and lakeshores. The scenery therefore changes between wooded sections, open fell and lake shores; which of these impressions shapes your tour depends on the trail you choose.

One specific trail option is the Tsahkaljärvi Trail: it starts at the Kilpisjärvi Visitor Centre car park, leads past Tsahkaljärvi and returns to the village centre of Kilpisjärvi. The Visitor Centre provides advice on hiking trails, rest stops and permit requirements. If you want to plan your tour around a marked trail, you can ask there about both trail options and rest stops. The advice on permits is another resource for related questions.

Lake activities and border point

In the Finnish part of Kilpisjärvi, hook-and-line fishing and ice fishing are permitted under general fishing rights. The lake’s waterside areas are also suitable for kayaking and rowing. This offers different ways to spend time on the water: you can experience the lake from a kayak or rowboat, or take up fishing. The winter nature of ice fishing is relevant when choosing when to travel; the permitted types of fishing apply to the Finnish part of the lake.

Another destination is the world’s northernmost tripoint, located in Kilpisjärvi. It can be reached by boat, on foot, on snowshoes or on skis. You can choose which option suits your trip based on your preferred way of getting around. The snowmobile trails in the Kilpisjärvi area are a separate matter: they are maintained by Kilpisjärven Ladut ry. These trails are a distinct part of the winter activities; the listed ways to reach the tripoint are by boat, on foot, on snowshoes and on skis.

Nature conservation and reindeer experiences

Kilpisjärvi is home to Finland’s oldest nature reserve. It is protected because of rare tundra plants and butterfly species in the Malla Fells. Those interested in unique plant and animal life will find a distinct nature-focused experience here, alongside trails through mountain birch forest, fell landscapes and lakeside scenery. The reasons for protection include rare tundra plants and butterfly species; both are among the distinctive features of the Malla Fells mentioned here.

A visit to a reindeer farm in the Kilpisjärvi region is another possible travel interest. It includes getting to know and feeding reindeer. Nature experiences, trails and lake activities can thus be considered as different focuses for your stay, without combining them into a single tour.

More destinations: Äkäslompolo, Räisälä, Tankavaara, Ranua, Keminmaa, Luosto, Peurasuvanto and Inari.

Go to the broader travel overview: Lapland.