Pallastunturit Fells

A number of excursion routes lead to the nearby bare fell tops and the Pallas-Hetta hiking trail from Hotel Pallas and the Pallastunturi Visitor Centre. In the springtime, the fells provide excellent opportunities for cross-country skiing, paragliding, telemark skiing, to name just some. The Pallas-Ounastunturi National Park is Finland’s oldest national park, and also one of Finland’s largest: Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park.

Pakasaivo

The Pakasaivo canyon lake is an ancient gathering and sacrificial place for the Lapps. This steep edged lake has been estimated to be up to 90 metres deep, but its precise depth is unknown. Measured from the surface of the water, the sides rise to up to 40 metres in height. The water for the lake comes from an underground source called a saivo. The bottom and surface waters never mix, so the water on the bottom is almost oxygen-free and very high in sulphur. This means that anything that falls to the bottom of the lake will be preserved for hundreds of thousands of years. Resting places can be found from the shores of the lake.

Keimiötunturi Fell and Fishing Huts

Climbing to the top of the Keimiötunturi Fell will literally take your breath away, but it is well worth the effort. The summit offers spectacular views over Lake Jerisjärvi and the northern landscapes. The fishing huts located in Keimiöniemi are privately owned, so you will not be able to visit them, but seeing the group of huts from the outside is in itself well worth the visit. The original huts dated back to the sixteenth century, but the oldest existing huts are from the eighteenth century. The fishing huts form one of Finland’s seven wonders, and therefore the site is a regionally significant cultural attraction.

Särkitunturi Fell

Särkitunturi Fell is an easily accessible excursion area, on top of which is a lake, kota shelter and toilet. The view from the top of the fell looking over Pallas has been chosen as Finland’s national landscape. The Särkitunturi Fell is the best viewing site in the region. The trail is easy to traverse, so it is also suitable for families. It is also possible to access the summit along the snowmobile route or by skiing along a well maintained cross-country skiing trail.