Halti Hike from Finland

Dogs Leashed

Features Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · Geological Significance · Lake · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Waterfall · Wildlife

This hike takes you from the town of Kilpisjärvi to the summit of Halti. It partly passes through Norway as well and the peak of Halti is on the Norwegian side of the border. On the route, you'll encounter reindeer, a few waterfalls and rivers, beautiful Scandinavian scenery and you'll get a very rewarding feeling when standing on the summit of Halti fell.

- You can rent out certain huts on this trail excluding those available to every hiker along the route (the map shows the huts)
- Fire and camping is allowed although wood supply is scarce (the huts have firewood)
- 112 is the emergency number in Finland
- Do not disturb the reindeer and respect nature

You'll hike for about 2-4 days to Halti and 2-4 days back from Halti. It brings the total length to over 100 km and about 5-8 days. You'll start your hike at Kilpisjärvi, Finland. Kilpisjärvi is accessible by car and bus from Rovaniemi, Finland, which also has an international airport. Buses operate the 435 km route once daily (leaving at 08:00 am from Rovaniemi and 13:00 from Kilpisjärvi). You can also drive to Kilpisjärvi from Norway. Kilpisjärvi has hotels and other services.

The trail has multiple huts in which you can sleep overnight for free. These huts are located mostly on lakesides, so getting water is not a problem. You can also swim in these lakes and rivers (although it might be very cold). The huts are about 10-20 km apart so you can hike to the next hut every day. You'll have to ascend and descend fells along the way. A waterfall is located near Pithsusjärvi and it is something you should definitely see. Before the ascent to Halti, you can sleep in the Halti hut.

While ascending Halti, you'll come across the highest point in Finland (and the border between Finland and Norway). The views from the top are breathtaking. The endless empty landscape and the beauty of Lapland will amaze you. The route is also part of the Kalottireitti (Arctic Trail) which is an 800 km trail through Sweden, Norway, and Finland. The route should be done in the summer months as it gets very cold in autumn and the weather gets bad. If the weather is good though, you'll see beautiful fall colors. You can also ski the trail in winter. You might even see northern lights!

Halti and the surrounding area have played an important part in the history of the Sami indigenous people.