Muonio, Enontekiö
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
The trail is managed and maintained by Metsähallitus.
Hetta-Pallas Hiking Trail
Most popular long distance hiking trail in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is the 50-km-long Hetta-Pallas Hiking Trail. The route for this trail was outlined in 1934. The trail leads over fells, sometimes descending to the ravines below to once again as if to prepare hikers for the breathtaking view from the top of the next fell. The trail is marked with arrow signs.
Hetta-Pallas route is going to be a litter-free hiking trail in 2023. Please, carry all waste away with in your rucksack!
Season: The best time for hiking begins at June 21st. Season goes on until mid-October, when there are only a few random wanderers on the trail and first snow comes. Note: By the beginning of June snow has for the most part melted from the area, but because of the water from melted snow and ice the trail is wet and susceptible to erosion.
Hetta-Pallas Skiing Trail
There is also a cross country skiing trail between Hetta and Pallas. The distance is between 53 and 60 km depending on what route you choose. The winter trail leads lower on the slopes than the summer one through forest landscape and across mires, though between the Sioskuru and Hannunkuru Ravines the trail goes on an open and exposed fell area.
Season: Cross country skiing trail between Sioskuru and Hannukuru is open from mid-March to end of April!
The distances between the huts are longer in the winter trail than in the summer trail. The trail is marked with a wooden cross in open areas and in wooded areas with a blue triangle painted in trees. Winter routes are not suitable for summer hiking because they often run on wet soils.
If you are going to ski on the Hetta Pallas trail in the beginning of winter, you have to be able to navigate in challenging circumstances. In the middle of winter the day light time is short and there are no tracks. Other skiing trails are not maintained before mid-February.
Skiing trails are managed by local businesses. You can check the maintenance of the ski tracks between Hetta and Hannukuru from the Hetta Ski Map (infogis.fi). The maintenance of ski tracks from Hannukuru to Pallas on the east side of the fells can be checked from the Raattama-Ylikyrö Ski Map (infogis.fi). The maintenance of the track between Nammalakuru and Pallas on the west side of the fells can be checked from the Muonio Ski Map (infogis.fi).
Snowshoeing the Hetta–Pallas Trail
It is possible to walk from Hetta to Pallas with snowshoes along the summer trail, which is marked with arrow signs. Snowshoeing is not allowed on the maintained ski tracks.
Season: December/January to late April.
In winter, trekking is very demanding. Harsh weather and poor light in the middle of winter cause difficulties. The weather may change rapidly on the fells. A quickly forming fog or blizzard may cause dangerous situations. The temperature can drop to -40° and during the darkest part of winter there is sunlight for only a couple of hours. The hard winds on the fells make the coldness even worse.
