Kevo Strict Nature Reserve Trails

A hiker with a backpack and hiking poles walking along a trail. A pond and a fell landscape can be seen in front of the hiker.

Hiking Trails

Kevo Strict Nature Reserve is divided into two areas; the canyon area and fell area. There are separate rules on hiking in the two areas.

Canyon area:

  • Hiking is permitted 15.6. - 15.10. only on marked trails. Skiing is permitted 16.10. - 31.3. in the entire canyon area. Entering the canyon area is completely forbidden 1.4. - 14.6.

Fell area:

  • Hiking is permitted 1.5. - 15.10. only on marked trails. Skiing is permitted in the entire fell area 16.10. - 30.4.

Locals who practice reindeer husbandry and other natural livelihoods have broader rights and privileges within Kevo Strict Nature Reserve than hikers do.

Starting Points for Trails

You can start hiking on the Kevo Trail from Sulaoja and end up at the Lake Kenesjärvi, or the other way round. The Guivi Trail starts at Sulaoja and separates from the Kevo Trail at Lake Ruktajávri.

Signs have been erected on both sides of the dirt path, the path progressing from view to the birch forest.

Kevo Canyon Trail

This scenically beautiful 63 km long trail leads through Kevo Strict Nature Reserve alternately through fell birch forests, across open fells and through pine forests as well as through Kevo Canyon. The canyon is 40 km long and more than 80 metres deep and it forms the central part of the strict nature reserve, through which most of the trail also travels. The trail is very demanding as it descends several times to the bottom of the canyon and then in turn climbs to fell tops. Hikers must wade across the River Kevojoki a few times.

The trail is marked with orange paint on trees and wooden poles. You can start hiking from Sulaoja and end up at the Lake Kenesjärvi, or the other way round. The trail is easier if you start from Sulaoja.

In some places the trail goes down to the bottom of the canyon, and in other places it goes up to the highland, and it crosses three times the River Kevojoki which flows in the canyon. Along this trail, you get to see the most impressive sights of the nature reserve, such as Fiellu Waterfall and the Wall of Kevo, a place where the valley opens up to reveal great scenery. The Guivi trail is partly joined with the Kevo Trail.
  • Services: There are signs, campfire sites, camping sites, steps, duckboards and wading wire ropes along the trail. There is an open wilderness hut at the Lake Ruktajávri. At Suohppášája and Gamajotnsuohppášája, there are Campfire hut where hikers can find shelter in bad weather. These Campfire huts are meant for day use. At Fiellu Waterfall and the Lake Njaggaljávrrit there are turf huts which also provide shelter for hikers. These, too, are meant for day use, not for overnight stays.
  • Trail Sections Sulaoja - Kenesjärvi:
    • Suttesája - Luopmošjohka, 2 km
    • Luopmošjohka - Ruktajávri, 10 km
    • Ruktajávri - Suohpášája, 11,5 km
    • Suohpášája - Fiellogahjohka, 6,5 km
    • Fiellogahjohka - Roajášjávri, 9,5 km
    • Roajášjávri - Gamajotnsuohpášája, 4,5 km
    • Gamajotnsuohpášája - Njaggaljávri, 8 km
    • Njaggaljávri - Beahcelávojávrrit, 3 km
    • Beahcelávojávrrit - Guoikgáhritája, 2 km
    • Guoikgáhritája - Silkeája, 3,5 km
    • Silkeája - Ganešjávri, 2,5 km

Level of difficulty

Kevo Trail is extremely demanding and at parts difficult to travel. There are large differences in altitude along the trail as it alternately travels on open fell tops and the bottom of Kevo Canyon. At points the trail is rocky making it difficult to travel and very slippery when it rains. The trail leads very close to the edge of a steep cliff or along steep steps at many points.

Streams in the fells must be crossed by wading. In Kevo Canyon there are signs to wading points for the Rivers Fiellogeađggejohka and Kevojoki. At wading points there are wires across the river with hand grips to help in crossing the waters. When waters are high the current at the wading points can be strong. The route is well-marked and the trail is clear in the terrain. Even so it is always essential to have a map and compass with when hiking. You should reserve 3 to 5 days for hiking Kevo Trail. There are no accessible services along the trail.

Kuivi Trail

Another trail called Kuivi Trail also travels through Kevo Strict Nature Reserve. It turns off of Kevo Trail at Lake Ruktajávri and joins with it again on the northeast side of Fiellu Waterfall. Kuivi Trail can be travelled as a circle trail from Sulaoja or it can be combined with Kevo Trail. As a circle trail the trail is 86,5 km long.

In open fell areas the trail is marked with orange topped wooden poles, while in wooded areas it is marked with orange paint on tree trunks.

The Guivi Trail goes through the fell area. It separates from the Kevo Trail at the Lake Ruktajávri towards the open wilderness huts of Njávgoaivi and Guivi. A section of the trail goes into Paistunturi Wilderness Area, after which it returns to the River Kevojoki on the northern side of Fiellu Waterfall, and continues back to the Lake Ruktajávri.

  • Services: There are signs, campfire sites, camping sites, steps, duckboards and wading wire ropes along the trail. There is an open wilderness hut at the Lake Ruktajávri, Njávgoaivi and Guivi. The old turf hut along the trail on the headwaters of the River Akujoki was renovated in August 2007.
  • Distances from Sulaoja back to Sulaoja:
    • Sulaoja - Lake Ruktajávri 12 km
    • Ruktajávri - Njávgoaivi 6 km
    • Njávgoaivi - Akukammi Turf Hut 7,5 km
    • Akukammi Turf Hut - Guivi 10 km
    • Guivi - the joining of the Kevo Trail on the slope of Podosroadja 10 km
    • Podosroadja - Fiellu 3 km
    • Fiellu - Suohpášája 6,5 km
    • Suohpášája - Lake Ruktajávri 11 km
    • Lake Ruktajávri - Sulaoja 12 km
  • The length of the journey from Sulaoja via Guivi to Kenestupa, without calling at Fiellu, is 77 km.

Level of difficulty on Kuivi Trail

Kuivi Trail is moderately demanding and travels mainly in the fell area. The trail is well-marked, but is rocky at points. There are some demanding ascents along the route as well as a couple of rivers to cross by wading. You should reserve 4 to 7 days for hiking Kuivi Trail.