Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park

Explore one of the oldest and most popular national parks in Finland in the grandeur of the pristine fells of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park in Lapland. Here the ancient, rounded fells, once as tall as mountains, are still massive and dramatic. What they lack in height, they make up for in untamed splendor. In this day-hiking and Nordic skiing paradise, nature still writes the rules. The peace and quiet of the wilderness with the cleanest air and water in the world seduces you with breath-taking 360-degree vistas. It’s a magical place that entices visitors to move at its pace and rhythm. The hustle and bustle of routine life is quickly left behind.

Visitor Centers

Our customer service will guide you to the attractions of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park and its finest hiking trails. The free exhibitions of visitor centers will provide you with an introduction to local nature and culture. The centers also host changing art exhibitions. We organize Nature Talks and numerous other events round the year. You can visit our shop to purchase maps and local products and to enjoy fell scenery over a cup of coffee. The visitor centers are accessible and suitable for families with young children. Activities

Pallas-Yllästunturi changes dramatically with the seasons. In summer you can go trekking on the 500 kilometeres of marked trails in one of Finland’s oldest and most famous hiking areas during the wondrous nightless night when the sun never sets. Or hike in the autumn when the mountain birch trees, shrubs, and ground cover turn spectacular shades of yellow, red, and orange. In winter you can go cross-country skiing on around 500 kilometeres of ski tracks and witness the life-changing display of the aurora borealis, the colourful Northern Lights that dance across the fell tops. Throughout the year there are open day trip huts available for rest stops. Opportunities for mountain biking, winter mountain biking, and snowshoeing are also plentiful in the park. Trails

Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is ideal for day hikes. Here are some top picks. The somewhat demanding eight-kilometre-long Taivaskeronkierros Circle Trail leads to the top of the highest fell in the park. At the middle of the hundred-kilometer-long fell chain, the peak of Taivaskero Fell offers a fantastic 360-degree view of unspoiled wilderness.

Ideal for families with small children the three-kilometer-long Varkaankurunpolku Nature Trail leads through a unique green oasis on duck boards. The protected gorge creates an ideal environment for a large variety of plants that are rare at this latitude.

The well-marked 50-kilometre-long Hetta-Pallas Hiking Trail was first laid out in 1934 making it Finland’s oldest and a rite of passage for Finnish trekkers. This famous trail passes through the heart of the fell chain from one treeless fell top to the next offering fantastic views throughout its length.