The
Arctic Trail is a remote hiking path, 250 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. It winds via Norway, Sweden, and Finland, encompassing total 800 kilometers of marked tracks. Nonetheless, it is possible to walk components of the trail. The first part starts in northern Sweden and follows the more traveled King’s Trail. The second phase ends in a small village in Norway, which is difficult to access. This is the story concerning the third phase — taking us from Kilpisjärvi in Finland to Abisko in Sweden.
Bringing a very good tent is a must as there are only about 40 cabins spread across the complete trail system. Some of them are locked. You may hike for days here without assembly another human being. The weather can change all of the sudden — in just a couple of minutes — and one should by no means hike alone into mountain terrain.
Getting there
Permit for ten days to cover the Kilpisjärvi-Abisko a part of the trail. That includes 2–3 days of transport, getting to and from the path system, and about 10 kilometers by boat in the beginning. The trail itself is of medium difficulty with few steep sections, permitting for 20–30 kilometers hiking per day.
There are a number of ways to access the trail. We flew from Stockholm to Tromsø, via Oslo. From Tromsø in Norway, it takes virtually 4 hours by bus to Kilpisjärvi in Finland. Discover the completely different itineraries relying in your starting point.
The Three-Country Cairn
The boat Milla will take you throughout the lake close to the three-country cairn, where Norway, Sweden, and Finland meet. You can even take the character path that begins at Mount Saanas foot and are available to the Arctic Trail that way. This half is wooded and quite easy to force. From the boat to the cairn, it is a simple three-kilometer walk. Walk another three kilometers to get to Goldahytta in Norway.
The path starts to raise and you might be quickly above the tree line. Walk 10 more kilometers and you'll reach Gappohytta, additionally in Norway. On the way south, a superb place to pitch the tent is some 4 kilometers before you attain Pältsa cabin. Nonetheless, be prepared for lots of mosquitos!
Heading South
From Gappohytta, you can head south to the Pältsa fjällstuga in Sweden. Here are the first signs of what lies ahead; fishing with some small lakes to pitch the tent and relaxation for a while. Don't be afraid to be deviated a little from the trail. Nevertheless, be prepared to wade if necessary. Moving on to into Norway and Rostahytta, crossing the suspension bridge throughout Iselva.
The walk alongside the river is nice and relaxing. On the three cabin Rostahytta, you'll meet a couple of cabin hosts. Take the opportunity to ask about weather conditions and the like. Additionally, eliminate garbage and unnecesessary equipment. After the coin, the path takes on a new stretch, around the mountain south of the hut. The gradient and terrain turn out to be quite demanding.
Gone fishing
From Rostahytta, the path continues to Dærtahytta and Dividalshytta. After just a few days, it is sweet to clean our garments and take a bath. The realm is hilly and quite dry. After a while, nevertheless, it is almost like walking into a swamp. Swamps imply millions of mosquitos and wet boots. After a while, you will reach a phenomenal fishing site. This was the primary a part of the trail where we actually saw quite a number of people.
After Dividalshytta, the terrain adjustments to a jungle-like forest that by no means seems to end. Do not miss the attractive and mighty waterfall near the trail. After hiking for a number of hours, we determined to set up a campsite by the river.
Go West
Hiking the Arctic Trail is assembly nature in its completely different shapes and expressions. Brilliant sunshine combined with snow and ice. Bare raw mountain combined with jungle forest. The sweetness lies in the contrasts.
Approaching the tip of our journey, the hike continues from Dividalshytta to Gaskashytta by way of Vuomahytta. After Dividalshytta, we passed Divielvan by way of a suspension bridge. Subsequent, the trail rises once more from the birch forest up within the mountains with panoramic views. Vuomahytta is situated in the mouth of a wide u-formed valley. After Voumahytta, the trail reaches nearly thousand meters, after which it goes down to Gaskashytta and Altevatn.
Litjälktis lower slopes do not invite the hiker to nice experiences with their bushes and muddy trails. Earlier than Inset, there are good camp sites. In Inset, there are good lodging facilities together with a husky farm. Altevasshytta is positioned a couple of kilometers east of Inset. Altevatn is a dammed lake of some ten kilometers. West of it there are about 4 hundred houses, the place one can only pass along a road. There are three places the place you need to wade because of unsafe bridges because of floods within the area. Shortly before the border to Sweden, you will arrive at Lappjordhytta.