The Pyhä-Nattanen Trail, 2-7 km
When there is no snow on the ground. There is a steep ascent onto the Pyhä-Nattanen Summit and a steep descent, so the trail is not suitable for those with a poor health. The trail has been marked with green poles and an old wooden poles in the terrain. Hiking is only permitted on marked trail in Sompio Strict Nature Reserve.
Travel time: 3- 8 hours.
Starting points
Adress: Sompiojärventie, Vuotso (Sodankylä), (retkikartta.fi)
Coordinates: WGS84 lat: 68° 06.6501' lon: 27° 21.2650' ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7555264 E: 514745
Hiking Structures
Nalijoki lean-to shelter and Nattasen Palovartijan tupa (Nattanen) Hut
Sights
You can admire the fell views from the peak of Pyhä-Nattanen (508 m). The scenery opening up from the summit is dominated by the Nattastunturit Fells chain to the northeast. Nestling by Pyhä-Nattanen Fell is the small, wilderness like Sukkulalampi Pond, which you can admire from the felltop. Further away looms the broad, undivided fell area of the Urho Kekkonen National Park.
Route Description
Trail marking: The trail has been marked with green poles in the terrain.
Linkki retkikarttaan
The Pyhä-Nattanen Trail, 7 km, runs through the strict nature reserve's western part. You can get on the trail from the Sompiojärvi forest road on the border of the strict nature reserve or at a point located at a distance of about 1 km from the border. When hiking the entire circle trail, the length of the hike is 7 km. The trail pops onto the Pyhä-Nattanen Summit and runs along the Nalijoki riverside. There is a steep ascent onto the Pyhä-Nattanen Summit and a steep descent, so the trail is not suitable for those with a poor health.
Please Note
From the Nalijoki lean-to shelter is a steep and difficult ascent onto the Pyhä-Nattanen Summit.
Ruijanpolku Trail 35 km / Direction
When there is no snow on the ground. The Trail is marked. Hiking on the trail requires moderate navigation and wilderness skills. Hiking is only permitted on marked trail in Sompio Strict Nature Reserve.
Travel time 2 days.
Starting points
Sompiojärvi lake parking area (retkikartta.fi). Adress: Sompiojärventie (road), Vuotso (Sodankylä)
Coordinates: WGS84 lat: 68° 06.6501' lon: 27° 21.2650' ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7555264 E: 514745
Kiilopääntie road parking area (retkikartta.fi). From the Kiilopääntie road is signs to parking area and to the trail.
Coordinates: WGS84 lat: 68° 20.1716' lon: 27° 25.7065' ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7580409 E: 517651
Laanila starting point (retkikartta.fi) to summer hiking routes.
Coordinates: Euref-Fin WGS84 lat: 68° 23.5589' lon: 27° 24.0504' ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7586696 E: 516473
Hiking Structures
By Lake Sompiojärvi a lean-to shelter and bird watching tower. Lean-to shelter by the Kaptukaislammet Ponds. There is a lean-to shelter along the Kopsusjärventie Road about 500 metres to west from the trail and Sivakkaoja lean-to shelter. Making a fire is only allowed at the designated sites by sparingly using the firewood provided solely for this purpose.
Sights
The Ruijanpolku Trail runs in between the rugged Nattastunturit Fells across the Sompio Strict Nature Reserve. The handsome views from the summit of Terävä-Nattanen Fell.
Route Description
Sompiojärvi - Terävä-Nattanen fell, 6 km
When starting your hike from Lake Sompiojärvi, the first section of the trail is very rocky in places. Consequently, it is advisable to wear hiking boots, and rubber boots in early summer and during rainy periods. The first section of the trail passes through an old-growth forest at the foot of Nattastunturit Fells. The terrain is rocky. There are scree stone fields particularly in the ravine between Seinätunturi Fell and Terävä-Nattanen Fell, and in early summer there is often snow in the ravine, too.
In addition to the wooden poles, there are also several heaps of stones marking the first 6 km that were gathered in former times to function as trail markings. The old stony trail markings must remain untouched (the Antiquities Act). The rocky trail leads you to the first target of the hike, the root of the fell Terävä-Nattanen. While hiking you have crossed the small brook of Kulmakko-oja, where you can get water.
Terävä-Nattanen - the Summit of Terävä-Nattanen, about 1 km
The rocky journey continues when ascending onto the summit of Terävä-Nattanen Fell. The ascent onto Terävä-Nattanen is the only major climb on the Ruijanpolku Trail. The trail onto the summit ascends to a height of 544 m, and the whole 1-km journey to the felltop is very rocky. There are only scree stone fields on top of Terävä-Nattanen. However, the splendid views opening up from the summit will reward your efforts many times over!
From the summit the scenery opens up in all directions. The other five Nattaset Fells are located nearby; i.e., Pyhä-Nattanen, Seinätunturi, Serrikainen, Lupukainen and Suku-Nattanen. The broad fell area of the Urho Kekkonen National Park looms further away to the north, northeast and east. In the south you can see the legendary Lake Sompiojärvi and further back, the Lokka Reservoir. Further to the southwest glistens the Porttipahta Reservoir. The fell areas are lined by thick forests of candle-shaped spruces. When looking from the summit, the aapa mire areas in the north appear as strings wriggling through the fells and the forests. When peering into the distance, you may be surprised to suddenly see a ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) almost at your feet. It thrives in the treeless, open fell areas. Descend from the summit along the same trail.
Terävä-Nattanen - Kaptukaislampi lean-to shelter, 9 km
The large spruces with long branches and the thick moss create a special atmosphere in the vicinity of the northern border of the Sompio Strict Nature Reserve. Cross Nattushaara via a bridge. There may be flood at this point of the trail in spring.
When hiking on Ruijanpolku, allow yourself a good night's sleep by a campfire site. You may stay overnight in a tent on the Kaptukaislampi campfire site roughly midway through the trail. The campfire site and lean-to shelter (on the Urho Kekkonen National Park side) is located on the shores of the small, wilderness-like Kaptukaislammet Ponds. You can get drinking water from the Kaptukaisoja brook, which is located a couple of hundred metres south of the campfire site. The trail runs across the brook along a bridge.
Kaptukaislampi lean-to shelter - Kiilopääntie Road, 13 km
From the Kaptukaislampi campfire site, the journey continues through a dry, pleasant forest terrain. You will cross the road track leading to Lake Kopsusjärvi at a distance of about five kilometres from the Kaptukaislammet Ponds. There is a lean-to shelter along Kopsusjärventie Road about 600 m west of the Ruijanpolku Trail. You can take a break or stay there overnight. The remaining section passes through easy-to-walk terrain. The mountain birches and the pine heaths lead you to Kiilopääntie Road. In this section, observant hikers may notice marks carved in old pines that functioned as trail markings a long time ago.
Kiilopääntie Road - Laanila, 6 km
From Kiilopääntie Road, the hike continues to Laanila through a pine terrain. The Kiilopää Fells frame the scenery on the eastern side. There is a connection from Laanila to the Saariselkä-Kiilopää area's marked trails.
Please Note
Consequently, it is advisable to wear hiking boots, and rubber boots in early summer and during rainy periods. Hiking on the trail requires moderate navigation and wilderness skills. There are old heaps along the trail that function as trail markings. The old stony trail markings must remain untouched (the Antiquities Act), and all other activities causing any changes to the natural features of the strict nature reserve are also prohibited. You must follow the trail markings carefully in the Sompio Strict Nature Reserve, as hiking there is only allowed along marked trails.
Camping in Sompio Strict Nature Reserve is only allowed on the shores of Lake Sompiojärvi.
