03.01 Kilpisjärvi - Treriksrøysa - Goldahytta

Leave the Kilpisjärvi campground heading north on the trail to the summit of Saana. After an initial climb, however, at the first intersection you do not continue toward the summit; instead, you turn back down the valley toward the road, which you cross at the hiker’s parking lot near the customs station. This marks the start of a heavily trafficked section; many day hikers are on the trail here, either heading to the summit of Pikku-Malla, to the reconstructed World War II fortifications, or – most likely – to the tri-border area. The hike to that point, however, is quite challenging.

You’ll soon reach the treeless landscape, where you can see the trail stretching far ahead, winding slowly uphill. Once you reach the top, you’ll be treated to fantastic views of Lake Kilpisjärvi and, later on, Lake Goldajavri as well. At some point during the day, you’ll likely also see the ferry that takes day hikers back from the Koltalahti settlement to Kilpisjärvi (E1 hikers who want to shorten part of the route can also take this ferry) as it crosses the lake. Another highlight on this stage is a small waterfall right next to the trail. After a few kilometers, the trail then turns downhill again into the birch forest toward the Norwegian border, where you walk along the border fence for quite a while. Finally, you reach the Kuohkimajärvi hut, the last Finnish hut on the E1. For hikers who started in the main town of Kilpisjärvi, this would be an ideal stage length.

From the Finnish hut, it’s just a stone’s throw to the tripoint, a yellow concrete block in Lake Goldajärvi. A footbridge leads to this spot, so you can step onto Finnish, Swedish, and Norwegian soil within seconds. To continue hiking on the E1, head north, initially following the border fence again, but this time on the Norwegian side. The trail then turns westward and winds slightly above the lakeshore along relatively easy paths through the birch forest to Goldahytta. Here, you need to be careful to take the right path when leaving the cabin complex; in particular, the trail toward Kilpisjärvi isn’t immediately obvious.

Last text update: 08.01.2023

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