02.11 Saarijärvi - Kilpisjärvi

From the small Saarijärvi hut, situated between two lakes, the trail heads south toward Kilpisjärvi. The trail briefly crosses the border into Norway, but apart from a few weathered Finnish signs along the way, you hardly notice the border crossing. The closer you get to Kilpisjärvi, the less marshy the landscape becomes. Soon, Saana, Kilpisjärvi’s local mountain, comes into view. At Cahkaljavri, you reach a larger lake and are almost back in civilization. Coming from the south, you need to be careful here, as the wider path runs along the lake, while the marked hiking trail runs slightly above the lake.

At the southern end of Lake Cahkaljavri, there is a cabin and a trail junction. If you want to continue directly on the Nordkalottleden, you can turn west here. If you’d like to get a taste of civilization, continue on the main trail toward Kilpisjärvi. The hiking trail soon turns into a farm road, and you’ll reach the visitor center, where you can, for example, pick up a key for the locked cabins. Here you’ll also reach the main road, where all of Kilpisjärvi’s hotels, restaurants, and the shopping center are located. 

Past the shopping center and gas station, the trail veers off the main road again and heads uphill toward Saana. After about 2 km, you reach a junction and turn left into a marshy area. This is where one of the most unpleasant sections of the E1 begins. For several kilometers, the trail follows a marshy forest path along the mountainside. Progress here is very difficult; a few boardwalks would be a great improvement to this section. Finally, the trail ends at the Kilpisjärvi campground.

Last text update: 08.01.2023

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