Nordkalottruta or Arctic Trail ( Finnish: ''Kalottireitti'', Swedish: ''Nordkalottleden'') is a marked

hiking trail A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. ...

in the Arctic region of the Nordic countries. It has a total length of and lies along the border of

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

, Sweden and

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bo ...

. It begins at

Kautokeino Kautokeino ( no, Kautokeino; se, Guovdageaidnu ; fkv, Koutokeino; fi, Koutokeino) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Guovdageaidnu/Kautokeino. Other villages ...

(located in Finnmark, Northern Norway) and of the trail lies in Norway, in Sweden and in Finland. The trail crosses international borders 15 times and ends in the south in

Sulitjelma , , or is a village in the municipality of Fauske in Nordland county, Norway. Sulitjelma is situated in a lush inland valley at an elevation of above sea level. It is located on the shore of Langvatnet lake, about southeast of the town of Fa ...

(Norway) or alternately

Kvikkjokk Kvikkjokk () is a small village situated in Jokkmokk Municipality, Norrbotten County, Sweden. It is located 120 km northwest of Jokkmokk. Several hiking trails start in Kvikkjokk. Kungsleden passes through the village and it is a popular s ...

(Sweden). The trail was originally planned in 1977. It passes through

Øvre Dividal National Park Øvre Dividal National Park ( no, Øvre Dividal nasjonalpark; sme, Dieváidvuovddi álbmotmeahcci) is a national park in Målselv Municipality in Troms county, Norway. The park was opened in 1971 and has an area of . The original intention wa ...

, Reisa National Park,

Abisko National Park Abisko National Park ( sv, Abisko nationalpark) is a National Park in Sweden, established in 1909. Geography Abisko is situated in the Swedish province of Lapland near the Norwegian border (distance approx. by railway), and belongs to Kir ...

and

Padjelanta National Park Padjelanta ( sv, Padjelanta nationalpark) is a national park in Norrbotten County in northern Sweden. Established in 1963, it is the largest national park in Sweden with an area of , and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Laponia establishe ...

as well as the Sulitjelmafjellet and Narvikfjell regions. It has more recently become a section of the E1 Path.

Points along the trail

Huts have been constructed along the trail. Almost all of the huts in Norway are operated by the DNT. Many in Sweden are operated by the STF and those in Finland by Finnish Forest Administration. For a small fee (in some huts for free), it is possible to stay in the hut and use the facilities. Some huts are fully staffed and serve food, while most are self-service (some of these require getting the DNT key). A few may require reservations in advance. Supplies can be bought in some of them. Because Norway, Sweden and Finland all have laws establishing

freedom to roam The freedom to roam, or "everyman's right", is the general public's right to access certain public or privately owned land, lakes, and rivers for recreation and exercise. The right is sometimes called the right of public access to the wilderness ...

, it is also possible to camp elsewhere along the trail, legally and for free. Some emergency shelters can also be found on the route. The huts along the Nordkalottruta, between Kautokeino and Sulitjelma, include: * Čunovuohppi (Norway) * Reisavannhytta (NO) * Nedrefosshytta (NO) * Saraelv (NO) * Somashytta (NO) * Kopmajoki (Finland) * Pihtsusjärvi (FI) * Meekonjärvi (FI) * Kuonjarjoki (FI) * Saarijärvi (FI) * Kilpisjärven Retkeilykeskus (FI) * Goldahytta (NO) * Gappohytta (NO) * Rostahytta (NO) * Dærtahytta (NO) * Dividalshytta (NO) * Vuomahytta (NO) * Gaskashytta (NO) * Altevasshytta (NO) * Lappjordhytta (NO) * Pålnostugan (Sweden) * Abisko Turiststation (SE) * Abiskojaurestugan (SE) * Unna Allakas (SE) * Čunojávrihytta (NO) * Cáihnavággihytta (NO) * Gautelishytta (NO) * Skoaddejavrehytta (NO) * Sitashytta (NO) * Paurohytta (NO) * Røysvatn (NO) * Vaisaluokta (SE) * Kutjaurestugan (SE) * Låddejåkkåstugan (SE) * Arasluoktastugorna (SE) * Staloluokta (SE) * Staddajåhkå (SE) * Sårjåsjaurestugan (SE) * Sorjushytta (NO) The huts along the alternate segment to Kvikkjokk are: * Staddajåhkå (SE) * Pieskehaure Fjällstuga (SE) * Vaimok Fjällstuga (SE) * Tarrekaise Fjällstuga (SE) * Njunjes Fjällstuga (SE) * Kvikkjokk Fjällstation (SE) Other points along the trail, such as towns and landmarks, include: *

(NO) * Pihtsusköngäs (FI) - a waterfall * Kilpisjärvi (FI) - a village *

Malla Strict Nature Reserve Malla Strict Nature Reserve (''Mallan luonnonpuisto'') is a strict nature reserve located in Lapland, Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It sh ...

(FI) * Innset (NO) *

Abisko Abisko (; se, Ábeskovvu) is a village in Sápmi ( Lapland), in northern Sweden, roughly 250 km within the Arctic Circle, and near Abisko National Park, located 4 km west of the village. It had 85 inhabitants as of 2005. Permafrost ...

(SE) * Skjomdalen (NO) *

Nikkaluokta Nikkaluokta () is a Swedish Sami village in Norrbotten County. The village belongs to Gällivare Municipality, bordering Kiruna Municipality, the closest urban area some 60 kilometers away. In its vicinity lie the areas of two Sami communities, ...

(SE) *

Ritsem Ritsem, among other things has a hydroelectric plant(320MW,160m) which is located where the lake Sitasjaure falls into Akkajaure by a constructed tunnel(16 km made by:"Swedish state powerboard"Vattenfall""). It is located within Gällivare Mu ...

(SE) *

(NO) *

(SE) * Treriksröset (corner of NO, SE, and FI)

Gallery

File:2014-08-02 Nordkalottleden, Sweden 6315.jpg File:2014-08-02 Nordkalottleden, Sweden 6446.jpg File:2014-08-02 Nordkalottleden, Sweden 6387.jpg File:2014-08-02 Nordkalottleden, Sweden 6431.jpg File:2014-08-03 Nordkalottleden, Sweden 6469.jpg File:2014-08-02 Nordkalottleden, Sweden 6436.jpg Låddejåhkå river along the Nordkalottruta in Padjelanta National Park (DSCF1398).jpg, Låddejåhkå river Miellätno river from a bridge along the Padjelantaleden (DSCF1610).jpg, Miellätno river

References

External links

Description of the trail (Swedish)

Nordkalottleden Trail in Finland (English)
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220094517/http://www.nationalparks.fi/nordkalottledentrail , date=2016-12-20
Map, GPX and details for planning
Hiking trails in Norway Hiking trails in Sweden Hiking trails in Finland