Nordkalottruta or Arctic Trail (also: ; ) is a marked

hiking trail A hike is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Long hikes as part of a religious pilgrimage have existed for a much longer time. " ...

in the Arctic region of the

Nordic countries The Nordic countries (also known as the Nordics or ''Norden''; ) are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe, as well as the Arctic Ocean, Arctic and Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic oceans. It includes the sovereign states of Denm ...

. It has a total length of and lies along the border of

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

and

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

. It begins at

Kautokeino Kautokeino () may refer to: Places *Kautokeino Municipality (also known as: ), a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway *Kautokeino (village) , , or is the administrative centre of Kautokeino Municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The vill ...

(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 Fauske Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. Sulitjelma is situated in a lush inland valley at an elevation of above mean sea level, above sea level. It is located on the shore of Langvatnet (Fauske), Langvatnet lake, ...

(Norway) or alternately

Kvikkjokk Kvikkjokk () (Lule Sámi: ''Huhttán'') 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 villa ...

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

Øvre Dividal National Park Øvre Dividal National Park (; ) 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 was to preserve a largely undisturbed inland valley and mountain area. T ...

, Reisa National Park,

Abisko National Park Abisko National Park () is a List of national parks of Sweden, National Park in Sweden, established in 1909. Geography Abisko is situated in the Swedish province of Lapland (Sweden), Lapland near the Norway, Norwegian border (distance approx ...

and Padjelanta National Park 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 everyone's right, every person's right 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 ...

, 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) * Pitsusjärvi (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) * Pitsusköngäs (FI) - a waterfall *

Kilpisjärvi Kilpisjärvi (; ) is a village in the municipality of Enontekiö, Lapland, Finland. It is located in Finland's northwestern "arm" near the northwesternmost point of the country. Although Kilpisjärvi is one of the largest villages in Enontekiö ...

(FI) - a village *

Malla Strict Nature Reserve Malla Strict Nature Reserve (''Mallan luonnonpuisto'') is a strict nature reserve located in Lapland, Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway ...

(FI) * Innset (NO) *

Abisko Abisko (; ) is a village in Sápmi (Lapland (Sweden), Lapland), in northern Sweden, roughly 200 km north of the Arctic Circle, and near Abisko National Park, located 4 km west of the village. It had 85 inhabitants as of 2005. Permafr ...

(SE) * Skjomdalen (NO) *

Nikkaluokta Nikkaluokta (; North Sámi: ''Nihkkáluokta''; Meänkieli: ''Nikkulahti'') is a Swedish Sami village in Norrbotten County. The village belongs to Gällivare Municipality, bordering Kiruna Municipality, the closest urban area some 60 kilometers a ...

(SE) * Ritsem (SE) *

(NO) *

(SE) *

Treriksröset The Three-Country Cairn (, , , ) is the tripoint at which the international borders of Sweden, Norway and Finland meet, and the name of the monument that marks the point. It is the northernmost international tripoint in the world.The border betw ...

(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