Hiking in Lapland

Scene from Valtavaara to Ruka
(4km before end of this journey)

Valtavaara Hill is last obstacle before your arrival to Ruka fell. It is relatively long and high for a hill, but once you get up there you don’t mind about all the sweat that you had to pour to get up there, because it has pretty amazing view to surrounding nature. Along the way you will come across with two lean-to shelters and one day trip hut between them. While I love sight of those structures, Valtavaa Hill is so close to end point of this trail (or starting point, if your heading from south to north) that I have never manage to restrain myself to stay over night in Valtavaara Hilll instead of completing the journey and going into warm sauna.
One thing to keep in mind, while your making plans, is that Valtavaara is so close to Ruka that you will probably see lot of people doing daytrips in Valtavaara, because there is 8km circle trail which goes part of the way (something between 1/3 to 1/2 of its length) along the same trailpath with Karhunkierros hiking trail. So if you arrive to those lean-to shelter in early morning hours and want to get some sleep, I wouldn’t be too suprised, if you will see other people near by, when you wake up.

More photographs from Valtavaara Hill

Valtavaara day trip hut in horizon	Konttainen (another hill) and couple lakes
Trail signs This is where day trip trail and Karhunkierros hiking trail split into different directions.	Valtavaara day trip hut
Valtavaara lean-to shelter	Decent from Valtavaara Hill