Ylitornio and Pello, Finland: Aavasaksa and Arctic Circle

Kruununkierros trail on Aavasaksa: Kruununkierros is the viewpoint trail on Aavasaksa hill in Ylitornio: 2.6 km in all, with shorter options from 400 m. It is easy, takes 1⁠–⁠2 hours and suits families, as it is easy to leave the trail partway. On the way you pass the pavilion, the observation tower, Aava Sky Village and the Imperial Lodge, built in 1882. On the western edge of the hill there is an accessible lean-to shelter with a view over the border landscape. The trail has duckboards and a crushed-gravel surface; in rain the rocks and duckboards can be dangerously slippery. It is best walked in summer. Most visitors park at the Kruununpuisto car park.

Pieskänjupukka scenic trail: A 1.8 km scenic trail by Lake Miekojärvi in Pello, about 40 km by road from the centre of Pello. It climbs a steep slope to the top of Pieskänjupukka, with views over the lake, and it is waymarked with orange paint. You can reach it from the road on the east side of Miekojärvi, or by boat to the lake shore where the trail starts. It is a summer trail of moderate difficulty.

Aavasaksa: Aavasaksa hill in Ylitornio rises over the Torne Valley to a height of 242 m above sea level and is one of Finland’s official national landscapes. It is among the oldest tourist sights in Finland. In 1736⁠–⁠1737 it was one of the observation points of the Maupertuis expedition, and its highest point is a measuring point of the Struve Geodetic Arc, on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The Imperial Lodge, built in 1882, is the oldest tourist building in Lapland and is a museum in summer. Nearby are the pavilion, which has a café in summer, and an observation tower. Aavasaksa is known as the southernmost place in Finland to see the nightless night and the midnight sun. In summer a paved road leads up the hill; park lower down so that the emergency access road stays clear.

Arctic Circle at Juoksenki: The Arctic Circle runs through the village of Juoksenki in Pello, about 30 km south of the centre of Pello, and travellers stop for a photo by the Arctic Circle sign. Juoksenki lies on the Tornionjoki; across the river, on the Swedish side, is the village of Juoksengi. The two were separated by the Treaty of Hamina in 1809. On the second weekend of July the village holds the Swim the Arctic Circle event, and in winter the villagers freeze an ice road across the river that even cars can drive on, once the ice is strong enough. Take ID with you if you cross to Sweden, and remember that in Sweden the clocks are one hour behind Finland.

Pello Church: Pello Church stands where the Rovaniemi and Kilpisjärvi roads meet. It was built in the reconstruction years after the wars with the help of American Christians and consecrated on 16 August 1953. The church seats 350, and the building also has a parish hall and a bell tower. Access is step-free, and the car park is easiest to reach from behind the church, along Tapulitie.

Kittisvaara and the Maupertuis Memorial: In 1736⁠–⁠1737 a French and Swedish scientific expedition led by Maupertuis travelled the Torne Valley to measure a degree of the Earth’s meridian. Anders Celsius took part, and so did Anders Hellant, who was born in Pello. A baseline of 14.3 km was measured on the ice of the Tornionjoki. The southernmost measuring point was the church tower in Tornio and the northernmost was Kittisvaara hill, about 4 km north of the centre of Pello, where the Maupertuis Memorial was put up in 1956.

Ritavalkea: Ritavalkea is a sports and leisure centre about 8 km from Pello towards Rovaniemi, in use all year round. In winter people come for downhill and cross-country skiing and ice swimming; in summer for hiking, mountain biking, paddling and swimming, with kayaks and mountain bikes for hire. It has five slopes, 800⁠–⁠1000 m long, with a vertical drop of about 120 m, a snow park and a children’s slope. The slopes close when it is colder than −20 °C.

Aavasaksa ski slopes: The Aavasaksa ski centre at Vaaranlaita has one lift and three slopes; the longest is about 1 km, with a vertical drop of 115 m. There is also a 60 m carpet lift, a snow-tubing and sledging hill, and ticket sales and ski hire at the bottom station. The centre is now run by Aavasaksa Lapland Oy, a company owned by the municipality of Ylitornio. Check the season and lift times on the ski centre’s own site before you go.

Bridges to Sweden: Two bridges cross the Tornionjoki to Sweden. The Aavasaksa bridge links Ylitornio with Övertorneå, whose centre, Matarengi, is on the Swedish bank, and the Pello bridge links Pello with the village of Pello on the Swedish side, which belongs to the municipality of Övertorneå. The border between Finland and Sweden runs down the middle of the river. Locals call the river Väylä, the waterway, because it was long the main route through the valley. Many people in the Swedish Torne Valley speak Meänkieli, which, in the words of Pello’s tourism site, is close to the dialect spoken on the Finnish side. Take ID with you when you cross, and remember that in Sweden the clocks are one hour behind Finland.

Ravintola Väylä: Popular lunch buffet restaurant and cafe in the centre.

Ravintola Kammari (Hotel Kievari): Hotel restaurant serving weekday lunch, a la carte and pizza.

Káfet Aavasaksan Paviljonki: Summer cafe-restaurant atop Aavasaksa hill, midnight sun views.

Káfet Aavasaksan Rinteet: Cafe and quick bites at the base of Aavasaksa ski slopes.

Pub Olohuone (Hotel Kievari): Cosy pub at Hotel Kievari with weekend karaoke.

Näköalaravintola (Lomakeskus Karemajat): Panorama restaurant on Ainiovaara hill with lunch, à la carte and breakfast, a view over the Tornio valley and a sun terrace.

GULF Aavasaksa: 24h Gulf station with cafe and grill.

Kahvila-ravintola Granni: Riverside cafe-restaurant with lunch buffet and stone-oven pizzas.

Pörröporo Café-Restaurant: Arctic Circle cafe serving salmon soup and barley flatbread.

Hotelli Pellonhovi: Hotel restaurant near the Tornio River, also a nightclub.

Kahvila-ravintola Joppari (St1): St1 station cafe-restaurant: coffee, reindeer pizza and fuel.