Snowshoeing in Ylläs

There are few better ways to experience Ylläs in winter than on snowshoes. The movement is intuitive, the pace is slow, and you can go from marked trails to deep powder and open fell tops without needing much technique.

Ylläs has a particularly good mix of terrain for snowshoeing. In the forests, you can weave between snow-covered trees and walk through untouched powder. Higher up on the fells, the trees give way to open landscapes and wide views across the surrounding wilderness. When the conditions are right, the snow can build up heavily on the trees, creating the kind of winter scenery that makes the landscape feel almost unreal.

And perhaps the best part is the freedom. You don't always need a destination or a perfectly planned route. Sometimes it's enough to head into the forest, find a quiet place, stop for a hot drink and listen to the snow under your feet.

Ylläs has plenty of marked winter trails, but the most rewarding snowshoeing often happens around the fells. You don't need to visit every trail. A handful of areas offer very different experiences, from easy forest walks to longer climbs with panoramic views.

Kuertunturi

One of the easiest fells to recommend if you want a good view without a particularly demanding climb. Kuertunturi is accessible without a car from Äkäslompolo and gives you a great introduction to fell snowshoeing. The route climbs through the forest before opening up towards the top, where the views are the main reward. There is no kota at the summit, so bring what you need with you.

Kesänki

Kesänki offers a similar combination of forest, climb and open fell, with the added bonus of a kota along the way. It is a good choice if you want to combine a proper winter walk with a place to stop, warm up and have something to eat.

Kukas

Kukas is lower than Kesänki and generally feels a little easier, while still giving you the experience of getting out onto the fell. There is no kota on the route, making it more about the landscape and the walk itself.

Tuominkuru

On the Ylläsjärvi side, Tuominkuru can be reached from the ski resort. The route passes through beautiful forest and leads towards an open shelter and campfire spot. It is a good option when you want a shorter outing without giving up the feeling of being properly outdoors.

These are the places I'd start with. But Ylläs is not only about following a fixed route. Snowshoes give you the freedom to explore beyond the marked trails when conditions and experience allow.

If you're new to snowshoeing in Ylläs, marked trails are the easiest place to start. They are easier to follow, require less navigation and usually offer a good mix of forest and fell terrain.

Marked trails
Ylläs has a network of marked winter trails that make snowshoeing straightforward, especially if it's your first time. The routes are generally easy to follow and let you experience forests, fells and winter landscapes without having to navigate through deep snow yourself.

For a first outing, trails such as Kuertunturi, Kesänki or Tuominkuru are good places to start. You can focus on walking and enjoying the landscape rather than constantly wondering where to go next.

Going off-trail
Once you're comfortable on snowshoes, one of the best things about them is that you're not limited to prepared routes. You can step into the deep snow, weave between the trees and choose your own line across the landscape.

This is where snowshoeing starts to feel less like following a trail and more like exploring.

But it also requires more effort. Deep powder is considerably harder to walk through, and navigation becomes your responsibility. Terrain, weather, daylight and your own energy all matter more when you leave the marked routes.

For a first outing, stick to a marked snowshoe route. If you want to explore further off-trail, make sure you understand the terrain, conditions and your own limits — or go with a local guide.

Both are excellent ways to explore Ylläs, but they suit different people and different terrain.

Snowshoes are easier to learn. If you can walk, you can usually get comfortable on snowshoes within minutes. They are particularly well suited to fell terrain, where you may need to climb and descend.

Backcountry skis are faster and more efficient once you know how to use them. In deep powder, the gliding movement can also feel more natural than lifting each foot with a snowshoe.

The trade-off is technique. Skiing downhill, even on relatively gentle fell slopes, requires considerably more control.

As a simple rule: for the fells, snowshoes are usually the easier choice unless you are already a confident skier. On flatter terrain, skis can be more enjoyable, provided you're comfortable skiing.

Dress for the activity, not just the temperature. One of the most common mistakes in Lapland is wearing too much clothing at the start.

Even at -25°C and below, snowshoeing can be surprisingly warm once you are moving. Start with layers that allow you to regulate your temperature rather than one extremely thick outfit. Bring an extra layer for stops and slower sections, because you will cool down quickly once you stop moving.

Don't forget the basics:

• Warm, moisture-managing base layers

• Insulating mid-layer

• Windproof or weather-resistant outer layer

• Warm gloves or mittens

• Hat

• Warm socks

• Proper winter boots

• Backpack

• Water or a hot drink in a thermos

• Headlamp

• Phone

• Hand warmers

Your boots matter more than you might think.

Don't choose winter boots that fit tightly around your toes. Your feet need enough room for warm air to circulate around them. A slightly roomy boot is often warmer than a tight one, especially when temperatures drop well below freezing.

Snowshoeing itself is relatively low-risk, but winter in Lapland deserves respect.

Know the terrain

Avoid avalanche-prone terrain unless you have the appropriate knowledge and equipment. Most recreational snowshoeing around Ylläs does not require entering this kind of terrain, so there is usually no reason to seek it out.

Take the cold seriously

The main winter risks are frostbite and hypothermia. Keep moving when it is very cold, have enough insulation for stops, and pay attention to your hands, feet and face.

Know when to turn around

Winter days can be short, particularly in December and early January. Carry a headlamp even if you expect to finish before dark, and don't let the summit become more important than getting back safely. Mobile phone coverage is generally very good around Ylläs, but don't rely on your phone as your only safety plan.

Leave the landscape as you found it

Ylläs is a place to enjoy, not consume. Take your rubbish with you, leave the wilderness huts and kota clean for the next person, and never walk on prepared cross-country ski tracks. They are for skiers, and walking on them damages the surface.

You may also encounter reindeer, hare, foxes, squirrels and birds. Dangerous wildlife encounters are extremely rare, but give animals space and let them move away rather than approaching them.

There is no single perfect winter period, the experience changes throughout the season.

December & early January

The days are short, so there is less time for daytime snowshoeing if you want to stay in natural light. The upside is the darkness: if the sky is clear, the Northern Lights can appear surprisingly early.

January & February

This is when Ylläs often looks most like the Lapland people imagine. The trees can carry huge amounts of snow, particularly higher up on the fells and in sheltered forests.

Cold weather is not necessarily a problem. In fact, very cold, stable conditions can make for excellent snowshoeing, as long as you dress properly and keep moving.

March onwards

There is more daylight and longer days outside, but the landscape gradually changes. As temperatures rise, the snow starts to settle and melt, and the trees lose some of their heavy snow cover.

You don't need a guide to put on snowshoes and walk around Ylläs. But knowing how to use them is not the same as knowing where to go.

A local guide can adapt the route to the snow, weather and group rather than following the same itinerary every day.

That might mean choosing a different fell because the trees are better covered in snow, finding a quieter route away from the busiest tracks, or changing plans completely when conditions make another area more enjoyable.

You also get the practical side taken care of: equipment, navigation and the local knowledge that comes from spending a lot of time outside.

And if you're not completely confident that you can manage the terrain and conditions safely on your own, a guide is the simplest way to explore further without having to figure everything out yourself.