The line is OpenStreetMap's mapping of the route (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), via Waymarked Trails, with heights from a 30 m terrain model. Check the current official route before a long trip: diversions and permitted paths change. Where the mapping has gaps (11 km), the line is drawn by our router along mapped paths: check those stretches against the waymarks. See the source.
The trail
The Nordkalottleden (Nordkalottruta in Norwegian, Kalottireitti in Finnish, the Arctic Trail) crosses the far north of Norway, Finland and Sweden from Kautokeino by Kilpisjärvi, the Treriksröset border cairn, Abisko and Padjelanta to Kvikkjokk, past about 40 cabins. Its promoters give about 800 km, a figure that counts both of its southern endings (the trail also reaches Sulitjelma in Norway, which this line does not); this line, from OpenStreetMap, runs from Kautokeino to Kvikkjokk and measures about 757 km. The trail is marked only in places, some rivers have to be forded, most cabins are unstaffed and the season is July to mid-September: read the cabin organisations' pages (Norwegian Trekking Association, Metsähallitus, the Swedish Tourist Association) and Laponia's before you go.
Map sections
About 43 days at about 17.6 km (10.9 mi) a day, an estimate from the length. Too many to list day by day, so here the line is in 30 sections, each ending at a town or village it passes, to help you find your way along it. They are not daily stages, and they vary from 11.7 km to 40 km: plan your days and nights from the trail's own guide.
- Section 1 Kautokeino to Čunovuohppi 16.9 km · 16.9 km from the start
- Section 2 Čunovuohppi to Ráisjávrihytta 28 km · 45 km from the start
- Section 3 Ráisjávrihytta to Nedrefosshytta 29 km · 74 km from the start
- Section 4 Nedrefosshytta to Saraelv 25 km · 99 km from the start
- Section 5 Saraelv to Somashytta 29 km · 128 km from the start
- Section 6 Somashytta to Meekonjärvi 24 km · 152 km from the start
- Section 7 Meekonjärvi to Kilpisjärvi 31 km · 182 km from the start
- Section 8 Kilpisjärvi to Treriksröset 17.9 km · 200 km from the start
- Section 9 Treriksröset to Pältsestugan 13.3 km · 213 km from the start
- Section 10 Pältsestugan to Dærtahytta 34 km · 248 km from the start
- Section 11 Dærtahytta to Dividalshytta 23 km · 271 km from the start
- Section 12 Dividalshytta to Vuomahytta 18.1 km · 290 km from the start
- Section 13 Vuomahytta to Altevasshytta 29 km · 318 km from the start
- Section 14 Altevasshytta to Lappjordhytta 24 km · 342 km from the start
- Section 15 Lappjordhytta to Abisko 24 km · 366 km from the start
- Section 16 Abisko to Alesjaure 34 km · 400 km from the start
- Section 17 Alesjaure to Sälka 25 km · 425 km from the start
- Section 18 Sälka to Hukejaure 18.5 km · 444 km from the start
- Section 19 Hukejaure to Skoaddejávrehytta 32 km · 476 km from the start
- Section 20 Skoaddejávrehytta to Paurohytta 40 km · 516 km from the start
- Section 21 Paurohytta to Røysvatn 27 km · 543 km from the start
- Section 22 Røysvatn to Njallajávrre 25 km · 567 km from the start
- Section 23 Njallajávrre to Vaisaluokta 29 km · 596 km from the start
- Section 24 Vaisaluokta to Låddejåkkå 34 km · 630 km from the start
- Section 25 Låddejåkkå to Stáloluokta 23 km · 653 km from the start
- Section 26 Stáloluokta to Staddajåkkåstugorna 11.7 km · 665 km from the start
- Section 27 Staddajåkkåstugorna to Pieskehaure 29 km · 694 km from the start
- Section 28 Pieskehaure to Vaimok 18.4 km · 712 km from the start
- Section 29 Vaimok to Tarrekaise 22 km · 734 km from the start
- Section 30 Tarrekaise to Kvikkjokk 22 km · 757 km from the start
Summits on the way
- Unna Nannáš · 258 km from the start
Tops within 300 m of the line. Summits from OpenStreetMap.
Start and finish
Start: near Kautokeino, Finnmark. 68.99886, 23.00006
Finish: near Kvikkjokk, Norrbotten County. 66.95011, 17.71740
Places to stay
Rooms in the towns and villages along the way:
- Kautokeino, Finnmark · The start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Čunovuohppi, Finnmark · 16.9 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Ráisjávrihytta, Troms · 45 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Nedrefosshytta, Troms · 74 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Saraelv, Troms · 99 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Somashytta, Troms · 128 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Meekonjärvi, Lapland · 152 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Kilpisjärvi, Lapland · 182 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Treriksröset, Norrbotten County · 200 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Pältsestugan, Norrbotten County · 213 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Dærtahytta, Troms · 248 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Dividalshytta, Troms · 271 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Vuomahytta, Troms · 290 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Altevasshytta, Troms · 318 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Lappjordhytta, Troms · 342 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Abisko, Norrbotten County · 366 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Alesjaure, Norrbotten County · 400 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Sälka, Norrbotten County · 425 km from the start No rooms mapped nearby: a hut or camping
- Hukejaure, Norrbotten County · 444 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Skoaddejávrehytta, Nordland · 476 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Paurohytta, Nordland · 516 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Røysvatn, Nordland · 543 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Njallajávrre, Norrbotten County · 567 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Vaisaluokta, Norrbotten County · 596 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Låddejåkkå, Norrbotten County · 630 km from the start No rooms mapped nearby: a hut or camping
- Stáloluokta, Norrbotten County · 653 km from the start No rooms mapped nearby: a hut or camping
- Staddajåkkåstugorna, Norrbotten County · 665 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Pieskehaure, Norrbotten County · 694 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Vaimok, Norrbotten County · 712 km from the start Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
- Tarrekaise, Norrbotten County · 734 km from the start No rooms mapped nearby: a hut or camping
- Kvikkjokk, Norrbotten County · The finish Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
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Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line comes from the source named under the map and the heights from a terrain model, so treat the figures as a guide. Check for diversions before you go, take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.