Malla Strict Nature Reserve

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Trip start
August 30, 2025
Malla Strict Nature Reserve Taru Viero
Day 1: Kilpisjärvi - Kuohkimajärvi
August 30, 2025 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
I still have about four days before I need to head home so I decided to hike through the Malla Strict Nature Reserve and then continue for one night into Norway. And then I'll hike back to Kilpisjärvi. In total this will be about a 50 to 60 km hike.

The hike through the Malla Strict Nature Reserve was amazing. Well, like any hike here I guess. But the trail was really nice to walk with not much rocks and mud. There was some climbing involved, but as the hike from Kilpisjärvi to Kuohkimajärvi was only about 15 km I took it slow.

I reached Kuohkimajärvi just before 1 pm. It is the first possible place to stop after Kilpisjärvi as in Strict Nature Reserves you are not allowed to step away from the trail or camp. You have to pass through. Malla Strict Nature Reserve is the oldest protected nature area in Finland. It was established in 1916. Strict Nature Reserve was established in 1938.

Good thing I arrived early. Closer to evening the place got filled with hikers trying to find a spot for the tent in a terrain where it's hard to find a decent spot.

Another news...I think I saw an actual eagle circling high above! I've seen hawks here a few times, but no eagle until now.Read more
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Malla Strict Nature Reserve Taru Viero
Day 2: Kuohkimajärvi - Gåldahaugen
August 31, 2025 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
The area around the Kuohkimajärvi wilderness cabin was filled with tents last night. I think there were around 15 or more tents in a tiny area. There were tents side by side and someone even had to put the tent up near the toilets!

Such a crowd of course meant a quite restless night. First some talk loudly into the night and when that stops starts a loud snoring. Didn't sleep that well...

I started hiking in the morning into Norway without a really clear plan where to go. I had few options and one option which would require more days than I have. Next time I guess.

In the end I hiked towards Gappohytta, which is a Norwegian wilderness cabin, but these are not open for all. You would need to pay a membership fee to use them.

After a heavy climb I came across a nice stream and magnificent view towards the Norwegian mountains. The view and the stream were so nice that I decided to call it a day, set up my tent and enjoy the day! Gappohytta would have been still some 7 km away, but I have no real business there anyways as I can't use the hut.

It's been a really nice and warm day. I've listened audiobook, explored the stream, ate ,drank coffee and just stared at the mountains.

I've also mapped myself a 4 km route across the fells which will take me to the Nordkalottleden (Kalottireitti) and then back to Kuohkimajärvi. This way I won't have to hike the exact same path tomorrow that I hiked today.Read more
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Malla Strict Nature Reserve Taru Viero
Day 3: Gåldahaugen - Kuohkimajärvi
September 1, 2025 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
Hike through the fells started in a sunshine. After a few hours it was pretty warm and I could see the warm air dancing on the horizon. The route itself was quite easy even though there were few small swamps that were not on the map. That has been one of the biggest surprises to me, how wet the terrain here is. I've always thought the fells are quite dry terrain, but no.

It was really beautiful and easy the first few hours through the fells. I finally found the Nordkalottleden (Kalottireitti) trail and continued following it down from the fells.

I was really early at the Kuohkimajärvi wilderness cabin, but I was glad arriving early as it has been a really warm day! I mean so warm that I was thinking of going for a swim in the ice cold lake. I just couldn't find a suitable spot to dip quickly into the lake.

Hopefully next night is quieter than the previous one here. So far at least there's far less tents than previously.

Tomorrow I'll hike through the Malla Strict Nature Reserve again and then unfortunately my time here in the North is over. 😭Read more
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Malla Strict Nature Reserve Taru Viero
Day 4: Kuohkimajärvi - Kilpisjärvi
September 2, 2025 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Last morning it started cloudy and foggy. I wasn't in any hurry to leave. I knew the trail through the Malla Strict Nature Reserve and the distance wasn't that long.

Finally I said goodbye to the Kuohkimajärvi wilderness cabin and headed to the end of my two weeks of hiking.

As I ascended above the treeline the clouds wrapped me inside of them and showered a bit of rain on me.

It's good that the journey is coming to an end now. During the last few kilometers my left knee and right ankle both at the same time were starting to tell me, that it's time to rest. There's a bit of pain on both at certain angles and in positions. Nothing that I haven't experienced before. I need to rest a bit.

It's not the ascends that are the most heavy for joints, but descends. That really puts strain to especially knees and both knees and ankle can twist into unnatural positions while descending with a heavy backpack. And there has been a lot of descending in difficult terrain during the past two weeks!Read more
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Trip end
September 2, 2025

Malla Strict Nature Reserve

Day 1: Kilpisjärvi - Kuohkimajärvi

Day 2: Kuohkimajärvi - Gåldahaugen

Day 3: Gåldahaugen - Kuohkimajärvi

Day 4: Kuohkimajärvi - Kilpisjärvi