The Wonders of Lapland in a Nutshell: The Accessible Trail of Kesänkijärvi in Ylläs

Accessible trails are a wonderful solution, especially when not all members of your group are fit or agile enough for more demanding paths. Of course, accessible trails suit many other situations, such as walking with a stroller or just enjoying a relaxing little outing for anyone, like us on this trip. One of the most beautiful accessible trails in our country is undoubtedly this one: the Kesänkijärvi accessible trail in Ylläs.

Parking location on the map (Sahatie, Kolari)

Challenging accessible trail 1.7 km/one way

Lean-to shelter, café

It was a gray August afternoon when my husband and I decided to venture out into the nature of Lapland, even defying the weather a bit. A light drizzle pelted the windshield during the drive, but as we arrived, the rain had stopped, revealing the wonderfully scented August nature of Lapland.

Perhaps the rainy weather had discouraged many from heading outdoors, as the parking area on Sahatie road, located along a somewhat rough road, had plenty of space. The parking lot is not far from the center of Äkäslompolo village and is a popular starting point for many different hikes. Even now, there were cars and hikers around, but it was far from crowded.

The terrain was already showing the first signs of autumn, with small patches of fall colors here and there, including on the leaves of the cloudberry plants.

We headed onto the gravel-covered trail, which runs between two beautiful worlds: on the right, Kesänkijärvi lake spreads out, with towering fells behind it, while on the left lies a forest thick with beard moss. A reindeer shuffled through the forest, cheeks full of mushrooms, seemingly unfazed by passing people, and Siberian jays flitted among the spruce branches.

The clouds raced across the vast sky, hinting that another shower might not be far off. For now, however, the lake was mirror-like and calm, beautifully reflecting the forest and fells on the opposite shore.

The accessible trail continues all the way to the eastern end of the lake, following the shore the whole way, sometimes closer to the water, sometimes farther away. The fell views are impressive right from the parking area.

At the eastern end of the lake is the highlight of the accessible trail: a lean-to shelter, an accessible pier, and even Café Kesänki, whose opening hours should always be checked in advance.

There were people at the shelter when we arrived, so we didn’t get any closer. We didn’t have snacks with us, as we had just set out for a little evening walk. The Siberian jays entertained the people at the shelter. Meanwhile, we spent a moment on the deserted pier, admiring the expansive lake views.

The water of Kesänkijärvi is dark yet clear, beautifully reflecting the trees lining the shores. Somewhere across the lake, a mountain biker seemed to be having some trouble with their bike – their loud cursing cheerfully echoed across the water.

One of the best things about late Lapland summer is the slanted sunlight. This time, it made the scenery even more beautiful, illuminating the spruce forest on the opposite shore with an almost unreal brilliance against the dark fells in the background.

The eastern end of Kesänkijärvi lake with its lean-to shelter is not just a rest stop; it’s also one of the crossroads of the area’s hiking trail network. The accessible trail ends here, but if accessibility is not a concern and you’re prepared for a longer hike, you can head up the fell’s slope to Pirunkuru gorge and Kesänkitunturi fells summit.

However, we retraced our steps back to the car and crowned our visit to Ylläs with a meal at a restaurant in Äkäslompolo!

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