When vacationing in Levi, the surrounding areas offer spectacular destinations for day trips. One of the most popular and scenically rewarding spots is Pallastunturi, located just a short drive from the Levi resort center.

The Taivaskero Circular Trail (Taivaskeron kierros) is an absolute classic route in the region. It offers a unique opportunity to experience the pristine, treeless fell nature and a summit of historical significance with relatively little effort.

Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park offers some of Finland's most iconic and photographed fell landscapes.

Quick Guide to the Trail

Here is a brief summary of the key facts for the Taivaskero Trail to help you plan your adventure:

• Distance from Levi: ~60 km (about a 45-minute drive north)
• Trail Length: Approximately 8 km (circular loop)
• Duration: Around 3–4 hours (including a lunch break)
• Elevation Gain: About 340 meters of climbing
• Difficulty Level: Moderate (gentle, steady incline, with some rocky boulder fields near the summit)

The Journey from Levi to Pallas

Our day began with a peaceful breakfast at our cabin, Chalet Nulkka, in Levi. Once our backpacks were packed with snacks and hot coffee was poured into the thermos, we pointed the car north.

The drive from the lively atmosphere of Levi to Pallas takes only about 45 minutes. The journey itself is straightforward and highly scenic, offering beautiful, unfolding landscapes along the way.

The first half of the route follows a very easy and gently ascending gravel path.

Starting Point: Lapland Hotels Pallas and Reindeer Herds

Our destination was the parking lot of Lapland Hotels Pallas, which serves as the official starting point of the trail. The hotel area also offers excellent restroom facilities and restaurant services, making starting and ending the hike incredibly convenient.

Right as we arrived at the parking lot, we were greeted by a delightful sight typical of Lapland. In the summer, the Pallas parking lot and its surrounding slopes are often filled with reindeer.

These reindeer gather on the open, windy asphalt to escape the forest mosquitoes and biting midges. At its best, you can spot up to a hundred reindeer at once, curiously watching hikers pass by.

During the summer, the parking lot of Hotel Pallas and the surrounding slopes can be filled with reindeer seeking the breeze to escape mosquitoes.

Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park and Majestic Fell Landscapes

Pallastunturi is part of the vast Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, which is one of Finland's oldest and most visited national parks.

The area is famous for hosting our country's oldest hiking trail, the Hetta–Pallas trail (55 km), which draws hikers year after year for multi-day fell treks. However, if a week-long trek doesn't fit your holiday schedule, the area offers a fantastic network of shorter day routes, with the Taivaskero loop being a premier choice.

Pallastunturi itself transforms dramatically with the seasons. In winter, it is a renowned backcountry skiing paradise where steep ravines, treeless slopes, and deep natural powder provide unique riding experiences.

In the summer, the fell landscape reveals a different side of its beauty: ruggedly beautiful, round-topped fells that are easily accessible via well-maintained trails.

The rolling chains of fells stretching as far as the eye can see are the absolute best part of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park.

The ruggedly beautiful and fragile fell ecosystem extends endlessly across the protected areas of the national park.

Ascending Taivaskero and the Olympic Flame History

The roughly 8-kilometer Taivaskero loop begins directly behind the hotel. We started our climb towards the summit along a clear and well-marked trail.

At the beginning, the route ascends through sparse woodland along a clearly marked trail, until the tree line is left behind, opening up breathtaking views in every direction. Even though you are climbing a fell, the path is designed to be easy to walk. However, as you near the summit, the terrain turns into a classic rocky boulder field (called "rakka" in Finnish), so sturdy shoes are definitely a plus here.

At the start of the trail, the path climbs gently, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape from the very first steps.

Higher up the fell, the landscape becomes completely treeless, and the path transforms into natural, rocky terrain.

Taivaskero is the highest peak of the Pallastunturi fells, rising 809 meters above sea level. At the top, you are greeted not only by a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of the surrounding national park, but also by a unique piece of Finnish sporting history.

The official trail sign at the summit of Taivaskero welcomes hikers to an elevation of 809 meters.

A memorial plaque has been erected at the summit to commemorate the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games. That summer, the Olympic flame of the midnight sun was lit right here on top of Taivaskero.

The midnight sun Olympic flame for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics was lit at this monument on the summit of Taivaskero.

This historic stone ring and plaque remind us of the incredible Olympic spirit of 1952 and Lapland's unique history.

The summit was the perfect spot to take a well-deserved lunch break. The wind was blowing fresh, and our sandwiches and warm drinks tasted exceptionally good high above the fells, surrounded by nothing but the endless, untouched wilderness of Lapland.

The view opening up from the summit of Taivaskero is second to none – a complete 360-degree fell panorama.

If you're lucky, you might even encounter free-roaming reindeer herds at the summit, framed by the magnificent fell panorama.

When hiking in the fells, there is always a great chance of seeing these local residents of Lapland grazing freely on the rugged slopes.

The Return Journey and Relaxing in Levi

To complete the circular route, we headed down from the summit by following the base of the ski slopes. Descending through the slopes offers a slightly different view of the surrounding valley and is pleasantly easy on the legs as you make your way back to the starting point.

After the hike, we returned to Lapland Hotels Pallas, where a delicious lunch awaited us at the hotel restaurant. A hearty meal in a cozy setting was the perfect way to crown an active day outdoors.

With our appetites satisfied, it was time to get back in the car and drive back toward Levi. At the end of the day, nothing felt better than winding down in Nulkka Chalet’s own private, warm sauna, soothing our muscles and reflecting on the day's miles and incredible fell landscapes.

The descent back to the hotel took us along the gentler slopes of the fell loop trail in lovely summer weather.

This trip proved once again how easy it is to experience some of Finland's most spectacular fell destinations on a seamless day trip from Levi.

Planning your own adventure to the stunning fells near Levi? Stay at our cozy Chalet Nulkka – a comfortable and luxurious base camp from which you can easily experience the best trails of both Pallas and Levi.