The highest point in Finland (1324m) is located at Halti, but the highest peak in Finland is located 4 kilometers to the southeast, Ritničohkka (1317m), which means packed snow peak. Halti's highest peak (1361m), on the other hand, is located in Norway.

The conditions found in Käsivarsi Wilderness Area are unique. The growth season is one of the shortest in Europe, only around 100 days per year, and the average temperature is below freezing. The Gulf Stream does bring warmer weather to Northern Finland and Norway, making the climate more favourable than the latitudes might suggest. The Scandes mountain range has introduced lime into the soil, which makes the region home to many rare plants that can’t flourish anywhere else in Finland.

There are no roads in the wilderness, but the popular Nordkalott trail goes all the way to Norway. There is a network of wilderness huts as well.

The Käsivarsi wilderness is a reindeer herding area: learn what it means for travellers..

Skiing and walking are both popular ways to reach Halti. It’s a serious undertaking that requires experience, planning and preparation for all kinds of weather, no matter the season. The distance from Kilpisjärvi to Halti on the Nordkalott is about 55 km.

Winter actually makes the journey a bit easier. Local companies provide snowmobile safaris that make for a safe, unforgettable trip to Halti and the vast Arctic wilderness.

Do sign the book at Halti’s border marker 303B. The first book was delivered by a trio of women in 1933. One of them, Kaarina Kari, has written a book (Haltin valloitus)about their travels in the early days of tourism in Lapland.