Northern Lights Forecast for Pyhä

Northern Lights in Pyhä

Pyhä is a fell resort at the eastern end of Pyhä-Luosto National Park, in the municipality of Pelkosenniemi in Finnish Lapland, about 125 km northeast of Rovaniemi. The resort is a cluster of hotels and cabins on the lower slopes of Kultakero, small enough to walk across. Pelkosenniemi has fewer than a thousand residents, so past the last cabin there is very little artificial light in any direction. At 67°N the sun still rises on the shortest day, for about an hour and a half.

Out on the ice of Pyhäjärvi

Pyhäjärvi lies northeast of the fell, about ten minutes’ drive from the resort, and once it freezes the aurora walks go out onto the ice. From the lake the fell chain is behind you to the southwest and the northern horizon is open. Ask locally whether the ice is firm before you walk out early in the winter.

Closer in, the marked trails of the park start at the resort, and the guided aurora outings from Pyhä go out on snowshoes, cross-country skis or snowmobiles.

Isokuru and the pool of holy baptism

Pyhätunturi was one of Finland’s first national parks, founded in 1938, and was merged with the Luosto fells in 2005. The park follows a 35 km chain of quartzite fells with twelve summits, the highest Noitatunturi at 540 m.

The closest sight to the resort is Isokuru, a gorge over 200 m deep with a 17 m waterfall beside the pond at its end. The pond is Pyhänkasteenlampi, the pool of holy baptism, said to be named for the baptism of the local Sámi in the 1600s. Avalanches happen in Isokuru in winter. Naava, the park’s visitor center at the resort, has exhibits on the park’s nature and history. Luosto, the other resort, is at the far end of the park, 30 km away by the hiking trail.

Kemijärvi, the end of the line

The night train from Helsinki runs to Kemijärvi, 50 km away, with a connecting bus to the resort. Rovaniemi Airport is about 125 km away, with buses to Pyhä that run more often in winter than in summer. By car, turn onto road 962 at Vuostimo from Highway 5, or at Torvinen from Highway 4, which brings you in through Luosto.