Catch the bus from Zero point to South point and from here cross the road towards the left side to the xc tracks. You will notice a little wooden teepee called Loimulohi just as you join the løipe which is also on the map.  This is a great place to come back to.

Proceed on the track for 1K  to your left to crossing 119. Here you can take the right hand fork 4K if you don’t mind a few hills, or the left hand fork 2.7K to stay on the flat. When you reach crossing 124 take the 1.5K track to Lapinnkylä at 125.

Here you will find the Reindeer enclosure where you can pre-book an organised trip. You can get refreshments in Lapinkylä, but if there is a big pre-booked party it might only be sandwiches/hot drink.

Return from 125 via the 1.7K track (sometimes difficult to find) to crossing 123 (or do this on the way there depending on your energy levels) and then retrace your route back through 124 to South Point. If you have only had a snack before, visit Loimulohi which I nicknamed the Salmon Hut without actually realising that Loimulohi means blazed salmon. Here you will find deliciously cooked fresh salmon over a wood fire and you can eat little or large. A freshly cooked hot salmon bap is about €5 and one of the best en-track eats you will find with a lovely chap there who is very hospitable.  From here you can either catch the bus back, or carry on skiing along the the blue trail for 5.3K which will bring you back to Levi town. There is a little red at the end of this, so if you aren’t very confident, just take care.

As you start from A on this track you ski to the right. Soon after you will need to take the left hand turning which takes you across the lake where you can often see ice fishing. It can be quite a 2.5K slog into wind as it is very exposed.  Once across keep bearing right on the trail at 131 where you will have a gentle climb and easy downhill and in about 4.3K,  arrive at 137 and a shelter. Here you will find one of the best pancakes around with jam and cream and berry juice from the  small Kätkänlaavu hut. There are also toilets and a welcome fire with rugs and fleeces to keep warm. See photos at the top of this page.

From here you can either return the way you came or continue to the left for another 5.4K to a hut stop at Kätkajarvi  136. before returning northward for 3.7K on a dog walking trail to join back up at the lake. This makes a round of 18.8K altogether.

From the start A, ski on the track to the right and when you get to the junction with a map board, continue straight ahead on the Kätkän Kierros Fell Circle. This is the grey diamond on the map. The track climbs steadily for a kilometre and the rest of the route is more of a continual steeper climb for another 2K until you reach the top. The view from here is fabulous on a sunny day when there has been some previous snowfall.  You can see the view on the home page photo. From here  you are rewarded with a long sweeping downhill for several kilometres which can pick up quite a speed, so be warned!

If you choose to have a break, at crossing 140 you should continue down to Merkkinen for a warm fire, refreshments and toilet, but it will be a gentle blue back up to junction 140 again where you need to ascend the black route. This cut off between the 2 fells is a good 2K very steep herringbone ascent, but it has several plateaus for lovely views along the way where you can catch your breath. You then have a gentle descent back to Kätkänlaavu where you can have more refreshments. Or you can go straight there and miss out Merkkinen.

The return route is back from Kätkänlaavu along the blue passed 134  and across the lake, unless you are feeling more adventurous in which case you can do the return at the end of the previous route and follow on down to Kätkajärvi and forn the dog walking trail to 132..

For those with more stamina you can continue from Crossing 140, passed the Merkkinen hut and join the red route at junction 145 to do a complete circuit of the two fells. This will be following  the green diamond route.

There is an optional 4.4K black track on part of the return journey here, but I have not known it to be open whenever I have been that way. 

If you want to venture much further there is an option to stay overnight in a hut like Aakenuspirtti. From 138 continue on to 152.

There is an unsupervised hut here called Hirvikämppä that has a log store adjacent, and a platform inside enough to sleep 2 if you want shelter or to break your journey.

Then its onward to 159

The other grey tracks  extend down to Ylläs.

If you prefer to keep close to home then the red routes near to the centre of town are a good playground to get your ski legs working, Whilst the distances aren’t great, they are fairly undulating with some longish ups and downs. Good practice for your skate legs too! Some of the track is lit for a quick tour if you arrive late in the day and want to get an hour in, but note that they are also mostly one way, so you might be committed once you start off to do the whole circuit.

From the start at B, follow the red route signs passed 95 and 92 until you reach crossing 93. Here there is a very short black downhill which joins the trqck up to  the blue ones beyond and it has to be taken. The descent is fairly narrow with lots of lovely twists and turns, but  is not particularly technical just great fun! However,  bear in mind that you will need to come back up it on the return which is actually much steeper so save a bit of energy!  When you get to crossing 91 at Levijarvi, take the right hand turning. This will take you over the lake and is a little tedious especially in a headwind.

However, you are rewarded at Luvattumaa where there is a nice cafe with deck chairs outside if the sun is shining.  This is also the location of the ice hotel and its well worth a visit to see the fantastic ice sculptures.

After a warming coffee, continue on to Marja-Leena, but as this is only 1.5K from your last stop perhaps you will leave this hut for today, or chose it instead. If this is far enough for you you can take the blue back to 91 and onward.

Otherwise continue straight for the next 3.5K turning at point 83 for your return journey and in less than 1K you will reach Restaurant Tonttula. This makes for a lovely lunchtime, stop and when we were there, there was a selection of food and a buffet.   The salmon soup and bread  was excellent and on a  help yourself basic  cost about €10.

The track then continues on past junction 89, 91 and back to 93 – and oh yes - the rather steep uphill. This is quite a long day, so you don’t be grateful for this hill right now, but you'll feel a sense of achievement at the top.

An option to get up to the higher reaches of these tracks to the north is to catch the bus. I think it might be the ski bus, and it goes from across the road from the Crazy Reindeer Hotel if you want westwards and stay on the right hand side of the road. Tell the driver you want to get off at the cross country skiing dog walking track and there is a little walk down from the road. you will see this  on the map just above point 91 just to the left of where the dog is on the map. From here take the left hand track at point 91. It gently winds through some pretty scenery and you can go towards Marja-Leena for your break. This could be via any of the track going north and then over to Rautuskyla to the east at 86 and back to Marja-Leena, or just straight back down. Deliciously cooked pancakes and a warm hut – what more could you want!

Take the start at Point B along the red route to junction 99. Here it looks like there is no track to join up but there is one that goes past Restaurant Draivi where you can have an early coffee or pitstop. Continue another half a kilometre and you will see a turning to the right going straight uphill. This is the black route, up and over the fell. It is a 2K climb which is very steep but may take you into Narnia if the snow is good, which is a sight to be seen.

Once you reach the top you might be greeted by some downhillers looking incredulous that you have appeared out of the depth not using a ski lift. There is a small toilet here if you need one, and i'd recommend it if you're not confident on a black track!. Also should you prefer to take the red route down you can do this back to South point, and continue skiing along the blue back to the start.

If you continue on the black be aware that it is pretty steep in places and quite narrow and windy. Well worth it, even if you have to take your skis off part way.

Once down, continue on to Sammun Tupa.  Here you will find a reindeer farm and warm cafe, although the food is limited. The route back from here takes the blue tracks past junction 123 and then up towards south point, where you can either continue skiing back along the blue/ red route, or catch the bus at South Point.

If you opt not to do the black route, simply take the blue track at junction 103. This has some nice wide open spance, and a lovely undulating red at the end and you can meet anyone coming over the black at Sammun Tupa.