NUTS 300
Yhteistyössä
NUTS 300 8–13 July 2024
Longest. Wildest. Toughest.
- NUTS 300 is a unique 326 km trail running adventure in Finnish Lapland. The track crosses Lemmenjoki National Park, Pöyrisjärvi Wilderness Area and Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park, finishing in Äkäslomplo village near Ylläs ski resort.
- NUTS 300 takes place 8.-13.7.2024.
- The registration for the event is opened here in 28 November 2023.
The unforgettable journey starts from Njurkulahti trailhead in Lemmenjoki National Park. It first follows a hiking trail to Morgamoja historical gold mining area. From Morgamoja it crosses old gold mining sites and leads to the deepest forests of the largest national park in Finland. Track crosses Postijoki and Vaskolompolo wilderness huts and ends in Kalmankaltio, where the first aid station is located.
From there, the track heads to Pöyrisjärvi wilderness area. The route follows an ATV and mountain biking trail through the tundra to the remote lake Pöyrisjärvi. Crossing of Pöyrisjärvi river is an unforgettable experience.
From Pöyrisjärvi, the track passes the Näkkälä settlement and ends in Hetta village, where the second aid station is located. From Hetta, the track follows a national scenic hiking trail to Pallas fell, where the third aid station is located. The trail is located in a reindeer herding area, and you are certain to spot many reindeers.
After Pallas, the track continues along the Ylläs-Pallas hiking trail, Rauhala village and after incredible 326 km finishes in Äkäslompolo, near Ylläs ski resort. The finishers are greeted with a hot meal, showers, sauna and a finisher prize.
| 13.7.2025 SUNDAY | ||
| 19.00–20.00 | Bib Pickup NUTS 300 | Äkäslompolo Public House Selvä Pyy |
| 14.7.2025 MONDAY | ||
| 12.00 | Start Of NUTS 300 | Njurkulahti |
| 17.7.2025 THURSDAY | ||
| 12.00– | NUTS Kids & Juniors trair run | Äkäslompolo Ylläs Y1 P-alue |
| 18.00–22.00 | Bib Pickup | Äkäslompolo |
| 18.7.2025 FRIDAY | ||
| 09.00–13.00 | Bib Pickup | Äkäslompolo |
| 10.50 | Drop-off for spare bags at the event center in Äkäslompolo for the 160 km race closes. Those coming by race bus from Saaga can leave their bags in the rack at the Jounin Kauppa stop. | Äkäslompolo |
| 13.00 | Start Of 160 KM | Hetta |
| 15.00 | Start Of 66 KM | Hetta |
| 17.00–21.00 | Bib Pickup | Äkäslompolo |
| 21.35 | Drop-off for spare bags at the event center in Äkäslompolo for the 100 km race closes. Those coming by race bus from Saaga can leave their bags in the rack at the Jounin Kauppa stop. | Äkäslompolo |
| 23.00 | Start Of 100 KM | Pallas |
| 19.7.2025 SATURDAY | ||
| 05.00 | 66 km the finish line will be closed | Pallas |
| 10.00 - 13.45 | Bib Pickup | Äkäslompolo |
| 12.00 | Start Of 37 KM | Äkäslompolo |
| 14.00 | Start Of 15 KM | Äkäslompolo |
| 18.00 | NUTS 300 the finish line closes | Äkäslompolo |
| 19.00 | Prize ceremony all distances | Äkäslompolo, Finish line |
| 24.00 | 160 km, 100 km, 37 km the finish line closes | Äkäslompolo |
| Bus transportation to start line * For those who have prebooked |
||
| 8.7.2024 MON NUTS 300: Buses to race start location | ||
| 12.7.2024 FRI Bus departs to 160, 66 & 100 km starts* | ||
| From Pallas – The Finish of The 66 km Race | ||
The event centre is located in the village Äkäslompolo, which is close to the fell Yllästunturi a.k.a. “Ylläs”.
Address: Sannanrannantie 3, 95970 Kolari, Suomi
Bib Pickup
Bib pickup is Sunday, July 2, at 7-8pm. The location is event centre, Sannanrannantie 3, 95970 Kolari, Suomi.
You will get a map, a bib number with a timing chip and safety pins at the bib pickup. GPS tracking devices are given to all runners. These devices are first tested after bib pickup, then switched off until just before start to ensure the batteries will last (race organiser will instruct at starting point).
During bib pickup, the drop bags of participants are collected. Each participant can leave three drop bags in total, one for each of the following aid stations:
- Kalmankaltio
- Hetta
- Pallas
Maximum size of each drop bag is 100 liters. A drop bag can be for example a duffle bag. Each drop bag must have following information CLEARLY written outside the bag:
- Name of the participant
- Destination of the bag (Kalmankaltio, Hetta, Pallas)
Recommended items in drop bags include:
- Sleeping pad
- Sleeping bag
- Pillow
- Ear plugs and sleep mask
- Dry and warm clothing
- Food
- Blister kit
- Mosquito repellent
- Mosquito-proof clothing
- Backup/replacement gear
Please note that drop bags are NOT transported between aid stations. Because of this, gear in each drop bag must be sufficient by itself.
Mandatory equipment checkpoints
Mandatory equipment is controlled for each participant during bib pickup. Prepare to present your mandatory equipment. Mandatory equipment must be carried from start to finish. During the race, the organizers have the right to check the completeness of participants’ mandatory equipment at any point.
Trekking poles are allowed to be stowed into drop bags. Please pack the poles with care. The organizers will not take any responsibility of broken poles.
NUTS 300 race track is followed using a GPS device brought by the participant. The track is unmarked. You have to be able to follow a GPS track at all times, and provide enough power for the GPS device. Please note, that the GPX-file of the race track is quite large (13 MB), and might be too large for some devices (notably sports watches).
The route passes through reindeer herding area. The summer reindeer round-ups are done at the turn of June-July, and the timing is dictated by nature. If reindeer round-up is held during NUTS Distance 300, we will avoid disturbing the round-up areas by using an alternate route. This is denoted in the route description as:
Plan A = No reindeer round-up
Plan B = Reindeer-roundup during the race
The final route will be announced a few days before the race, when we know the situation of the local herders. Be prepared to switch to the correct GPS track in your device in the event of route change.
Maps
Map is provided by NUTS 300 on the race webpage. It is recommended for participants to print the map in their desired format.
More detailed maps are available in Finnish outdoor stores, but are not mandatory equipment. You can also use Retkikartta.fi service to study the route and print your own maps. We strongly recommend downloading offline maps of the area on your smartphone in case of main GPS failure. You will be passing through seriously remote locations, so be prepared to find your way back to civilization. Test the offline maps by enabling flight mode in your smart phone in advance.
Stages
1st stage
Njurkulahti–Kalmankaltio 88 km
Njurkulahti – Morgamojan kultala, 26 km: Participants are transported from Äkäslompolo to Njurkulahti by bus. The start of the first stage follows the hiking trail in Lemmenjoki National Park. Lemmenjoki is the largest national park in Finland and known for its rich history in gold mining. The trail is quite fast at this point. Lemmenjoki river can be crossed with a cable boat either at Searitniva or Härkäkoski.
Morgamojan kultala – Kalmankaltio, 62 km: Most challenging section of the whole race. The route crosses a truly wild part of Lemmenjoki National Park. This is as remote as you can get in Finland. The track is technical and there are a few swamp crossings. Distances to nearest roads are very long. DO NOT QUIT AT THIS POINT OF THE RACE, BUT PUSH TO KALMANKALTIO UNLESS THERE IS AN IMMINENT HEALTH RISK IN DOING SO! During the section, you will see the wildest parts of Finland, gold mining areas, the most remote library of Finland as well as Postijoki and Vaskojoki wilderness huts.
2nd stage:
Plan A Kalmankaltio–Hetta 118 km
Kalmankaltio–Kalkujärvi–Pöyrisjärvi, 74 km: The track continues along an ATV trail towards Pöyrisjärvi wilderness lake. The terrain is sandy and barren tundra. The track passes through Kalkujärvi village, inhabited by indigenous Sami people and one of the most remote villages in Finland. Participants will ford the river Pöyrisjoki memorably by going into the lake Pöyrisjärvi, where the water is shallower. The track continues right along the shoreline for a few kilometers.
Pöyrisjärvi–Näkkälä–Hetta, 44 km: The track will pass the village Näkkälä, after which it will follow an old post route to Hetta. The section is beautiful with very old pines right at the Northern timberline. The route will pass a famous ghost hut Näkkälän Välitupa.
Plan B Kalmankaltio–Hetta
The route leg between Kalmankaltio and Hetta will be Kalmankaltio-Valkamapää (a fell 10 km east from lake Pöyrisjärvi) – Vuontisjärvi (village east from Hetta) – Hetta. Majority of this route will be similar terrain than in the original plan, and the last leg from Vuontisjärvi to Hetta will be road.
3rd stage:
Plan A Hetta–Pallas 55 km
The track follows Hetta-Pallas hiking trail, which is one of the most popular hiking trails in Finland. The track climbs up and down the Pallas fells. The views along the route are considered as the most precious national scenic areas of Finland. The area is known for reindeer husbandry, and if you have not yet seen any reindeers, you will now.
Plan B Hetta–Pallas
There will be an extra detour to Ketomella in the Hetta-Pallas route leg.
4th stage:
Pallas–Ylläs 65 km
The track follows Pallas-Ylläs hiking trail. It crosses Äkäskero and Kukastunturi fells. The last stage is crowned with views towards Ylläs fell and thoughts of hot shower and a warm meal.
Stages 2-3 Plan B
Changes compared to the plan A routes are:
- 2nd Stage The route leg between Kalmankaltio and Hetta will be Kalmankaltio-Valkamapää (a fell 10 km east from lake Pöyrisjärvi) – Vuontisjärvi (village east from Hetta) – Hetta. Majority of this route will be similar terrain than in the original plan, and the last leg from Vuontisjärvi to Hetta will be road.
- 3rd Stage There will be an extra detour to Ketomella in the Hetta-Pallas route leg.
- https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/65557195
- The distance of the Plan B route will be 323 km, and thus very close to the original.
Organizers will provide:
- Bib and safety pins
- GPS tracker
- Food vouchers for aid stations
Mandatory equipment:
- Handheld GPS with the provided GPX-track uploaded. A sports watch with GPS route tracking functionality is also allowed. Ensure that the device has enough charge, as otherwise it is difficult to follow the track. In the worst case you might get lost deep in the wilderness. Please note that the GPX-file is almost 13 MB, so it might be too large for some devices. Check compatibility in advance!
- Cell phone in a watertight pouch. Battery charge must not drop below 50% during the race. The phone must have the local emergency locator app “112 Suomi” installed. Add to contacts the event service number (+358 40 6605 281). Keep the phone and ringtones on. In areas without reception it is allowed to temporarily set the phone to airplane mode to reserve battery charge. Please check the reception areas with your mobile network operator. It is also allowed to carry two phones that satisfy the conditions (e.g. 2G-phone that is always on and smartphone with 112 Suomi app).
- Compass (e.g. button compass)
- Elastic adhesive bandage – packed water tight (minimum 6cm x 100cm)
- Long sleeve sports shirt
- Short sleeve sports shirt
- Waterproof and hooded shell jacket (water column value min. 10000mm)
- Waterproof shell pants (water column value min. 10000mm) or waterproof rain skirt
- Beanie (hooded shirt can replace the beanie)
- Water bottle (total minimum 0.75 liters capacity)
- Survival bivy bag, for example Rab Ark Emergency Bivi or Lifesystems Survival Bag
- Whistle
- Head lamp (needed only for signaling, as it is bright 24/7 at the time of the year)
- Water cup – to avoid wastage there are no disposable cups at the aid stations
- Foam sleeping pad, minimum 100 cm x 45 cm x 3 mm, e.g. Gossamer Gear Thinlight or Etola Solumuovi 3 mm
- Fire starter, e.g. a lighter
- Emergency rations (food that is used only in an emergency situation, at minimum 500 kcal)
Recommended equipment:
- Offline maps of the area downloaded on your mobile phone (e.g. apps Oruxmaps, Jahtikartat, Karttaselain, Locus Map, OutdoorActive) Paper maps (Lemmenjoki ISBN 978-952-266-516-4, Pallas Hetta Olos ISBN 978-952-266-627-7, Pöyrisjärvi Näkkälä Kalkujärvi ISBN 978-952-266-485-3)
- Trash bag
- Sports gel bottle (repackage your gels in a bottle to avoid littering the trail)
- Mosquito proof clothing
- Headnet
- Mosquito repellent
- Blister kit
- Sports tape
- Pain medication
- Wound sanitizer
- Small knife
- Cap or hat with a brim
- Sun glasses
- Sunscreen
- Salt to aid digestion of liquids
- Trekking poles
- Garmin InReach Mini satellite communicator
We recommend to use energy gels with closable caps or to repack your energy gels beforehand in small resealable bottles. Please dispose of your garbage at the aid stations or the garbage bins at the Race Centre.
Mandatory equipment must be carried from the start to finish; equipment will be checked at the bib pickup. There might be mandatory equipment checks along the trail with no pre-notification.
| Location | Aid station | Interval, km | Cumulative, km | Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalmankaltio | 88 | 88 | 9 July 2024, 12:00 | |
| Hetta | 118 | 206 | 11 July 2024, 13:00 | |
| Pallas | 55 | 261 | 12 July 2024, 13:00 | |
| Rauhala | Water | 23 | 284 | – |
| Pahtavuoma | Water | 11 | 295 | – |
| Peurakaltio | Water | 14 | 309 | – |
| Finish | Water, food, showers | 17 | 326 | 13 July 2024, 18:00 |
Legend:
Briefcase icon: Participants’ own drop bags
Bed icon: Resting space, food provided
Water, bananas, sports drinks, salty and sweet snacks are available at all aid stations. Aid stations will also take care of vegans, gluten-frees and those allergic to chocolate – at least. Please pay attention while signing up that you inform us about your special diets.
External aid: The use of external aid is allowed at the aid stations Kalmankaltio, Hetta and Pallas. Support crew is allowed to escort the participants 1 km before and after aid stations. The use of external aid is not allowed on water stations Rauhala, Pahtavuoma and Peurakaltio. External support is allowed to stay in aid station only when the runner is also present. Max 2 support crew members per runner. The main aid station in Pallas will be outdoors, the indoor space is meant for participant resting only and support crew is not allowed in this space. The self-service aid station in Näkkälä has been removed, as it would create inequality for participants without support crew.
In case you need any extra gear or clothing at the starting line, the race organiser will transfer them back to the finish lines in Äkäslompolo. Kindly mark your belongings properly with your name and a bib number; loose jackets and/or pants might get dirty so pack all items that are to be transferred to e.g. in plastic bags. Plastic bags and stickers are provided at bib pickup. Please note that the bags might be stored outdoors.
The use of wilderness huts is not allowed. This includes the porch of wilderness huts. The use of toilets in wilderness huts is allowed and encouraged.
NUTS Distance 300 Exit points
NUTS Distance 300 exit points are locations where a participant can quit the race. Due to the remote nature of the event, it is challenging to evacuate participants from the wilderness. Because of this, the organizers aim to channel all participants who wish to quit to the nearest exit point (usually the nearest road). ATV evacuations are done only in a medical emergency (e.g. fractured knee). The ATVs are not ”taxis” that take participants suffering from hydration problems or fatigue to the nearest road. ATV evacuation in Lemmenjoki and Pöyrisjärvi wilderness areas is always a challenging and difficult endeavour.
Please ensure you always know the closest exit points. If you are not confident that you can make it to the next exit point, consider discontinuing the race. In case of extreme fatigue, rest for 8 hours and continue to the nearest exit point. Our safety crew will patrol even the remote areas by foot or MTB. They can provide assistance, such as tent and food. Contact the Race Center number (+358 40 6605 281) if you plan on stopping for an extended period or wish to receive help.
If you are on an exit point and wish to discontinue the race, call the Race Center number to arrange pickup. Please be mindful that due to the long distances the pickup might take several hours.
Exit points are:
- Njurgulahti
- Kalmakaltio
- Vuontisjärvi (village east from Hetta)
- Näkkälä
- Hetta
- Pyhäkero parking
- Ketomella
- Varkaanjärvi (Yli-Kyrö area)
- Vuontisjärvi (Yli-Kyrö area, East from Montellinmaja wilderness hut)
- Pallas
- Road 957 (Intersection of the road and race course)
- Rauhala
- Pahtavuoma
- Peurakaltio
The most common problems are blisters, abrasions, injuries caused after falling and fatigue after running out of energy and dehydration. There is always a risk of hypothermia after your speed gets slow or you must stop. Prepare yourself so that you can help yourself and get to an aid station or to the nearest shelter. It is absolutely mandatory to help others in need. If any of the fellow runners seem to have troubles please ask his/her condition.
In a case of emergency during the run please call to the race’s emergency duty phone (+358 40 6605 281).
You must carry a mobile phone in case for any help (for you or for fellow runners). Race organizer can also call you to ask for help for other runners or to check your status. Even though everything is OK with you when emergency duty number calls – please answer!
Best cellular connections in remote areas of Lapland are provided by the “Telia” telecom operator. If your phone service is provided by someone else please consider of getting a Telia prepaid SIM. If you change your phone number for the race please remember to change it also to your personal details provided to organisers. Despite this, the reception on sections Njurkulahti-Kalmankaltio and Kalmankaltio-Hetta is very limited.
In case you prefer to use your national SIM card, please ensure before the race it works properly (roaming in Finland)
If you decide to quit, please do so only at the exit points. If you are not able to move, evacuation will be carried out by National Emergency Services. In many areas a helicopter is needed, so be safe.
During the race, safety teams will patrol the race track. They will ensure that all participants will make it to the next aid station. Safety teams will have satellite messengers. In addition, a rescue team will be on duty 24/7.
In case of serious accidents call public emergency number 112 first and ask for help. After that, contact the race’s emergency duty phone +358 40 6605 281
Participants must take care of their own insurance policy.
Important notice
- The race is very long. Do not push yourself to extreme limits, as it will not be the key to reaching the finish line.
- The weather might change rapidly at the open fell; it can get very cold and even snow also in July!
- Please be extra careful when crossing roads, rivers or streams.
- If you decide to drink from the streams or rivers it is on your own responsibility! Inspect water purity by taste and sight.
- The route runs through multiple National Parks, so you must stay on the provided track.
- Littering is absolutely prohibited!
- The trail is demanding because of steep ups and downhills, slippery stones, roots and muddy areas.
- In a case of sprained ankle remember RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
- Remember to drink enough and do not forget electrolytes.
- The runners and their actions will make the race safe for everyone! Be safe and take care of your fellow runners.
Showers: Showers & Saunas are available for participants after the race at Lapland Hotel Äkäshotelli.
After Race meal: There will be soup and salty snacks available at the finish. Salty snacks are naturally gluten free and for the vegans there is also vegan friendly soup available.
- Deviating from the given GPS track for over 300 m is not allowed
- The track will not be marked. Participants must be able to follow the given GPS track with their own device.
- The use of wilderness huts is not allowed. The use of toilets in wilderness huts is allowed and encouraged.
- Support crew is allowed to escort the participants 1 km before and after aid stations.
- Mandatory equipment must be carried from start to finish.
- Littering is strictly prohibited. Pick up litter that is dropped by other participants.
- Abide to trail running code of conduct.
Runner can be disqualified if
- Littering (including biodegradable fruit skins) can cause a time penalty or a disqualifying – depending on the disrespect of the action.
- Unethical behaviour
- Using external aid outside of the aid stations
- Not helping fellow runners in need
- Taking a short cut
- Not visiting all aid stations
Runner will be disqualified if
- Missing compulsory gear. Race steward may carry out inspections along the route to check your equipment.
- Exceeding time limits, see Aid Stations and Time Charts