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Muotkatakka 565m
Finland's highest mountain road

After the north-western tip of Andorra and the north-western tip of Iceland, the north-western tip of Finland is now following within three weeks. Above the Arctic Circle in the border triangle with Norway and Sweden, there is a lonely road that has only a few metres of altitude gain, but still leads to the highest paved point in the country.

Start: Kilpisjärvi 488m
Altitude gain: 201m
Distance: 16km
August 2025


A short, gentle climb at the very end


The journey begins in Kilpisjärvi. The village consists of a campsite, a few small lodgings and the only grocery store far and wide.


The distances in the Finnish tundra are long, very long... Fortunately, we only have a short 15-kilometre stretch ahead of us.


Then suddenly it becomes unexpectedly difficult. The road (actually smoothly paved) is being resurfaced here for three kilometres. I stand at the traffic lights for what feels like an eternity of five minutes. Fortunately, I had opted for a gravel bike instead of a road bike.


Behind the construction site, we continue through the summer cold of the Arctic Circle. There is no wind today, which makes cycling pleasant.


Along the way, I repeatedly encounter reindeer at the side of the road.


The road is quite undulating, so I unexpectedly get some fun interval training with watt values varying between zero and 300.


The actual climb to the pass summit is a mere 90 metres in altitude. Here is the view back at the start of the final climb.


Done! A special moment. It is my 47th country point in Europe in 18 years – and thus the last one missing for the time being. This means that I have climbed one of the highest mountain roads in every country in Europe by bicycle. Ukraine, Belarus and Russia may follow at some point. Unfortunately, this is not possible at the moment.


Flag is only raised on special occasions :-)



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