Muodoslompolo: Fly Fishing, Nature and History

Muodoslompolo offers points of interest for different kinds of travellers: the local company J.L Guiding offers professional fly-fishing guiding and courses. Other attractions include Muodoslompolo kyrka, historical traces in the surrounding area and trails in the Valkeajärvi Nature Reserve. This gives you several options to choose from when planning your trip—from fishing and cultural history to hiking. If you are looking for holiday accommodation, you can consider which of these interests you would like to shape your stay most.

There are two distinct types of fly-fishing experiences described. J.L Guiding in Muodoslompolo offers guiding and courses; Rajamaa organises fishing adventures as all-inclusive packages with professional guides. A course and a guided adventure package place different emphasis on your trip planning. You can therefore first decide whether you are interested in a course or an organised fishing adventure. These details do not include information about duration or dates.

Muodoslompolo kyrka is also associated with a distinctive local tradition: bells were rung by hand there until 1 January 2009. The Pajala Municipality has churches and chapels from Muodoslompolo in the north to Korpilombolo in the south. Each has its own history and invites visitors to explore. For those interested in culture, this offers a reason, alongside planning a fishing trip, to learn about the municipality’s religious sites. The hand-ringing tradition remains a historical point of reference, with a clearly stated end date.

Another historic site is Akamella, just over 10 km northwest of Muodoslompolo. It is home to an abandoned cemetery and an archaeological site. The cemetery was inaugurated in 1663 and abandoned in 1817. These two dates give the site a clear historical context: Akamella is particularly appealing to travellers interested in past uses of the area and its recorded history. When planning your day, you can choose this focus separately from a trip to the trails or a fishing activity.

The Särkitievat Nature Reserve is also of interest for exploring the landscape. It is about 11 km northwest of Muodoslompolo, in the northern Tornedalen region, right next to Highway 99. From the public road, it can be reached via Muodoslompolo and then north along Highway 99. The approximate distance and the route described can help you include this place in your own plans, without confusing it with the attractions closer to the village.

There are forest roads and paths for hiking in the Valkeajärvi Nature Reserve. There are no marked hiking trails or visitor facilities there. If you are considering a hike, take these specific conditions into account when planning your day: the routes are not described as marked hiking trails, and there are no visitor facilities on site. This is a different kind of outing from visiting the churches and historic sites. For families or other groups travelling together, it may therefore be useful to discuss in advance what kind of exploration you would like to focus on that day.

During the summer season, starting in mid-June, Rajamaa offers activities including mountain biking and hiking. The Arctic Canoe Route begins with the group meeting the guides at the Rajamaa camp before heading to dinner. This means there are other activities in addition to fly fishing, including seasonal options and an organised start to the canoe route. If you are bringing together different interests for your holiday, you can consider each of the described options according to your preferred focus, rather than assuming they are all part of a single excursion programme.

More local pages to help you plan: Korpilombolo, Kangos, Tärendö, Pajala.

Return to the main travel overview: Pajala.