The review Pyha was created by Skiresort.info, the world’s largest test portal for ski resorts.
The Pyha ski resort is considered a medium-sized ski resort in Finland
Altitude difference
305 m (Valley 195 m - Mountain 500 m )
Lifts/ cable cars
7
Number of lifts to get from one end of the ski resort to the other
→ 1 ← 1
Slope offering, variety of runs
The ski resort offers a good mixture of easy, intermediate and difficult runs and even features the steepest slope in Finland. 11 of the 14 slopes have floodlighting, which is especially important from November through February. From the 6 person chairlift, you can choose from 5 different slopes ranging from easy to difficult and a FIS run.
Run location
just above tree line, under tree line
The highlight is the quick 6 person Pyha Express with weather protection covers (built in 2010). The guests reach the highest point in the Pyha ski resort in 4 minutes. With the exception of the North slopes, almost all runs can be accessed with this chair lift. T-bars and other chair lifts complete the offering.
Total capacity
9820 Passengers / hour
Length of all lifts
5.6 km Total
The ski resort has almost 100% snow-making capability. The geographic location enables a very long season from the middle of November until the beginning of May.
Worth knowing
- Artificial snow-making
90 % of the slopes have snow-making capabilities
- The valley run is always open when ski resort is open; without the valley run, ski operation is not possible.
Season 2009/2010
165 Days open
165 Days when valley run open
The slope preparation is excellent.
Tip: By new snow, an optimal slope prepartion is not always possible, even with a large effort. In addition, the new snow can not combine with the snow lying underneath and moguls are created quickly. For safety reasons, usually no slope preparation is possible during operating times.
The ski resort is about 15 minutes away from the main highway, E63 (5) Kuopio-Sodankyla. Parking lots are located right next to the lifts.
Access via E63 (5) Kuopio-Sodankylä, Ausfahrt Pyhätunturintie
Pyhä Express (Pyhä), Ideal entry for day visitors
Distance: 15 km · approx. 14 Minutes driving time
Parking spaces: usually enough available,
Tarred parking lot, Stone parking lot,
free of charge
Pohjoisrinteenhissi (Pyhä), Entry suitable for day visitors
Distance: 18 km · approx. 17 Minutes driving time
Parking spaces: limited amount available,
Stone parking lot,
free of charge
Orientation (trail map, information boards, sign-postings)
Trail map and overview maps:
The trail map depicts the ski resort very well. Some altitude indications could be included.
Information boards and sign-postings on the slopes:
Information boards with the opening times of the lifts as well as numerous sign-postings are distributed throughout the ski resort.
The ski resort and the facilities are very clean.
Environmentally friendly ski operation
They place a high value on the implementation of environmental programmes for the reduction of CO2 emissions. The ski resort is operated exclusively with renewable energy sources. Snow-making is controlled by an automatic, environmentally-friendly system.
Public transportation/ on-site mobility
- No direct train connection
- Scheduled busses
- Ski buses: Pyha-Luosto-Rovaniemi (airport and train station); Kemijärvi-Pyha-Pelkosenniemi; Sodankyla-Luosto-Pyha
The staff is very friendly, but could be a bit more helpful during lift entry.
Mountain restaurants, ski huts, gastronomy
The ski resort offers a very good selection of restaurants. There are also open fire pits in the ski resort where you can grill your own sausages.
6 Mountain restaurants & Ski huts
Gastronomy tip
-
Uula a la carte
At the valley station of the 6 person chair lift
Uula a la carte is a house within a house. The old house was built into the Restaurant Huttu-Uul and offers special dishes made with bear meat as well as steak and reindeer dishes.
-
Glacier Bar & Restaurant
In the Hotel Pyhatunturi
Local Lappish delicacies with a beautiful view of the surrounding nature. Very good place to go in the evenings.
Mountain hut tip
The Carlsberg House is well-known for its Après Ski. Pyha also regularly holds events.
Accommodation offering directly on the slopes and lifts
There is a good selection of hotels, apartments and huts that are located directly on the slopes.
Ski-in/Ski-out
There are many accommodations with direct access to the slopes and to lifts (Ski-in/Ski-out)
Tips
-
Sauna mit Eisloch
On Lake Pyhajarvi
In Finland, you also find saunas located on lakes in addition to the saunas in hotels. After using the sauna, you can cool down in an ice hole - a really special experience!
Towns/villages
- Pyhä
Distance to ski resort 0 km (directly at ski resort)
Guest beds 1000
Note: For the evaluation, only the accommodations which are located directly on the slopes and lifts, or have very easy access to the ski resort have been considered.
In addition to a wide and flat family run, the Pyha ski resort also offers a children's slope, a magic carpet for beginners and an adventure course for kids.
Information for families and children
- Kid's Land/ separated area for children
- Beginner's lifts near the valley
Special tips for children
-
Rosa & Rudolf Obstacle Course
Adventure course on the North slopes
-
Children's ski run
Separate children's area with rope tow next to the valley station of the 6 person chair lift.
-
Beginner's slope
Magic carpet next to the Hotel PhyaSuites. Ideal for beginners.
Beginners will feel especially at home at the Family lift. The family runs are wide and flat. Advanced beginners can move on to the blue run at the 6 person chair lift as well as the blue North slope.
Information for beginners
- Easy and manageable slope offering, which is easy to achieve
- Beginner's lifts near the valley
Ski schools on-site
Advanced skiers, freeriders
Pyha has the steepest slope in Finland. The World Cup Mogul Slope competition has also been held here.
Information for advanced skiers, freeriders
- some freeride / deep snow areas
Slope offering advanced skiers
Most difficult run
-
Huttu-Ukko run · Length 0 km · Altitude difference 200 m
Most difficult slope in Finland
Note: Always mind the avalanche warnings and barriers, please. Never ski into a closed and unsecured area.
Information for Snowboarders
- some freeride / deep snow areas
Snow parks
Offering snow parks
Cross-country skiing and trails
- Cross-country trail offering
Total trail length: 172 km
There are over 150 km of cross-country tracks in Pyha-Luosto. Some of these go through the Pyha-Luosto National Park. The Luosto and Pyha tracks are connected to each other. There are 14 km of floodlit slopes in Pyha and 25 km in Luosto.
Conclusion
Snow reliability, modern 6 person chair lift, steepest slope in Finland, cross-country offering
Low altitude difference
Test Report issued on 2011-04-14
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