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Parks and the outdoors in Saariselkä

6 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Saariselkä.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Parks and the outdoors in Saariselkä

  1. Do

    Iisakkipää

    There is a nature trail (6 km) to the top of Iisakkipää (slightly higher, with a view less disturbed by ski resort structures) and back, telling about traces of the Ice Age. There is also a shorter variant (2.5 km), along the lower slopes. In winter the trails are marked as snowshoe trails.

  2. See

    Kiehinen

    Customer service point of Metsähallitus

    Free exhibition about the nature and hiking possibilities in Urho Kekkonen National Park and other nearby protected areas. Advice on hiking. Maps, bookings and keys, fishing and snowmobile track permits etc.

    Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00, in season also Sat Sun 09:00–16:00 or 10:00–17:00, closed 6 Dec and 24-26 Dec

  3. Do

    Kiilopää

    There are natural trails (1–6 km) and a trail to the fell top also at Kiilopää (546 m; no lifts here), some 15 km south from Saariselkä. If you take the time to roam around, you can enjoy the fell heaths and fell landscapes, not much disturbed by modern development. Gravel roads and footpaths lead further into the national park, such as via Raututunturit to Rautalampi (10 km from the Kiilopää hotel), where you can overnight in an open wilderness hut. The Kiilopää resort has a restaurant, equipment rental etc.

  4. Eat

    Petronella

    Specialities include reindeer fillet and Lake Inari whitefish. Excellent choice of wines. Also check the 'Petronella' house cocktail (for warming up in winter weather).

  5. Do

    Prospector's trail

    Prospector was the gold mining firm. The trail leads to a mine and a mine hut near Laanila (1 km). The trail (skiing track in winter) continues to meet other trails in the national park (trail description, background story).

  6. Do

    Rumakuru

    About 6 km from Saariselkä and from Laanila, by marked hiking routes or maintained skiing tracks. The steep and rocky Rumakuru is a product of the Ice Age. One of the two day huts in the Rumakuru valley is from about 1900, probably built by gold diggers. You can choose another route for returning.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Saariselkä (CC BY-SA 4.0).