Urho Kekkonen National Park
Urho Kekkonen National Park
5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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5.0
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PrincessPea65
Ann Arbor, MI36 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
We went snowshoeing here…we walked from northern lights village. There were trails specifically for cross country skiing and others for hiking and snowshoeing. Some of the trails are not intuitively marked but there are lots of maps and markers along the way so we eventually found the trail we wanted. It was very peaceful and lovely…lots of snow at the end of March.
Written 4 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GaryandLesleyTravel
Auckland Central, New Zealand7,660 contributions
July 2024 • Couples
With several routes to choose from and only a moderate level of fitness these walks to various spots on the Fell are very good. The tree line is pleasing without being sensational. The occasional contact with water, the rocky gorge or a Reindeer the highlights of our walks.
Written 2 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
niinan2
Nurmijarvi, Finland1,708 contributions
July 2021
This was my first visit to the Urho Kekkonen National Park. There are many marked hiking paths and cycling routes all over and of course one can hike freely all over the place.
I hiked to Iisakkipää, Kiilopää and Luutalammi and the scenery was just great: lovely open fell scenery, lovely small brooks and reindeer.
I hiked to Iisakkipää, Kiilopää and Luutalammi and the scenery was just great: lovely open fell scenery, lovely small brooks and reindeer.
Written 10 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
patiencehsu
Taipei, Taiwan203 contributions
Nov 2017 • Solo
It’s just about 10 min walk from center of Sarriselka. The winter route is short and quite safe. There is an Aurora cabin on the way and it would be great if you can stay there to see Aurora. A beautiful natural place to visit.
Written 20 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JariJK
Kouvola, Finland6,853 contributions
June 2017 • Family
Urho Kekkonen National Park was named after the former Finnish president Urho Kekkonen who was the famous friend of nature and Lapland. This national park is huge (2550 square kilometers) and it is situated in three municipalities: Savukoski, Sodankylä and Inari. (Saariselkä is the commercial name of a tourist center and the geographical name of a fell range, which is situated in these three municipalities and partly in Urho Kekkonen National Park.)
You could spend many days in Urho Kekkonen National Park. There are 200 kilometers of marked hiking trails and cross-country skiing tracks there. In many areas you may walk on your own trails, too.
It is easiest to start exploring this national park from Saariselkä center, Kiilopää or Tankavaara. From Saariselkä center I recommend that you take the Iisakkipää Nature Trail (Iisakkipään luontopolku), which is 6 kilometers long, very easy to walk and goes both to Iisakkipää Fell and Pääsiäiskuru Gorge. If you want to hike longer, you can walk to the beautiful Rumakuru Gorge. It is situated about 6-7 kilometers from Saariselkä center. There are two open wilderness huts next to Rumakuru Gorge. Then you can walk the same way back or take a longer route via Piispanoja campfire site. All these routes are very easy to walk. Routes near Laanila and some routes near Saariselkä center are accessible even with a wheelchair or with a baby buggy.
It could also be a good idea to hike from Saariselkä center to Kiilopää (12-20 kilometers depending on the route), stay overnight in Fell Centre Kiilopää (read separate reviews) and then walk back to Saariselkä next day. There are also several trails around Fell Centre Kiilopää. Climbing on the top of Kiilopää Fell is "the must" (a bit less than two kilometers from Fell Centre Kiilopää in one direction).
My favorite short routes to Urho Kekkonen National Park start from Tankavaara (trails 1-7 kilometers). The circle trail named Kuukkeli (6 kilometers) goes to an observation tower and you see military history (e.g. log dugouts) on the way. The geological trail named Geologinen polku (7 kilometers) is extremely interesting, too. Pond Koiranjuomalampi is very beautiful and there is a campfire site onshore. Remember to walk the offshore path to Jorpulipää Fell, too. The view is marvelous. You can also combine these two trails by starting with Kuukkeli Trail and from the crossroads on a swamp area with a causeway you can turn towards Jorpulipää Fell and the geological trail.
You can also spend many days in Urho Kekkonen National Park but then you need a good hiking map.
You could spend many days in Urho Kekkonen National Park. There are 200 kilometers of marked hiking trails and cross-country skiing tracks there. In many areas you may walk on your own trails, too.
It is easiest to start exploring this national park from Saariselkä center, Kiilopää or Tankavaara. From Saariselkä center I recommend that you take the Iisakkipää Nature Trail (Iisakkipään luontopolku), which is 6 kilometers long, very easy to walk and goes both to Iisakkipää Fell and Pääsiäiskuru Gorge. If you want to hike longer, you can walk to the beautiful Rumakuru Gorge. It is situated about 6-7 kilometers from Saariselkä center. There are two open wilderness huts next to Rumakuru Gorge. Then you can walk the same way back or take a longer route via Piispanoja campfire site. All these routes are very easy to walk. Routes near Laanila and some routes near Saariselkä center are accessible even with a wheelchair or with a baby buggy.
It could also be a good idea to hike from Saariselkä center to Kiilopää (12-20 kilometers depending on the route), stay overnight in Fell Centre Kiilopää (read separate reviews) and then walk back to Saariselkä next day. There are also several trails around Fell Centre Kiilopää. Climbing on the top of Kiilopää Fell is "the must" (a bit less than two kilometers from Fell Centre Kiilopää in one direction).
My favorite short routes to Urho Kekkonen National Park start from Tankavaara (trails 1-7 kilometers). The circle trail named Kuukkeli (6 kilometers) goes to an observation tower and you see military history (e.g. log dugouts) on the way. The geological trail named Geologinen polku (7 kilometers) is extremely interesting, too. Pond Koiranjuomalampi is very beautiful and there is a campfire site onshore. Remember to walk the offshore path to Jorpulipää Fell, too. The view is marvelous. You can also combine these two trails by starting with Kuukkeli Trail and from the crossroads on a swamp area with a causeway you can turn towards Jorpulipää Fell and the geological trail.
You can also spend many days in Urho Kekkonen National Park but then you need a good hiking map.
Written 29 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
finbarsmom
Santa BArbara124 contributions
Dec 2016 • Family
Even if you are not a big hiker, you and kids can enjoy a beautiful walk in snow covered forests using the walking trails around Saariselka which is groomed for foot traffic. It starts right next to the big wooden hut where the X country trails start and you can go pretty deep into the forest or just skirt the boundary. About 10 minutes into the path just before Aurora hut, we found a fire pit lit. We returned that night with our kids and sledges and marshmallows in hand and luckily were able to stoke the fire and revive it. What a fun experience. There is even a grill for heating cocoa or food and marshmallows picks are left there for public use. The kids then sledged down the path home in the dark with headlights. THe best part about this park is you can get the same exhilaration of being in snowy forests as you do with a snow shoe tour, albeit presumably not as deep into the forest at night, for free. You can also walk a different road towards the sports field which will take you 3 km to the next town through forests and past cozy lit up cabins. I only wish we had more time to explore..
Written 26 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
adrianashley
East Sussex, UK5 contributions
Aug 2018
The Urho Kekkonen National Park has a definite other-worldly feel to it, with dwarf forests, giant mushrooms and seams of gemstone-like feldspar running through many of the rocks.
I visited in early August, just after the sun had started to set again, but before it ever got truly dark. The air temperature at that time of year was ideal for walking, the trails were fairly obvious, the terrain wasn’t at all challenging, but there were still some nice views from what hills there were, and the little rain that did fall came in brief showers, rather than storms. I had been warned to expect swarms of mosquitoes, but thankfully they didn’t materialise – maybe they are restricted to certain areas or perhaps it was just too late in the year for them.
I stayed in Saariselkä and made a number of day trips into the park. If - or rather when - I go back I will probably try a multi-day hike. Even while staying in Saariselkä village I saw plenty of wildlife; reindeer in the street, a hare on the lawn outside my room and a red squirrel actually running around inside the hotel!
I visited in early August, just after the sun had started to set again, but before it ever got truly dark. The air temperature at that time of year was ideal for walking, the trails were fairly obvious, the terrain wasn’t at all challenging, but there were still some nice views from what hills there were, and the little rain that did fall came in brief showers, rather than storms. I had been warned to expect swarms of mosquitoes, but thankfully they didn’t materialise – maybe they are restricted to certain areas or perhaps it was just too late in the year for them.
I stayed in Saariselkä and made a number of day trips into the park. If - or rather when - I go back I will probably try a multi-day hike. Even while staying in Saariselkä village I saw plenty of wildlife; reindeer in the street, a hare on the lawn outside my room and a red squirrel actually running around inside the hotel!
Written 10 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sannala
Helsinki, Finland93 contributions
July 2017 • Couples
We walked the Iisakkipää route, about 7 km and 1 h 40 minutes. It was in good condition and the scenery was absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend this route.
Written 19 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GrAnni82
Helsinki, Finland43 contributions
Jan 2016 • Solo
My favourite place for cross country skiing in the whole world. Certainly the best in Lapland. You need to be somewhat fit and/or experienced to get to the best parts, but it's SO worth it!
Written 19 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
suzie
London, UK30 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
If you love exploring then definitely pick a route and have a wonder. Absolutely beautiful in the snow. The walk we did to Saariselkä, we came across a lodge which was open to the public with a fire place to warm up to on a break which looked over the national park. There is also toilets opposite this and even a bbq spot near by with fire wood ready to use.
Written 29 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello is there any easy trail in Urho Kekkonen Park in winter(october) for people who don't have snow shoes? i want to visit next day fron Saariselka but have no idea
Written 19 October 2019
Planning a trip to Lapland from a Helsinki next week mid June. My grand daughter aged 5 is keen to ride a sledge and meet Santa. Is that possible in the summer. Where do we head if we can get to do both.
Thanks
Written 14 June 2019
You can always meet Santa there at Rovaniemi (about two hours south from the Urho park).
Not sure about the reindeer though. You can go see them but not sure you can ride them. Maybe a horse ride would be more convenient in the summer.
Look at Saariselka (15 minutes north of the Urho park). They have lots of family activities.
Written 14 June 2019
Je part fin février pour la région de inari ivalo le parc huro nelim enfin j aimerai trouver dans ces coins la mais c est asser compliquer est ce que quelqu un pourrai me donner des adresse d'agences locales qui pourrai m aider à réaliser mon voyage?merci d avance
Written 1 February 2019
Il y a le Centre d' information a l'entree du Park National Urho Kekkonen. La, tu trouve touts les informations necessaire.
Written 10 February 2019
What is the approximate temperature in saariselka in the month of May, we r planning to visit in May-2019, will we find Snow in this month. Also would like to know if we can see Northern Lights in the month if May in Saariselka??
Written 17 August 2018
Hi
in general Northern Lights are visible in winter. So September to March are the month's were it's most likely. I've been there end of March for a couple of days and saw northern lights twice.
The temperature in May can get quite warm already. In March we had -22°C :)
Written 18 August 2018
marzia77marco66
Falconara Marittima, Italy
salve, vorrei sapere come raggiungere il parco da saariselka. grazie
Written 3 February 2017
Ciao. Pensate sia fattibile fare delle piccole escursioni da soli muniti di ciaspole in questo parco? Andrò a fine marzo.
Grazie
Written 19 August 2016
secondo me si può fare tranquillamente in quanto sono indicati i sentieri da fare con le ciaspole,a piedi e con gli sci da fondo
Written 19 August 2016
Anyone know any personal tour guides that can take you to Urho Kekkonen national park for a horse back riding tour? I'm staying at the Kakslauttanen Igloo Village and they offer the same for Eur 144/per person for a 2.5hr ride but hoping to find a better deal.
Written 27 July 2016
Ask at the Kiilopaa information center, search same on Internet.
This center provides all you need.
Written 18 August 2018
cecizec
Province of Gorizia, Italy
Buongiorno,
verso metà luglio visiterò il parco in compagnia di una mia amica e vorremmo prepararci una sorta di itinerario. In che sito posso trovare una cartina con i sentieri possibili del parco?
Grazie
Goodmorning,
in mid-july I will visit the park with my friend and we would prepare a sort of itinerary. Can you tell me a website where I can find the map with the possible paths of the park?
Thank you
Written 16 April 2016
per quanto mi riguarda ho visitato una parte del parco nel periodo invernale senza ausilio di mappe in quanto i sentieri sono segnalati molto bene. durante la stagione invernale i sentieri son diversificati per chi è a piedi,per chi munito di ciaspole ed altri ancora per chi munito di sci da fondo. penso che nella stagione estiva siano segnalati anche meglio.in ogni caso io avevo base a Saariselka e nell'ufficio del turismo ci son le mappe e tutte le indicazioni. anche gli alberghi più grandi erano muniti di mappe e di vari opuscoli. noi abbiam pianificato i vari trekking una volta arrivate in loco.
Written 17 April 2016
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