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Outdoor destinations
On the top of the fell, two people are sitting on a chair, gazing at the vast fell landscape.

The extensive, unified fell area of Urho Kekkonen National Park attracts hikers all year round. Whether you travel on maintained ski tracks and marked trails nearby or in more remote areas with a map and a compass, you can always feel the touch of the wilderness.

  • Fells, old-growth forests, tapered spruces, wilderness rivers and lakes.
  • Numerous opportunities for day trips and demanding wilderness excursions.
  • Enjoy northern nature on foot or by skiing and cycling.
  • Unique hut network.
  • Lean-to shelters and campfire sites.
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Activities and trails

Skiing

There are a total of 200 kilometres of maintained ski tracks around Saariselkä, Kiilopää and Kakslauttanen.

Cycling

Urho Kekkonen National Park and the Saariselkä-Kiilopää-Kakslauttanen area feature a comprehensive network of paths and trails for mountain biking.

Hiking

Most of the Urho Kekkonen National Park is a genuine wilderness with no marked trails.

Snowshoeing

Urho Kekkonen National Park offers excellent opportunities for snowshoeing on marked trails or in untouched snow.

In the foreground of the picture is a colorful marsh during the autumn foliage season. In the background, a lake peeks through the trees, with fells rising behind it.

Urho Kekkonen National Park

In Urho Kekkonen National Park, the wilderness areas of the fells are protected for the current and future generations to enjoy. In the second largest national park in Finland.

Nature at the site
A grey wooden structure, partially decayed hut. In the background, green birch trees, with darker green spruce branches on the side.

The history of man in the Koilliskaira region can be tracked back to over 3000 years ago

Koilliskaira is the name of a forest wilderness, part of which is now protected and called Urho Kekkonen National Park.

History of the destination

Visitor's checklist

  • The National Park is a nature reserveLimited Everyman´s Right apply in the Urho Kekkonen National Park.
  • Always keep pets on a leashDog waste should be cleaned away from the paths.
  • Take the Sámi cultural environment into considerationBe respectful and do not damage the sacred sites of the Sámi people.
  • Be prepared for areas with limited or no mobile network coverageRemember to take a paper map and compass.
  • Temporary camping in the area is allowedShort-term camping is allowed only in the recreational and nature tourism zone in the immediate proximity to huts, lean-to shelters, and campfire sites. In the remote zone, you can camp everywhere except in Paratiisikuru, Lumikuru, Raja-Jooseppi museum area, and the Skolt homesteads, where it is forbidden.
  • Remember to bring a trash bagBring a trash bag and take the trash with you or to the recycling point.
  • Make campfires only in designated sitesAlways check the current wildfire warning before making a fire. During a wildfire warning, fires are only allowed in cooking shelters with a chimney. Campfires are only permitted at official campfire sites in the recreational and nature tourism zone.
    In the remote zone, you can make a temporary campfire using twigs, dry branches, and small roots on the ground. Using official campfire sites is recommended, though. Campfires are forbidden in Paratiisikuru, Lumikuru, Raja-Jooseppi museum area, and the Skolt homesteads.

Instructions and rules