Hiking & outdoor recreationLength25.6 km
Duration(1-2 days)
Degree of difficultyHard
Explore the winter nature of Oulanka National Park on snowshoes, skis or a fatbike. A day trip or overnight adventure on the wilderness trail gives visitors a chance to enjoy the forest in late winter. The trail runs from the Oulanka Visitor Centre to Juuma village, offering a variety of terrain from steep hills to mire areas. There are two open wilderness huts along the trail (Ansakämppä and Jussinkämppä) as well as campsites at the Kiutaköngäs shelter, Merenoja and Kulmakkopuro. The trail is suitable for beginner winter hikers. The trail is accessible from February to April, and a snowmobile is driven along the base approximately once a week. A classic ski track runs along the edge of the trail, which keeps one side level. Large differences in elevation and the narrow trail make this a challenging route, but the landscapes are a reward for your efforts.
Multi-purpose trailYou can use classic cross-country skis, a fatbike or snowshoes on this trail. A fatbike may sink into the snow easily if the base is not hard.
The trail can only be used in the winterFrom February to April. The trail is maintained in April for as long as the snow surface is firm enough to support a person.
Camping permittedCamping is only permitted in the immediate vicinity of marked rest areas and campfire sites and huts.
HutAnsakämppä open wilderness hut, Jussinkämppä open wilderness hut
Dry toiletRemember to bring toilet paper.
Remember to bring a trash bagThere are no waste bins on the trail. Bring along your own trash bag and take your waste out with you when leaving.
Contact information
Starting pointLiikasenvaarantie 132, 93900 Kuusamo
Starting pointOulanka Visitor Centre parking area
The trail is marked with orange and yellow ribbons. You can start the Oulanka Wilderness Trail at Oulanka Visitor Centre or at the Juuma parking area. Hikers starting at Juuma will have more steep downhill sections than those who start at Oulanka Visitor Centre. This trail description is from Oulanka Visitor Centre towards Juuma. The trail runs from Oulanka Visitor Centre to Jussinkämppä open wilderness hut, mainly following the Karhunkierros hiking trail during the snow-free season. A separate trail branches off at Jussinkämppä and continues to Juuma.
Please note that there is a 1-kilometer walk to the beginning of the ski track, as the track starts behind the Kiutaköngäs shelter, after the Kiutaköngäs rapids.
There is no public transport or car transfer service between the starting and ending points of the trail. If you want to go back by car, you have to take a taxi.
Oulanka Visitor Centre - Kiutaköngäs cooking shelter approx. 1 km
Oulanka Wilderness Trail starts in front of the Oulanka Visitor Centre and follows the Karhunkierros Trail and day trails in the area to Kiutaköngäs Rapids. The wide trail is easy to identify in the terrain. The distance from the Visitor Centre to the rushing waters of Kiutaköngäs is 1 km. There are a few gentle hills and stairs built into the ground along the trail. The Kiutaköngäs cooking shelter is located 100 metres from Kiutaköngäs Rapids.
Kiutaköngäs cooking shelter - Ansakämppä Open Wilderness Hut 7 km
This is the hilliest and most demanding section of the trail. The trail runs beside Oulankajoki River, sometimes climbing to the top of the riverbank, which provides a view of magnificent landscape in the canyon, and then descending closer to the shore. The distance from Kiutaköngäs shelter to the Merenoja campfire site is approximately 2.5 km. At that point, the trail continues to Ansakämppä open wilderness hut.
Ansakämppä Open Wilderness Hut - Jussinkämppä Open Wilderness Hut 7 km
After continuing for approximately 2 km from Ansakämppä open wilderness hut, you come to a climb of approximately 60 metres over a distance of 500 metres to the Kulmakkopuro campfire site. Please note that campfire sites may be covered with snow in the winter. From here, continue along the easy trail through the spruce forest towards the so-called Kitkanniemi area. The trail descends gently to Jussinkämppä open wilderness hut on the shore of Kulmakkojärvi Lake.
Jussinkämppä Open Wilderness Hut - Juuma Village 11 km
Oulanka Wilderness Trail branches off from Karhunkierros Trail and passes through the Välimaa forest area to Juuma village, where the trail ends. There are open mire and forest areas along the trail. It’s important to keep an eye on the trail markings, because the wind in the mire area can blow snow onto the trail and cover the route. The trail ends at the Juuma parking area, which also serves as the starting point for the Pieni Karhunkierros Trail.
End pointJuumantie 133, 93900 Kuusamo
End pointJuuma parking area