Hiking & outdoor recreationLength3.5 km
Duration(1,5 h)
Degree of difficultyMedium
Cross the gushing Vikaköngäs Rapids on a hanging bridge and climb the slopes of the Vaattunkivaara Hill. At the top, you can admire old-growth pine forests and the magnificent views opening from an observation tower. The start and end sections of the circular trail run on easy and wide gravel paths and wooden footbridges. On the slopes and at the top of the Vaattunkivaara Hill, the trail runs through steep and rocky terrain. For this reason, sturdy footwear is recommended. Also remember that the rocks, boulders and wooden structures can be extremely slippery when wet or when covered by frost. The Kaltio lean-to shelter at the foot of the hill provides an ideal place for a meal break or rest. The Vikaköngäs accessible lean-to shelter yard is located close to the starting and end point of the trail. There are illustrated information boards along the trail. In winter, the trail is well-suited for snowshoeing.
Circle trailThe trail can be hiked in both directions.
No winter maintenanceYou can also snowshoe on the trail in winter. However, it is not maintained during the winter months and does have separate winter trail markings.
Campfire siteKaltio lean-to shelter. Campfires are only allowed on marked campfire sites. Campfires are prohibited when the forest fire warning is in effect.
Dry toilet
No water pointVBring along an ample supply of drinking water. There is a natural water source at the Kaltio lean-to shelter and its water is suitable for use after boiling.
Camping permittedYou can camp in the immediate vicinity of marked campsites and campfire sites.
Contact information
Starting pointVikakönkään pysäköintialue, Sodankyläntie 2498, 97510 Rovaniemi
From the parking area, go through the information shelter, which serves as the trail starting point. Continue to the Vikaköngäs hanging bridge, which takes you across the gushing rapids to the other side. The cross-planked path on the bridge is 1.2 m wide and has wooden railings. Note that the bridge can carry a maximum of 10 persons at a time and the distance between them must be at least 5 metres.
Immediately after the bridge, you arrive at a signposted junction from where the Vaattunkivaara Nature Trail continues to the left. Here it shares the same path with the Könkäiden polku Trail. The trail is easy and runs on a one-metre wide path surfaced with crushed stone. Cross-planked footbridges with a width of 1.2 metres take you across the moist sections. As the trail moves further away from the riverside, the lush birch forests along the route turn into pine-dominated woodland.
After covering a distance of 0.5 kilometres, you arrive at a signposted junction, which marks the start of the circular trail section. The trail can be hiked in both directions. The trail description continues counterclockwise to duckboards towards the Vaattunkivaara Hill. There are wooden marker posts along the trail.
The two-plank duckboard route runs through a spruce forest, taking you to birch-dominated wetlands where the trail is lined with a variety of different moss species and such plants as Wood Horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum) and Wild Rosemary (Rhododendron tomentosum). The duckboard section has a length of about 140 metres after which the trail continues as a path carved into the terrain. The path may have wet spots after rain.
The trail meanders on the forest-covered slopes of the Vaattunkivaara Hill for about one kilometre. The path is steep in places and gradually becomes more rocky. At the rugged hilltop, there are places with no clear paths. At rain or after subzero periods, you should be particularly careful because the rocks and boulders can be slippery.
At the top of the Vaattunkivaara Hill, you are standing about 80 metres higher than at the trail starting point. Some of the trees in the magnificent hilltop pine forest are more than 450 years old. Climb the wooden observation tower to admire the hills and aapa mires of Southern Lapland and the wide Raudanjoki River meandering through the landscape. There are also wooden benches and a table for meal breaks at the hilltop. There is no campfire site and making fire at the location is prohibited.
At the metal signposts, the Vaattunkivaara Nature Trail branches from the observation tower towards the Kaltio lean-to shelter and Vikaköngäs. At first, the trail runs through rocky terrain but gradually turns into a proper path as it descends the northeastern slope of the Vaattunkivaara Hill. The trail is quite steep in places. Along the trail, you can admire sturdy pines and silver-green dead trees as well as an impressive erratic boulder. After descending 0.5 kilometres, you cross a wetland section on two-plank duckboards and wooden steps. The structures are in poor condition.
At the foot of the hill, the terrain becomes more level and continues on an easy one-metre wide gravel path for 0.5 kilometres. Towards the end of the trail section, the path runs alongside a mire as it heads towards the Kaltio lean-to shelter.
The lean-to shelter has a campfire site, a toilet and a wood shed. Making fire at the campfire site is prohibited when a forest fire warning is in effect. A spring is located opposite to the lean-to shelter on the other side of the path about 40 metres away. It can be accessed on two-plank duckboards. There is a wider cross-planked platform at the spring where you can take water to your bottle. The quality of the water is not tested and it is recommended that you boil it before use.
From Kaltio, the trail continues on an easy gravel path in a pine-dominated forest, which gradually changes from a colonnade of tall pines into dense woodland.
After 0.6 kilometres, you arrive at the junction you already passed at the start of the trail and the circular section ends. The rest of the trail back to the starting point runs on the same route as at the start of the trail: a wide path, footbridges and a hanging bridge across Vikaköngäs.
End pointVikakönkään pysäköintialue, Sodankyläntie 2498, 97510 Rovaniemi