Hiking & outdoor recreationLength2.6 km
Duration(10 min - 1 h)
Degree of difficultyEasy
On the short, accessible trail along the shores of the Raudanjoki River, you get an excellent view of the impressive Vikaköngäs Rapids. The accessible lean-to shelter yard is located roughly halfway through the shore trail. The trail is also ideal for families with children because the shore trail and the lean-to shelter yard are well-suited for prams. You can cross the Vikaköngäs Rapids on a hanging bridge and continue on the demanding accessible section (length about one kilometre) on the other side of the river. A path hardened with crushed stone and wide footbridges take you through forests to the Kaltio lean-to shelter. The return from the lean-to shelter is on the same route.
Accessible trailThe shore trail has a length of 200 metres and it is accessible all the way. The hanging bridge and the one-kilometre section after the bridge are demanding but accessible.
No water pointBring 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.
No winter maintenance The Vikaköngäs lean-to shelter yard is also accessible in winter.
Dry toiletAn accessible toilet is located on the trail, and a non-accessible toilet at the Kaltio lean-to shelter.
Campfire siteCampfires are only allowed on marked campfire sites. Campfires are prohibited when the forest fire warning is in effect.
Contact information
Starting pointVikakönkään pysäköintialue, Sodankyläntie 2508, 97510 Rovaniemi
After turning from the main road, you arrive at a parking area with several P-marked places along the gravel road parallel to the river. There is room for drop-off traffic. The surface of the parking area is uneven and there are no parking places marked as accessible.
There are four routes from the parking area to the accessible shore trail: the route with the smallest elevation differences starts at the end of the gravel road close to the toilet. You can also access the trail from the hanging bridge side at the start of the gravel road. This route is very uneven. A direct route takes you to the hanging bridge through the information shelter, which serves as the trail starting point. The wooden floor in the shelter is in poor condition. Walk 90 metres on the gravel road and you arrive at another shelter through which you can get directly to the lean-to shelter yard. The sheds are located along this route and from them, there is a 13% downward slope to the lean-to shelter yard.
The accessible trail has a length of 200 metres. There are metal signposts at both ends of the trail but no trail markings on the trail itself. The trail runs on a coarse, loose gravel surface. Most of the path is two metres wide and on the river side, it is lined with rocks of different sizes. At both ends of the trail, there are large stones in the middle of the path blocking car access.
The lean-to shelter yard is located about halfway through the shore trail. The lean-to shelter yard stands on a surface consisting of both fine and coarse gravel. The lean-to shelter yard slopes towards the river with an incline of about 6%. There are two lean-to shelters and two wooden tables with benches at the yard. Making fire at the lean-to shelters is prohibited when the forest fire warning is in effect. The campfire site of the other lean-to shelter is not covered and it is surrounded by a circular wooden bench, which is open on one side.
The sheds are located on a small hill along the path from the lean-to shelter yard to the parking area and there is a 13% upward slope from the lean-to shelter yard to the sheds. The sheds have thresholds.
An accessible toilet and a recycling point are located about 100 metres from the lean-to shelter yard. The wooden floor in front of the toilet doors is uneven and has holes.
There is a wooden pier with wooden and rope railings on the river shore about 30 metres from the toilet. The path to the pier is even but the edge of the pier is higher than the path.
The Vikaköngäs hanging bridge takes you across the gushing river to the other side. The cross-planked path on the bridge is 1.2 metres wide and has wooden railings. The hanging bridge is slightly curved and its middle section lies higher than the ends. The bridge can carry a maximum of 10 persons at a time and the distance between them must be at least 5 metres.
From the bridge, the trail continues on a path hardened with crushed stone, climbing to a signposted t-junction. The Vikaköngäs Accessible Trail goes to the left, towards the Kaltio lean-to shelter. The Vaattunkivaara Nature Trail and the Könkäiden polku Trail run on the same path.
The trail continues for 0.4 kilometres on a one-metre wide path surfaced with crushed stone and 1.2-metre wide cross-planked footbridges with kerbs. There are a few uphill sections on the trail and in some places, the gravel path slopes towards its edges. There are also large rocks on the trail, narrowing the path in places.
At the metal signposts, the Vaattunkivaara Nature Trail branches towards Vaattunkivaara as a duckboard trail and the demanding accessible trail continues as a gravel path towards the Kaltio lean-to shelter.
The 0.6 km section to the lean-to shelter runs in a pine-dominated forest, which gradually changes from dense woodland into a colonnade of tall pines. The path is 1.2 m wide and gravel-surfaced, featuring both uphill and downhill sections. There are a number of large rocks on the trail, narrowing the path in places.
There is a campfire site, a toilet and a wood shed at the Kaltio lean-to shelter. The campfire site is open on one side. The toilet and the shed are not accessible. 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. It is about 40 metres away and can be accessed on two-plank duckboards. The duckboards are not even as the plank ends are at different heights. 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 the Kaltio lean-to shelter, the accessible trail returns on the same path to the starting point across the hanging bridge.
End pointVikakönkään pysäköintialue, Sodankyläntie 2508, 97510 Rovaniemi