Discover Outokumpu

In Outokumpu, impressive traces of mining meet lake landscapes and nature trails. At the Mining Museum, the 277-metre-long museum tunnel takes you through a real mining work environment: photographs and old mining machinery show how this world was shaped. Nature experiences include the Särkiselkä circular trail and a canoe tour through twelve lakes. When choosing your holiday apartment, consider which of these sides of Outokumpu are especially important for your trip.

Mining history above and below ground

The Mining Museum explores both the history of mining in Outokumpu and Finland and mining today. An underground exhibition called “Maan aarteet” (Treasures of the Earth) includes a rock that is 3.5 billion years old. The exhibition of large machines features, among other things, a former fire engine, an explosives vehicle and an off-road vehicle used to search for ore. The former fire engine and other machines give the subject a tangible technical dimension alongside its history.

Outokumpu’s Old Mine is also part of its mining history and a destination in the area around a copper mine that is over 100 years old. The Old Mine site and its surroundings can be described as an “old town.” Outokumpu’s mining community developed over a period of more than a hundred years. If you would first like to get an impression of the Old Mine, you can explore it on a virtual 360-degree tour. The museum, underground exhibition and virtual tour thus offer different ways to experience mining history.

Trails, lakes and nature

The Särkiselkä nature trail is a circular route through hilly and lakeside landscapes at Outokumpu’s Erä- ja Luontokeskus (Wilderness and Nature Centre). The trail starts at the entrance to the Särkiselkä camping area, Rikkarannantie 37. There is a parking area for the nature trail by the shore of Särkiselkä, also at Rikkarannantie 37. Rock outcrops along the trail can be slippery in rainy weather, so take this into account when planning your visit. You can swim at Särkiselkä beach, where there are also sandy beaches.

The Erä- ja Luontokeskus also has hiking trails, including longer routes in Outokumpu. The area includes a canoe tour through twelve lakes. These activities offer different options: you can plan a hike along a circular trail or opt for the canoe tour. The Erä- ja Luontokeskus is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. Sysmäjärvi is also a birdwatching lake known for its birdlife, Juojärvi is considered a clear lake, and Viurusuo is described as a protected natural area.

Activities for different days of your trip

For children, Outokumpu’s children’s fishing spot offers a specific opportunity: children under the age of twelve can fish for salmonids there free of charge. The Karhunpaviljonki at the site has space for about 20 hikers. This makes it possible to combine an outing with a fishing activity for children, without implying a specific programme or length of stay. If you would rather explore on foot, the town also has longer hiking trails; in winter, there is a well-maintained network of cross-country ski trails.

Your interests can guide your search for a holiday apartment: mining history, hiking, water and winter ski trails are different reasons to choose Outokumpu as a destination. Decide which of these suit your stay, and take the respective destinations and starting points into account. The information about Särkiselkä points to Rikkarannantie 37; the other nature and mining topics describe different sides of Outokumpu.

If you would like to explore more places as you plan your trip: Kiihtelysvaara, Ketsu, Koli, Kesälahti, Säyneinen, Vanhahovi, Valtimo and Polvijärvi.

For the broader travel overview: North Karelia.