Saariselkä: Hiking Trails, Gold History and Winter Sports

Saariselkä combines hiking trails in Urho Kekkonen National Park with reminders of gold mining and winter sports. The trails vary considerably in length and difficulty: from the easy Aurorapolku to moderately difficult routes and a hike to an old gold mine, you can choose experiences to suit your preferred itinerary for the day. Cross-country ski trails and the Saariselkä Ski & Sport Resort also shape the area.

Gorge and National Park Landscape

Urho Kekkonen National Park stretches east from Saariselkä. Near the village is Rumakuru, a steep-sided gorge carved out by meltwater during the Ice Age. Marked trails in the national park run alongside the gorge. Rumakuru is 6 km from Saariselkä and has two day huts for hikers. One of them was built around the turn of the 20th century and is the oldest hut in the entire area.

Hiking Trails of Different Lengths

The easy Aurorapolku Trail starts at the Saariselkä starting gate, enters Urho Kekkonen National Park and is 2.1 km long. In summer, you can experience the midnight sun there. The moderately difficult Iisakkipää Nature Trail also starts at the Saariselkä starting gate. You can choose between a 3 km and a 7 km route; along the way, you can learn more about birds, plants and their habitats in the four seasons. The route lengths and stated difficulty provide concrete guidance when planning your hiking itinerary.

Another option is the Prospektor Trail, which starts at the Saariselkä starting gate or in Laanila. From Saariselkä, the route is 9 km long, and the hike is estimated to take about 3 to 4 hours. It leads to an old gold mine established by the Prospektor mining company in 1902. The trail offers insight into the history of gold mining and the importance of gold in the Saariselkä region. If you want to combine a longer hike with a glimpse into this history, this trail offers a different focus from the nature trails.

The moderately difficult Rumakuru Trail starts at the Saariselkä starting gate and is 14 km long. It leads to the steep-sided Rumakuru gorge, shaped by the last Ice Age. This makes the gorge an option for a longer hike; the trail and the nearby day huts are separate stopping points around Rumakuru.

Cross-Country Skiing and Winter Activities

Some of the cross-country ski trails in Saariselkä are lit from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Trail maps show which trails are lit. Most trails are groomed every morning. Nature trails and the Vellinsärpimä–Taajoslaavu–Luulampi trails follow a different schedule: they are groomed three times a week. If you include cross-country skiing in your travel plans, these details and the trail map can help you plan your day. Dogs are allowed on the Saariselkä–Moitakuru–Palo-oja cross-country ski trail, provided they are kept on a leash.

The Saariselkä Ski & Sport Resort is located on the two fells of Kaunispää and Iisakkipää and is considered snow-sure. Finland’s longest toboggan run descends from the summit of Kaunispää to the lifts. Ski School Saariselkä offers instruction in alpine skiing, snowboarding, telemark skiing, snowkiting, cross-country skiing and adaptive alpine skiing. Lessons must always be booked in advance. This gives you the option of planning different winter activities for your stay, including cross-country skiing, lessons in various disciplines and the toboggan run at Kaunispää.

Getting to Saariselkä and Finding a Holiday Apartment

A shuttle bus connects Ivalo Airport with the resort of Saariselkä. Tickets are available on the bus; there is no need to book in advance. When looking for a holiday apartment in Saariselkä, you can first consider whether hiking trails and gold history, or cross-country skiing and the activities at Kaunispää and Iisakkipää, will be the focus of your trip. The routes, winter activities and shuttle service described here provide practical guidance.

For the overview of the wider trip: Saariselkä.