Urho Kekkonen National Park

You can enter the park anywhere, any time. A visit at a visitor centre is probably worthwhile, though, for most people. You can call them beforehand for any advice you need. See Understand above.

The western border of the park is by national road 4, i.e. E75 (Rovaniemi–Sodankylä–Vuotso–Tankavaara–Kakslauttanen–Saariselkä–Ivalo), with several coaches daily, including coaches from Ivalo to Saariselkä and Kiilopää and coaches from Nordkapp, Karasjok, Vadsø and Tana bru to Rovaniemi. You could come e.g. by plane to Ivalo or Rovaniemi or by train to Rovaniemi and continue by coach.

Thus Kiehinen Customer Service at Saariselkä, the entry at Kiilopää (some of the coaches make the detour) and Tankavaara are easily reachable. These three are 230–260 km from Rovaniemi, 30–60 km from Ivalo (by coach some 3 hours or 25–45 minutes, respectively).

For Sompio, turn from E75 to Sompiojärventie forest road at Vuotso, 8.5 km (5.3 mi) south from Tankavaara. Drive 9 km to the information board and parking lot of the circle trail or 14 km to the shore of Sompiojärvi for camping or the Ruijanpolku trail.

There is a coach from Ivalo to the border-station Raja-Jooseppi north of the park once a week (as of 2021), continuing to Murmansk. Earlier it ran thrice a week, but stricter borders disrupted the service. The border guard station is suitable to get to Luttojoki Skolt grounds, the customs further on is near the grounds of Raja-Jooseppi. There is a lean-to at the Luttojoki bridge (4 km from the customs, 6,5 from the border guard station) which might be suitable for the first or last night. This is the starting point for the Anteri 25 km biking route (one way, bike parking at the endpoint). By foot there are several routes with campfire sites etc., but no marked trails. The next lean-tos are 5 km from the Luttojoki bridge. If you skip Raja-Jooseppi and head directly for the Skolt grounds and Suomujoki, the first lean-to is at Harrimukka, 8 km from the border guard station. You might want to camp at the campfire site on the north side of Luttojoki on the way back, not to be in a hurry at the ford.

There is a daily coach or minibus from Kemijärvi (railhead) to Pelkosenniemi, connecting to a call taxi of Savukoski on request in weekdays. There is probably a coach/minibus connection also via Sodankylä. In Fridays the call taxi continues to Tulppio, Kemihaara (and to Nuortti, check whether that means the Haukijärvenoja trailhead), also fetching those who are returning. Check whether the taxi drives all the way also in winter (the road may not be snowploughed after Tulppio). The long distance UKK trail has its northern end at Haukijärvenoja. The last sections of it (from Oulanka National Park northward) are Hautajärvi–Hanhikangas/Kelloselkä, Kelloselkä–Naruska (no marked route), Naruska–Tuntsa and Tuntsa–Haukijärvenoja.

The lake 4 Aittajärvi at the north border of the park can be reached by car or taxi in summer: drive 13 km from Saariselkä towards Ivalo, turn to Kuutua forest road (look for "Luttojoentie"). Some 35 km along the forest roads. Ask about the road's condition and more exact directions at the visitor centre.

There are free parking areas at all the above mentioned entry points. There are one or more marked trails leading into the park at all of them, but Aittajärvi.

There are no entry or hiking fees for the park or visitor centres.

Mostly use existing trails and paths where such exist, to minimize wear and erosion. Straying away from them is allowed, except in the Sompio reserve.

You can sleep in your tent, in lean-to shelters and in open wilderness huts for free (see Sleep below for restrictions). Beds in reservation huts cost €11/night/person. Some huts can be reserved for a party for €25–55/night.

For commercial camping sites outside the park you pay as normal.

Sauna costs €7/4, the latter for children under 7 and members of groups of ten or more (you could perhaps include a few ghosts if there are six to nine of you). Pay in advance or check how to pay later. Coordinate bathing with others at the hut.

Use the wood stoves for heating (and for melting snow for water, if needed). Take wood indoors instead of what you use and chop and make tinder as needed, for the next guests to use (but don't leave scrap paper).

You can book a guided tour of the visitor centre or negotiate a visit outside the opening hours for a fee. Guiding for a group (max about 30 persons) €50/hour, double outside opening hours.

Permits are required for most fishing. Fishing in flowing water requires a Metsähallitus recreational fishing permit. You can get permits at the visitor centres. Fishing is prohibited in some areas.

Equipment can be rented from local businesses. Also guided tours and excursions are available.

The park borders Russia and there is a border zone, which should be strictly respected. To climb Korvatunturi you therefore need a special permit unless you go on a tour with a business with a permanent one, but there is a trail to Korvatunturinmurusta, where you get a view. The border zone is very close at the grounds of Raja-Jooseppi, and close or really close in the far end of the Nuortti trail, from the Saukkosuvannonvaara shelter south of the river to the turn on the north side of the Kolsankoski bridge. Be careful unless strictly keeping to the marked trails.

Sompio is a strict nature reserve, keep to the trails. No berry picking here. Even small samples (of whatever) for educational use require written permission.

Entry to a few mires (Pajuaapa, Repoaapa and Lamminaapa) is prohibited in the bird nesting season, 15 May to 15 July.

Leave-no-trace camping principles should be observed in most parts of the park. Although there are waste bins also in the remote areas, you should mostly carry your waste out of the park yourself. Food scraps and similar small quantities of organic waste can be put in composting toilets, where available. Clean paper can be burned, but don't burn packages that contain metal or plastic coating.

Locals, especially those in reindeer husbandry, have special rights. Don't get upset if you see them driving in the park or picking berries in the nature reserve.

Maps are sold at the visitor centres and probably in bigger book and outdoor stores in all the country. There are a few options, with maps of all or part of the park, with or without trails and services specifically marked and on tyvek or more ordinary paper. The 1:100,000 maps may be enough if following trails, while 1:50,000 are probably a better choice otherwise. Declination is about +13.5° (230–240 m off on 1 km unless taken into account) in 2020 – the magnetic north pole has started to move rapidly in the 2000s.

There are marked trails in some parts of the park, especially in the west. Local businesses offer guided and assisted tours and excursions and help with e.g. canoe tours. You can get advice at the visitor centres. Otherwise you are on your own. Even when following marked trails you yourself are responsible for finding your way, should you be caught in fog or a snow storm or if markings are missing.

In the park you are advised to use marked trails where such are provided. Otherwise you are free to choose your route, except for a few restricted areas: the border zone, Sompio strict nature reserve and, in bird nesting time 15 May to 15 July, a few mire areas (Pajuaapa, Repoaapa and Lamminaapa). There are trails through Sompio.

There are unmarked established routes, often between huts, and reindeer paths, which lead nowhere. Some popular routes follow ATV tracks used for maintenance and for the reindeer husbandry and many others are well worn and mostly easy to follow. Use the paths where you can, but be sure you know where you are going: some fork in unexpected ways or fade away in wetlands or otherwise. The trails are subject to erosion in the spring floods and often quite stony.

Biking is allowed on a few routes (see biking below). Using a dogsled is allowed on the route around Pieranvaara. Horseback riding is allowed on the Kemihaara–Mantoselkä and Kemihaara–Vieriharju trails. Grazing is probably not allowed.

There are waterways suitable for canoeing.

In wintertime there are maintained tracks for cross-country skiing near Saariselkä and Kiilopää, mostly also with free-style lanes. For backcountry skiing you need appropriate skis and skills.

There are nature trails and exhibitions at the visitor centres.

1 Iisakkipää (nature trail from Saariselkä, 6 km circle trail). Fell by Saariselkä. Good views.

2 Rumakuru (about 6 km from Saariselkä and Laanila, by a marked trail). Two day huts at Rumakuru valley, one of which is from about 1900, probably built by gold diggers. The steep and rocky Rumakuru itself was created by the Ice Age.

3 Luirojärvi. Lake in the middle of the park, with wilderness hut, rental hut and sauna. Popular stop at the foot of Sokosti.

4 Sokosti. Highest fell in the area, at 718 m. Popular destination in the middle of the park. See the Kiilopää–Suomuruoktu–Tuiskukuru–Luirojärvi–Lankojärvi–Kiilopää unmarked hiking trail below for directions.

5 Nuorttijoki river valley. There is a circle trail (40 km) going up the river on one side and down on the other, partly by the river, partly higher up. See below.

6 Korvatunturi. Home of Father Christmas. Excursions to Korvatunturinmurusta nearby are arranged by local businesses.

7 The grounds of Raja-Jooseppi (400 m before the customs, 1,5 km walk, driving most of the way possible in summer). A nationally valuable cultural heritage area. The Finn Jooseppi settled here in 1910 (the name means "Joseph at the border") with his female companion.

8 Sompio Strict Nature Reserve. Includes all the common habitats of the national park, in a smaller scale. It is on the border between the Forest Lapland and the Peräpohjola vegetation zones and the Nattaset fells rise from the spruce and pine forests to above the tree line. There is a hiking trail through the reserve to Kiilopää and Laanila, and a shorter circle trail leading by the Nalijoki river and to the Pyhä-Nattanen fell top.

Remainings of old Sami villages

Supplies are available at Saariselkä and in the villages of Savukoski, Vuotso and Tulppio (?). These are not towns but small villages, so check beforehand if you want or need something special. Also Tunturikeskus Kiilopää has a small shop with some supplies.

Some souvenirs are available at Kiehinen, Kiilopää and probably Vuotso and the other shops.

At Saariselkä there is a supermarket and an outdoor equipments' store.

Supermarket Kuukkeli, Saariseläntie, ☏ +358 16 668-741, fax: +358 16 668 680, kuukkeli@saariselka.fi. 09:00-21:00.

Partioaitta (outdoor equipments), Honkapolku, ☏ +358 10-549-4800.

Savukoski, two supermarkets:

K-market Heinäjärvi, ☏ +358 16 841-274, fax: +358 16 841-524. M–F 09:00–18:00, Sa 09:00–16:00, Su 12:00–16:00. Also e.g. post and fuel. (updated Dec 2015)

1 Sale Savukoski, Uittotie 1 (in Savukoski centre, one block downstream from the bridge), ☏ +358 10-763-3501 (€0.0835/call + €0.121/min), sale.savukoski@sok.fi. M–Sa 09:00—20:00 Su 12:00—18:00. Grocery store. Also water, liquid gas (10- and 11-kg containers only?), cash with the S share owner's card. (updated Jan 2023)

Vuotso (Vuohčču):

K-extra Sieppi, Säpikästie 3, ☏ +358 400-214-655. M–F 08:30–18:00, Sa 09:00–14:00, Su 11:00–14:00. Grocery store. (updated Dec 2015)

There are restaurants and cafés especially in the Saariselkä area, but also in the other villages around the park. Some tourist businesses offer meals in the park by agreement.

There are stoves for preparing food in the wilderness huts, and pot and pan in at least some of them, but if the hut is crowded it is easier to use your own. Usually the more remote the hut, the more Spartan is the equipment.

In the Basic Zone, the Saariselkä wilderness zone and the Nuortti wilderness zone making fire is allowed only at the specially designated campfire sites (e.g. at the lean-to and cooking shelters). In the Kemi–Sompio wilderness area lighting fires using twigs and branches found on the ground is allowed. When there is a forest fire warning in effect, open fire is prohibited everywhere. In really dry periods fire should be avoided even in huts (the gas stove in huts can be used for cooking).

Carry a camping stove on any longer hikes. It can be used (with due care) also during wildfire warnings.

The water in ponds, streams and rivers should be potable, but it has not been tested. To be safe you might want to boil it. There is water available at the visitor centres and customer service points.

There are some 50 huts of different types in the national park, those close to Saariselkä mostly day huts, not meant for overnight stays in normal conditions. Except for day trips and short trips with reserved beds you should be prepared to sleep in your tent. Off season there is usually room in the huts, but there is no guarantee. If you get lost or caught by bad weather you might have to camp before getting there. There are no blankets in the open wilderness huts, usually not mattresses.

Use the guest books of the huts.

General advice for wilderness hikes in Lapland apply.

The weather may change rapidly on the fells. Be prepared for fog or storm.

Respect the force of the water at fords.

Always take a good map, compass, knife and matches with you, even on the shortest day trips along marked trails. Prepare well and do not go without experienced enough company. GPS is no substitute for orienteering skills and a map.

Tell about your plans to a friend or e.g to the visitor centre (including a dead line when a rescue operation should be started). Tell about any changes to the plans and remember to tell when you do return. Use the guest books.

There are areas in the park without mobile phone coverage. Try fell tops. The emergency number 112 can use any provider, remove the SIM card if necessary.

A 9V battery for the fire alarms of the huts may be needed.

Beware of avalanches at gorges.

Mobile phone coverage is weak in much of the park. Telia has an antenna on the Sokosti fell in the middle of the park, otherwise (and if it happens to be out of order) antennas are along the main roads outside the park. Use high ground to get a connection, otherwise keep the phone off or in airplane mode to save power. No electricity at the huts.

Tankavaara, the gold rush museum

Hammastunturi Wilderness Area on the other side of the Inari road, towards Lemmenjoki National Park

UKK trail, leading from Tulppio all the way to Koli National Park, or at least to Ruka (350 km). From Hautajärvi it follows the Karhunkierros trail. From Ruka southwards documentation is partly lacking and some sections not maintained.

Vätsäri Wilderness Area (see Sevettijärvi and Inari) and Øvre Pasvik National Park (see Kirkenes) in the Pasvik–Inari Trilateral Park