Saariselkä

Year-round outdoor resort
Saariselkä serves as a gateway to Urho Kekkonen National Park which is a particularly popular hiking destination thanks to the easily traversable fell terrain, the untouched natural environment and a dense network of wilderness huts. The surroundings of Saariselkä also offer ideal conditions for mountain biking, trail-running and winter biking. Saariselkä’ s summer hiking trails and ski tracks can be reached from the Saariselkä gate at the village, Kiilopää gate, at Kakslauttanen and Laanila.

In winter, there are about 200 km of well-maintained cross-country skiing tracks, downhill skiing resort, Finland’s longest tobogganing slope and a vast selection of all sorts of winter activities. Meet the adorable reindeer and joyful huskies in Saariselkä, and enjoy the world’s most beautiful aurora show! In summer, the well-marked routes of the Urho Kekkonen National Park are an invitation to hike for a few hours or even a few weeks. Outdoor-life gets more exciting when experienced under the midnight sun.

In co-operation with Inari-Saariselkä, we welcome You to Saariselkä!
Juuri sitä parasta

Kohokohtia

Urho Kekkonen National Park

Wildlife & Nature

The Urho Kekkonen National Park is the second-largest protected area in Finland, extending towards East from Saariselkä all the way to the Russian border. The northern part is characterized by untouched wilderness, river-valleys and highland fell area with several peaks exceeding 500 metres in height. The park area has day cabins, wilderness huts and campsites. Here you can trek on foot or skis through magnificent arctic landscapes, enjoying the Northern Lights in the winter and midnight sun in the summertime!

Kaunispää fell

Landscapes & Sceneries

Kaunispää is perhaps the most recognizable of Saariselkä’s fells. The peak of the fell (438 metres) is easy to reach by hiking, cross-country skiing, car or ski lift. Bordering the Urho Kekkonen National Park, Kaunispää boasts magnificent views across the national park, the Sompio Nature Reserve and the tundra around Hammastunturi Fell. This scenic location offers excellent downhill skiing opportunities – and also Finland’s longest toboggan slope. Here you can experience the arctic Lappish nature around you!

Kiilopää fell

Landscapes & Sceneries

Kiilopää (546 metres) is one of the highest fells in the Saariselkä region and easily accessible from Kiilopää gate. The well-marked track of 2 km/way takes visitors to the peak that offers extensive views across the national park and beyond. Kiilopää gate is a starting point for many hiking trails and cross-country ski tracks, that are adjacent to Saariselkä outdoor resort. Info points along the route give you an insight about wildlife and nature in the area.

Kultareitti trail

Outdoor & Sports

An 8 km hiking and cycling route of the Kultareitti trail, meaning the Golden route, features the areas gold mining history with information boards and historical sites along the way. Gold prospecting is still practised and visible in the vicinity of the trail, which leads by old mining claims. During the winter Kultareitti Trail is part of the Kulmakuru Nature Skiing Trail. The trail is well-suited for inexperienced hikers and mountain bikers and locates between the main road E75 and Kutturantie Road.

The Prospektor mine

Arts & Culture

The Prospektor mine is an old gold mine that can be visited freely. Traces of past mining operations together with old mining equipment, can still be seen in the area. The mining company Prospektor opened the mine in the early 1900s in hope to find gold. A road, which later extended to the Arctic Ocean, was built to connect the site in Laanila to Sodankylä. However, no gold was ever found in the mine and ultimately it was shut down. The old gold mine is located 1 km from Laanila and 5 km from Saariselkä centre.

Tämä reitti kulkee kohteen läpi

Reitin varrella

Perhaps it is the most traditional road trip in Lapland, which heads along the E75 highway northwards from Rovaniemi towards the North Cape. This time the trip is taken entirely in Finland, from southern Lapland up to the rugged fell highlands of Utsjoki and the Tenojoki River. Saariselkä, Utsjoki and Inari are great destinations for staying overnight on the trip. In Rovaniemi at Arktikum and in Inari at Siida, visitors are taken on a journey to experience the culture of the northern regions and the indigenous Sámi.

3 - 7 days

From the capital of Rovaniemi to the northernmost area!

The history of gold is strong in the Inari-Saariselkä region. Start your journey by exploring the history of gold in domestic and international culture at the world's only international Gold Museum in Tankavaara.

Sparkle of Gold in Northern Lapland

2 - 4 days

What do the two largest national parks in Finland mean? It means a comprehensive network of marked and maintained routes throughout the year. It means an endless amount of untouched nature where you are completely equal to nature. You will travel at the pace of nature with your favorite hobby or you will rediscover or experience it for the first time. You can safely walk around the services under the guidance of a guide or travel for hours or days without seeing anyone but the animals and changing vegetation of northernmost Lapland.

National Parks and Wilderness Area

5 - 7 days

Inari-Saariselkä region has two of the biggest national parks in Finland, Strict Nature Reserve of Kevo, 6 wilderness areas and Inari hiking area. In Saariselkä alone there are 200 kilometers of marked routes to be explored. Get to know national parks and nature sights during your road trip in Northernmost Lapland.

Memorable North Lapland road trip

6 - 9 days