Urho Kekkonen National Park

Urho Kekkonen National Park

Located in the Savukoski, Sodankylä and Inari, in Lapland region.

• The Park was established in 1983 and covers 2,549 square kilometers.
• Park is the second oldest national park in Finland and one of Finland’s largest protected areas. It was named after Urho Kekkonen, late President and Prime Minister of Finland.
• The shores of the River Kemijoki have been inhabited since the end of the last Ice Age. The history of man in the Koilliskaira region can be tracked back to over 3000 years ago.
• The ancient Forest Sámi were hunters and fishers, who scattered during the summer for hunting trips and gathered for winters into villages. In the park area there were some Sámi villages. Reindeer herding is still a common livelihood in the area.
• The Suomujoki river flows through the northern parts of the diverse park.
• The emblem of Urho Kekkonen national park is Golden Eagle.
• Koilliskaira has been a popular area among hikers since the 1950s. Today, park is one of Finland’s most popular wilderness hiking areas.
• The marked hiking network (200 km) in the Saariselkä, Kiilopää, and Kakslauttanen area is good for day trips. In winter, nature trails are suitable for snowshoeing.
• Hiking outside marked trails requires wilderness and orienteering skills, and in winter the thick snow adds an additional layer of difficulty. A map and compass are necessary, since GPS devices are not always reliable in the remote wilderness.
• The total length of maintained ski trails in the area is 200 km, of which 70 km is located in Urho Kekkonen National Park’s recreational and nature tourism zone. The network includes ski trails of various levels of difficulty to amateur skiers and serious skiing enthusiasts.
• On summertime cycling is permitted on a terrain marked routes only, except on the route to Kiilopää fell. Cycling on wintertime is allowed all over, but not on a skiing trakcs.
• Excellent canoeing spots include Rivers Luirojoki and Kopsusjoki. There are no marked canoeing routes in the national park.
• Urho Kekkonen National Park is suitable for both experienced hikers and families with children.