Strong currents pull on the rafting oars. White, frothing water splashes into the air. Oulanka’s rivers are forceful and wild, with drops of up to nine metres in the rapids; a true haven for wild water rafters.
On shore, hiking trails snake through the untouched Taiga forest, leading into Finland’s wilderness: roaring waterfalls and deep gorges to old water mills and vast golden mires.
Oulanka is a climatic crossroads, where the Arctic and the Southern climate collide and vegetation grows, untypically lush for the North. Rare species like the golden eagle and capercaillie, the bear and the lynx roam in the park. And in June the calypso orchid blooms, the emblem of Oulanka National Park.
True nature lovers can spend the night in the park, in rustic wilderness huts or on campsites on sandy riverbanks, falling asleep to the sound of the gurgling waters.
Oulanka Canyon (Oulangan kanjoni) is a steep-faced gorge. Splendid views open up from the edge of the canyon over wooded slopes, rock faces and the Oulankajoki River foaming below in the canyon. The scenery of the canyon is ranked among the finest sights of the national park. Oulanka canyon is also of interest because of its flora. The cliff faces are home to many rare plants such as mountain avens (Dryas octopetala) and arnica (Arnica). There is a suspension bridge crossing it.
Ristikallio cliffs are a rugged rock formation in the River Aventojoki. Ristikallio is one of the most famous viewpoints along the Karhunkierros Trail. The Ristikallio River Aventojoki, which flows between the cracks of the bedrock, switches from one crack to another. Ristikallio cliffs are in the shape of a cross.
In the National Park there are many rapids, such as Jyrävä Rapids, part of the River Kitkajoki, which are unharnessed and have a drop of 9 metres. Taivalköngäs Rapids is a rocky set of rapids in the River Oulankajoki. Kiutaköngäs Rapids are 325 metres long. Aallokkokoski Rapids are swift rapids located in the River Kitkajoki.
Rupakivi Rock is a 5 meter high rock rising from the middle of River Savinajoki. The peculiar shape of Rupakivi Rock has been formed by ice and water that have gouged out the rock over millenia.
The old watermill at Myllykoski used to grind barley and rye until the late 1940s. Today it serves as a rest hut for hikers with an open fireplace and scenic views of the Myllykoski Rapids.
Harvesting Oulanka’s meadows is an old Finnish tradition. In Oulanka there are alluvial meadows and mechanically dammed meadows. Some of the meadows are still being cleared today to preserve the precious habitats. The harvested hay is stored in hay barns until reindeer herders fetch it in wintertime for reindeer food.
As a result of traditional reindeer herding, reindeer fences and loggers’ cabins are still in recreational use around the park.
Watch the flight of the golden eagle! There are several bird watching towers in the park. With more than 100 species breeding in the park, excitement is guaranteed!
Brave the wild Jyräva Rapids or float with your family along calmer waters and take photos of the breathtaking scenery. Canoes, kayaks, rowing boats and rafting guides can be hired at different locations in the park.
Scramble up the ice wall on Mount Karhu climbing tower and get prepared for your first real climb.
Mount a horse or rent a bike and explore the surroundings of Oulanka national park. There are no riding or cycling trails in the park itself but there are many opportunities in the surroundings.
Go ice-fishing on Oulanka’s frozen lakes or learn the traditional method of fly-fishing. Fishing permits are sold at Oulanka’s visitor centres.
Get the dogs up and running, release the brakes and watch the winter scenery fly by. A husky sled can reach a speed of 20 kilometres per hour. Husky tours are only offered outside the national park.
Enjoy the midnight sun at Oulanka’s lakes and rivers or search the sky for the awe-inspiring Northern Lights. The best time to spot these wonders is from November to March.
Follow the trail of the Arctic hare, elk, lynx or wolverine. The best chance to see them is in the evening or in the early morning.
Lace up your hiking boots and immerse yourself into the remote Scandinavian wilderness. There are hikes for all levels, ranging from one hour strolls to the famous “bear trek” lasting several days.Tent and campfire sites can be found en route.
Some hiking trails are also used as cross country and snow shoe trails in winter and are maintained on a weekly basis.
Shake off winter’s chill in a traditional wood burning Finnish sauna.
Cross country skiing is allowed in the park. Skiing on the slopes and snowboarding are only possible outside the national park. The towns of Kuusamo and Ruka, south of Oulanka, are well developed ski destinations. Salla, north of the park, on a smaller scale, attracts mainly families with young children.
Savour the sweetness of Oulanka’s summers and pick wild strawberries, blueberries and crowberries! If you are lucky, you might even find some mushrooms - providing the reindeers weren’t there first.
In terms of temperature Oulanka has a continental climate. The coldest and warmest ever measured temperatures are -48.0°C and 32.1°C. The difference between the mean winter temperature of (January, -16°C) and the warmer summer (July, 15°C) months is 31°C. The mean temperature for the whole year is c. -0.8°C (1967-2003).
(Source: Oulanka Research Station website)
Summer: rain clothes, hiking shoes/boots
Winter: warm clothes, winter boots, woolen hat
Map of Karhunkierros Trail - http://www.luontoon.fi/page.asp?Section=7496
Map of Kuusamo-Oulanka area and Oulanka National Park - http://www.luontoon.fi/page.asp?Section=5148
Rukatunturi - Oulanka outdoor map (1:50 000)
Oulanka National Park is located 60 km north of the town of Kuusamo and 40 km south of the municipality of Salla. The closest villages are Käylä, Juuma and Hautajärvi. Contact our customer service personnel and they will gladly assist you in planning your trip to Oulanka.
More information is available on: www.outdoors.fi/oulankanp
The fastest way is to fly from Helsinki to Kuusamo. Once in Kuusamo, there is a 60-kilometer-trip to the park.
Coaches run from Kuusamo to Juuma and the Hautajärvi Visitor Centre. In summer, you can do the trip by bus (schedules tend to change from year to year, the most up-to-date information is available from Kuusamo tourist info - Tel: +358 (0)306 502 540)
The towns of Oulu, Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi can be reached by train. The closest railway station is in Kemijärvi, 130 km from Oulanka National Park. You can check the timetables on the following website: www.vr.fi
For those who prefer travelling by car, the roads are excellent to Kuusamo, even though often slippery in winter. The last 13 kilometers to Oulanka visitor center is unpaved, but still a decent road. Passing right through the national park, the Käylä-Liikasenvaara road (no. 8693) can be reached from Kemijärvi via main road no. E63 (Kemijärvi-Vallioniemi), from which there is a road to Käylä. Käylä can also be reached from the Kuusamo direction along main road no. E63 by turning off on to the no. 950 at Takkusalmi.
Kiutaköngäs Rapids and Oulanka Visitor Centre in the centre of the National Park can be reached by car. From Kuusamo take no. E63) for 38 km towards Kemijärvi and turn right onto road 950 towards Salla. Drive 7 km and turn onto Liikasenvaaran tie (road 8693) at Käylä. It is 13 km from the intersection to the Visitor Centre. There are signposts to the Visitor Centre from Road no. E63.
Oulanka Visitor Centre, Hautajärvi Visitor Centre, Ristikallio parking area on Sallantie road, Oulanka camping ground, Juuma village
Oulanka Visitor Centre at Kiutaköngäs
Internet: http://www.luontoon.fi/page.asp?Section=6721
Adress: Liikasenvaarantie 132, 93999 Kuusamo, Finland
Tel: +358 205 64 6850
Telefax: +358 205 64 6851
e-mail: oulanka@metsa.fi
Oulanka Visitor Centre, the main information point in Oulanka National Park is located in the park’s centre, offering the following:
-Guided tours, exhibitions, information on hiking in the National Park and in the surrounding areas.
-Maps and brochures
-The Visitor Centre has a cafe, selling food as well as souvenirs. The cafe can also arrange meals for groups if reserved in advance.
Visitor Centre in Hautajärvi (open from March to October)
Internet: http://www.luontoon.fi/page.asp?Section=5785
Adress: Hautajärventie 414, 98995 Hautajärvi, Finland
Tel: +358 205 64 6870
Telefax: +358 205 64 6871
e-mail: oulanka@metsa.fi
Hautajärvi Visitor Centre is the starting point for the Karhunkierros Hiking Trail and the customer service point for the park’s northern end. They offer the following:
-Guided tours and information on hiking.
-Exhibition on the northern mires of Oulanka.
-Cafe, souvenirs and maps on sale.
Education Facilities:
*Exhibitions of the area's wildlife and history at Oulanka Visitor Centre and Hautajärvi Visitor Centre
*Three nature trails: Hiidenlampi, Rytisuo and Plant Story nature trail.
* Customer Service Point Karhuntassu at Kuusamo
A network of trails offers abundant opportunities, while rivers offer a great chance to go canoeing.
- Natural sights such as Jyrävä, Kiutaköngäs, Taivalköngäs, in addition to the practical visitor centre lie alongside the Karhunkierros (Bear's Trail) winding through the national park (linking up with the UKK hiking trail). Its total length is 80 km, with 64 km inside the park.
-Those interested in peatland habitats will do best to follow the fascinating 17 km long Keroharju trail.
Oulanka National Park’s Trails: http://www.luontoon.fi/page.asp?Section=5150
Karhunkierros Hiking Trail: http://www.luontoon.fi/page.asp?Section=7494
Pieni Karhunkierros Hiking Trail: http://www.luontoon.fi/page.asp?Section=8769
No admission fees. Recreation services are mostly free of charge.
Oulanka Visitor Centre loans out infant backpacks to carry the family’s young ones in.
In a case of emergency call 112.
More information on Oulanka NP’s rescue services is offered in Oulanka NP’s customer service points.
Oulanka Visitor Centre and Hautajärvi Visitor Centre and both their exhibitions and cafes are accessible by wheelchair and baby’s pushchair. Both buildings have toilets for the disabled.
In the National Park, the following is
Allowed
• Hiking, skiing, row boating and canoeing except restricted areas in Korvasvaara, Juuma and Pesosjärvi
• Picking berries and mushrooms
• Angling and ice fishing except restricted areas (Aventolampi, Haaralampi and Savilampi).
• Making campfires and camping in the open. This is only permitted at sites marked for these purposes.
Forbidden
• lighting campfires if the forest fire warning is in effect
• pets running free
• taking or damaging trees, bushes, other plants or their parts, or mushrooms other than edible ones
• damaging soil or rocks, and extraction of earth material or minerals
• killing, catching or disturbing wild vertebrates, or damaging their nests
• catching or collecting invertebrates
• driving motor vehicles, except on roads designated for motor vehicles
• leaving waste in the area, or damaging constructions
More information on Oulanka NP’s rules and regulations: http://www.outdoors.fi/page.asp?Section=5152
Camping in tents and lean-to shelters
There are several lean-to shelters and dozens of camp sites around River Kitkajoki. The pitching of tents is also permitted in the vicinity of wilderness huts.
There are 8 open wilderness huts in Oulanka National Park.
• Savilampi Wilderness Hut is by the River Savinajoki on Karhunkierros Hiking Trail.
• Taivalköngäs Wilderness Hut is by the River Oulankajoki on Karhunkierros Hiking Trail.
• Puikkokämppä and Ristikallio Wilderness Huts are by the River Aventojoki.
• Uusi Ansakämppä Wilderness Hut is by the River Oulankajoki.
• Jussinkämppä Wilderness Hut is on the shore of Lake Kulmakkojärvi on the Karhunkierros Hiking Trail.
• Siilastupa Wilderness Hut is near the River Kitkajoki at Jyrävä on the Pieni Karhunkierros Hiking Trail.
• Kerojärvi Wilderness Hut is on the Keroharju Trail on the shore of Lake Kerojärvi
No booking, free of charge, usually full in high season
• The Oulanka National Park Camping Ground is located on the Karhunkierros Hiking Trail in the centre of the park.
• There are several Camp Grounds in Juuma Village. For more information go to the Ruka-Kuusamo website for tourists services (www.ruka.fi).
Oulanka National Park has:
• 50 campfire places, which are mainly located along the Karhunkierros Hiking Trail
• 8 open wilderness huts with cooking spots and gas cookers
Any kind of fire is strictly forbidden outdoors during any given forest fire warning, even at designated campfire sites.
Oulanka visitor centre
http://www.outdoors.fi/page.asp?Section=6721
Hautajärvi Visitor Centre
http://www.outdoors.fi/page.asp?Section=5785
Customer Service Point Karhuntassu
http://www.outdoors.fi/page.asp?Section=5746
For information on publications in English visit: http://www.luontoon.fi/page.asp?Section=5155
More information on tourists services in Kuusamo area on website http://www.ruka.fi/summer_eng/services/
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German TV featuring Oulanka and Basecamp
06 February 2010
PAN Parks Oulanka and local business partner Basecamp were featured on German TV in ZDF’s ’Green tourism in the green belt.’Oulanka National Park in Finland, the land of forests, wild rivers offers great venue for Basecamp’s nature friendly outdoor activities. To learn more watch the film (in German)! Get to know Oulanka National Park,...more |
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Study on recreational experiences at PAN Park Oulanka
11 November 2009
Links between biodiversity and visitor experience are subject of a study carried out in PAN Park Oulanka National Park by a Colorado State University researcher and a graduate student who partnered with Wageningen University in the Netherlands and the University of Oulu in Finland on a grant.Stuart Cottrell, associate professor, and Katie Lyon,...more |
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The crown jewels of European nature
01 October 2009
The last of the 67 top nature photographers in the "Wild Wonders of Europe" initiative, returned on Friday, completing 118 photo assignments to all 48 European countries including an assignment to PAN Park Oulanka, Finland where an autumn photo series was shot.Launching in 2010 to mark the “International Year of Biodiversity”, the project’s...more |
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Busy summer in Oulanka
04 September 2009
PAN Park Oulanka awaits visitors with refurbished huts and barns along its popular Karhunkierrros and Pieni Karhunkierros trails and interesting programmes this summer.The park - in frame of the Kulma project (Cultural Heritage as a Resource for Tourism project) - is undergoing a wide range of activities to improve tourism facilities. They have...more |
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New study looking at the socio-cultural benefits of PAN Park status for communities and tourism development in the Oulanka PAN Park region availible
13 April 2008
A new study carried out in Oulanka National Park by Stuart Cottrell, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Mylène van der Donk, PAN Parks Foundation and Pirkko Siikamäki, University of Oulu/Thule Institute/Oulanka Research Station has been published. The goal of this study was to examine the socio-cultural...more |
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Networking works
24 February 2008
PAN Parks is a network and being a network means supporting each other! A really good example of how the partnership between the parks and busineess can result in mutual benefits is the support that the Retezat Tourism Association has recieved from visitors travelling with Exodus Travel to Oulanka National Park.
Each visitor made a contribution as...more |
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Working in the land of the reindeer and the pine trees
10 December 2007
"Where are you going?" "What are you going to do there?" "You will be bored!" When I was going from one of the best-developed cities in the Netherlands to Oulanka National Park in northern Finland, people were asking me these questions. It shows that many people have difficulties imagining what the region up there looks like. What to expect...more |
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Last call for Wilderness Days
13 July 2006
A reminder for anyone wishing to attend the PAN Parks Wilderness Days conference and Network Meeting that registrations are due in by July 27th. The event is being held this year in Oulanka National Park in Finland between 6th and 10th September. The theme of this year's event will be improving marketing of PAN Parks - looking at...more |
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Wilderness Days 2006
30 April 2006
The PAN Parks Wilderness Days conference and Network Meeting will be held in Oulanka National Park in Finland. The theme of this year's event will be improving marketing of PAN Parks - looking at strengthening the links between the PAN Parks network and local business partners, developing better packages to attract visitors to come and enjoy...more |
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New business partners in Oulanka
30 April 2006
Oulanka National Park local PAN Park Group is celebrating the successful verification of two new members - Boreal Tours and North Trek. They received their certificates at a ceremony last week in Kuusamo. The two new local partners give the local group even greater capacity to build high quality packages that cater to all visitors.Boreal Tours has...more |
