Oulanka Visitor Centre

Oulanka Visitor Centre provides information on Oulanka’s unique river landscape and the region’s rich variety of species. We also have versatile hiking services.

Opening Hours in 2010

1.1. to 30.4. Mon to Sun 10 am - 4 pm
1.5. to 30.9. Mon to Sun 10 am - 6 pm
1.10. to 31.12. Mon to Sun 10 am - 4 pm

Visitor Centre is closed at Christmas 24. - 26.12.2010

Entrance

There is no entrance fee. We charge for theme tours. Groups and those wishing a tour should make a reservation in advance.

Contact Information

Addresss: Oulanka Visitor Centre, Liikasenvaarantie 132, 93999 Kuusamo, Finland
Tel. int. +358 205 64 6850
Fax: +358 205 64 6851
E-mail: oulanka

The Visitor Centre is managed by Metsähallitus.

Directions

By car

By Public Transportation

A coach travels (www.matkahuolto.fi) daily between Kuusamo and Salla.
• Transfer to another coach at the Juuma intersection on road 5, or in Käylä Village, which is located by the road to Salla. During the tourist season there is also a taxi-service available at the same price as a coach. More information can be found on the Town of Kuusamo (www.kuusamo.fi) website.
• Visitors can get to different spots (Ruka, Juuma, Kiutaköngäs, Sallantie resting spot and Lake Hautajärvi) along the Karhunkierros route by the Karhunkierros coach. The coach travels between Kuusamo and Salla. It travels during summer, and during fall and winter it functions also as a school coach.
• More information of Karhunkierros Trail coaches.
• The closest airports (www.finnair.com) are in Kuusamo (65 km) and Rovaniemi (222 km). The closest railway station (www.vr.fi) is in Kemijärvi (117 km).

Services

• Information on plant and animal species found in
Oulanka National Park, the trails in the park (Karhunkierros Hiking Trail, Pieni karhunkierros Trail, Keroharjun reitti Trail and nature trails), and services and recreational possibilities in the area.
• Brochures on and guides for Oulanka National Park, the Karhunkierros Trail, other trails, Riisitunturi National Park and other close-by areas.
• We sell:
• Oulanka National Park theme products: pins, sleeve badges and t-shirts.
• Outdoor map, flexi map, canoeing map for Oulanka National Park. Map for Karhunkierros Hiking Trail and Riisitunturi National Park.
• A wide assortment of maps of northern Finland’s protected areas and hiking trails.
• Fishing permits for Oulanka National Park waters and for the lower parts of the Rivers Oulankajoki and Kitkajoki. Metsähallitus lure permits.
Group tours.
• Co-operating interprises offer hiring services and guided tours in Oulanka National Park and nearby.
• The area has excellent programme and accommodation services (Liikasenvaara, Juuma and Käylä) and a versatile tourist centre in Ruka. The University of Oulu, Oulanka Research Station (www.oulu.fi) is close to the Visitor Centre.

A Nature SafariCafe Susi on the Karhunkierros Trail

Refresh yourself in nature SafariCafe Susi at the Visitor Centre! Fresh pastries, hot coffee and salty snacks will give you energy to return onto the trails. Group meals should be reserved. Be sure to tell us of special diets. We can also cater outdoors, if needed.
• Oulanka and Karhunkierros Trail postcards, souvenirs and snacks all from the same place. Lappish wooden cups, stuffed animals (local animals), Kuusamo’s famous preserved foods.
• A glass terrace is a pleasant place to sit during mosquito season and when it rains. It’s also good for bird watching.
• Reservations for group meals or coffee events, by telephone +358 40 913 6652.

Events

• The Visitor Centre has annual events: European Day of Parks and Pohjolan luonnonkukkien päivä (Nordic Wildflower Day).
• The Visitor Centre has yearly changing exhibitions with nature themes. The exhibition space is a large old glass cabinet, a stairway landing and a cafe.
• Events and changing exhibitions in 2010.

Oulanka: A Changing River Valley Exhibition

The exhibition the River Oulankajoki’s varying and exceptional nature during a flood.

Auditorium and AV Presentations

• The auditorium seats 40 to 60 people.
AV presentations’ names, duration and languages (pdf-file 256 kB).
• Presentations and videos will be shown at request; there is no schedule.
• Companies can rent the auditorium 1.10 - 30.4 for 20€ per hour. At times when the Visitor Centre is otherwise closed the price is 50% higher.

Reference Library

• There is a cosy corner in our loft with sofas, which is perfect for relaxing and look through books and publications on Oulanka, nature and species (e.g. guides to identifying species).
• Oulanka Research Station publications (www.oulu.fi).

Children’s Play Corner

The children’s play corner is in our attic and offers children activities even on rainy days. There is a drawing table, children’s books on nature and stuffed animals.

Going To Kiutaköngäs Rapids

• A short but varying trail (1 km) begins on the Visitor Centre grounds and leads to
Kiutaköngäs, one of Finland’s most beautiful rapids. Roaring rapids flow over red dolomite walls of rock. Pikku-Köngäs is 400 metres from the Visitor Centre.
• Services: along the trail there are stairs and bridges to make moving around easier. At Kiutaköngäs a campfire site, tables with benches, a compost and dry toilet.
Kiutaköngäs Day Trail (8 km) starts from visitoer centre.
• Services: campfire sites and dry toilets in Merenoja and Kiutaköngäs, compost, a scenic lookout tower, duckboards.
Hiidenlampi Nature Trail (5 km) and Plant Story nature trail (2 km) begin from the Visitor Centre.
Rytisuo Nature Trail (5 km) starts from the Oulanka camping ground.
• More information of nature trails from page Oulanka Trails.

Services for the Disabled

• The Visitor Centre building is accessible by wheelchair, along a 30 to 100 metre gravel path from the parking lot.
• Those with infants can borrow a child backpack, if taking a hike along the Kiutaköngäs Trail and the nature trail. 10€ deposit.
• The Visitor Centre’s exhibition space is accessible by wheelchair and with a baby pram. There is a toilet for the disabled in the Customer Service Point.
• The cafe fits 30 wheelchairs if special arrangements are made. Special diets are accommodated when possible.
• Several wheelchairs fit into the auditorium at once. In special cases all the auditorium’s chairs can be removed and 25 wheelchairs can fit in.
• There are also videos and slide shows on Oulanka nature for visitors to watch.

Read more about our service guarantee.