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Trails in the Kevo Strict Nature Reserve closed due to flooding and stomach flu – Overnight hikes still not recommended in Urho Kekkonen National Park

06/16/2025

Metsähallitus is closing the trails in the Kevo Strict Nature Reserve until 25 June 2025 due to flooding and a stomach flu outbreak. Over the weekend, Metsähallitus received new reports of stomach flu in Urho Kekkonen National Park. Metsähallitus continues to recommend that visitors to the park avoid overnight hikes and stay on marked trails.

The hiking trails in Kevo Strict Nature Reserve – the Kevo and Kuivi trails – are closed until 25 June 2025 due to river flooding and the illness outbreak.

Both trails include ford crossings that are currently unsafe due to high water levels. There are no other trails in the Kevo Strict Nature Reserve, and movement is only permitted on marked trails during the snow-free season.

In addition to flooding, stomach flu has also been reported in the Kevo area. Over the weekend, Guivi wilderness hut was closed due to a reported illness case. Metsähallitus has been informed of one evacuation due to illness. The cause of the illness is not yet known.

The environmental health authorities in the municipality of Inari have recommended the closure of the trails due to the reported cases. Evacuations from the Kevo and Kuivi trail areas would be particularly difficult due to challenging terrain.

Information signs about the trail closures have been placed at the main trailheads: Sulaoja in the south and Väyläkoski in the north.

Recommended alternative routes include the 49-km summer hiking trail in Lemmenjoki National Park and the 35-km Kuoppilas summer hiking trail in the Paistunturi Wilderness Reserve.

New reports of illness in Urho Kekkonen National Park – Two hikers evacuated over the weekend

By Monday, a total of 55 hikers had reported falling ill with stomach flu while hiking in Urho Kekkonen National Park. Over the weekend, two people were evacuated from the park. In total, seven evacuations have been carried out in June due to suspected stomach flu.

The ill hikers have reported having visited the following huts and rest areas:

  • Aittajärvi
  • Anterimukka
  • Hammaskuru
  • Härkävaara
  • Iisakkipää trail
  • Jyrkkävaara
  • Kiertämäjärvi
  • Kotaköngäs
  • Luirojärvi
  • Muorravaarakkajoki valley
  • Muorravaarakka
  • Niilanpää
  • Porttikoski
  • Pälkkimäoja
  • Raja-Jooseppi
  • Rautulampi
  • Sarvijoki
  • Siikavuopaja
  • Sokosti
  • Suomujoki
  • Suomunruoktu
  • Tahvontupa
  • Tuiskukuru

One ill hiker tested by the Lapland wellbeing services county (Lapin hyvinvointialue) was diagnosed with norovirus.

Metsähallitus continues to recommend that visitors refrain from overnight hikes in Urho Kekkonen National Park. Hikers should stay on marked trails to ensure rescue authorities can reach them quickly in case of emergency.

At present, there is no indication that the illness cases in Kevo Strict Nature Reserve and Urho Kekkonen National Park are connected.

Feedback or observations related to hiking can be submitted at luontoon.fi/feedback.

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