People are sitting around a campfire. In the background, a snowy forest landscape can be seen.

There are two campfire sites near the Aurora Hut.

Winter Hiking in Northern Lapland – Tips for Day Trips to National Parks and Other Nature Destinations

11/13/2025

Looking for the best winter hiking destinations in Northern Lapland? Here are Metsähallitus’ outdoor experts’ tips for walking, skiing, snowshoeing and campfire sites.

I would like to go walking or cycling in nature – where can I go?

The best way to enjoy winter day trips is to choose maintained or ploughed marked trails. In Northern Lapland, there is plenty of snow in winter, so the safest and most reliable choice is to use trails that are maintained in winter:

Saariselkä–Kiilopää winter trails (saariselkatrails.fi) in the Urho Kekkonen National Park area.

These trails are intended for walkers, snowshoers and cyclists. You can start the winter trails either from Saariselkä at the Urho Kekkonen National Park gate or from the Kiilopää parking area. The trails are marked in the terrain with blue signs showing a cyclist, a dog walker and a snowshoer. Up-to-date information about trail maintenance is provided by the trail manager´s website), (saariselkatrails.fi). By purchasing a digital map, you support the maintenance and upkeep of the trails.

Ploughed and maintained trails in winter:

Aurorapolku in Saariselkä. The Aurora Hut is a popular spot for viewing the Northern Lights.
Juutuanpolku in the village of Inari.

Please note the variation of weather conditions: after rainfall, the trails may be slippery.

Summer trails that are also frequently used in winter but are not maintained in winter:

Vasapolku at Kiilopää.
Tuulijärvi trail between Inari and Ivalo.
Pielpajärvi erämaakirkko polku Inari - Pielpajärvi Inari–Pielpajärvi in the village of Inari. The trail can be travelled with snowshoes later in spring. The municipality of Inari also maintains a ski track to the Pielpajärvi church. (inari.karttatiimi.fi)

Trail markings and the trail itself may be covered after heavy snowfall.

A hiker walks in a snowy forest. The sky is painted with the colors of the polar night.

The Tuulijärvi trail can be hiked in winter. The trail is not maintained in winter, but locals may have traveled to the lake by snowmobile. After a snowstorm, the trail may be covered, and snowshoes are necessary.

I want to go skiing – where are there ski trails?

Maintained ski tracks in Saariselkä. (saariselkatrails.fi).Starting points include the Saariselkä Urho Kekkonen National Park gate, Laanila, Kakslauttanen and the Kiilopää gate.
From Saariselkä and Laanila, you can access easy, illuminated tracks that do not climb into the fells. If you prefer nature ski tracks (classic technique), Kiilopää provides direct access to fell conditions and, for example, the ski track to Rautulampi.
The ski tracks are maintained by the Saariselkä Trails.
Jänkkävaara in Ivalo. (30 km north of Saariselkä.) Jänkkävaara offers challenging climbs, descents and illuminated tracks. In the Ivalo area, there are also ski tracks on the frozen river.
Juutuanvaara ski stadium in the village of Inari. Ski tracks in the Ivalo and Inari areas (inari.karttatiimi.fi) are maintained by the municipality of Inari. On the maps, you can select ski tracks and track maintenance status.

Two skiers are moving one behind the other along the trail. In the background, a wintry fell landscape is visible.

Urho Kekkonen National Park has 200 km of maintained ski tracks.

Easily Accessible Campfire Sites

Near Saariselkä and Kiilopää, close to Urho Kekkonen National Park, you can reach the following campfire sites with a short walk from a parking area:

Auroratupa campfire site s a 700-metre walk from the parking area (maintained in winter) from the Saariselkä Urho Kekkonen National Park gate. Aurorapolku is ploughed, but there is a steep ascent to the lean-to shelter.
Sivakkaoja lean-to shelter can be reached from the Ruijanpolku parking area along Kiilopääntie (maintained in winter) via a forest path. The path is part of the Ruijanpolku trail, and trail markings may be sparse. The trail is not maintained in winter, but people still use it in winter.
Kiilo-oja campfire site can be reached directly from the yard of Suomen Latu Kiilopää, about 200 metres walking along the edge of a ski track.

Campfire sites near the village of Inari:

Jäniskoski lean-to shelter is 500 metres from the Jäniskoski parking area.
Akseli lean-to shelter is a 700-metre walk from the Jäniskoski parking area.

In front of the lean‑to a fire burns. Around it snowy pine trees. There is snow on the ground.

The Sivakkaoja lean‑to shelter is located 800 m from the parking area. The lean‑to is by the ski trail.

Short Snowshoe Trails

For snowshoeing, we recommend winter trails that are marked in the terrain.

In Urho Kekkonen National Park:

Learn more about snowshoeing in Urho Kekkonen National Park. .

Two snowshoers are walking through a snowy forest.

Snowshoers in Urho Kekkonen National Park.

Where should you avoid moving in winter?

**Do not go into open fells in bad weather. **
Walking or snowshoeing on ski tracks is prohibited.
Summer trails in fell areas of national parks are not suitable for winter hiking.
Beware of weak ice!

The summer trails in Urho Kekkonen National Park (excluding Vasapolku and Urpiaislenkki in Tankavaara) and Lemmenjoki are not maintained in winter, so we do not recommend using summer trails for snowshoeing or walking. Trail markings may become covered in drifting snow, and the markings may be so sparse that the next one cannot be seen. In addition, some ski tracks in Urho Kekkonen National Park follow summer trails. In the fell area, weather conditions can change rapidly from sunshine to snowstorm and poor visibility. Always check the fell weather forecast before your trip.

The trail leading to Otsamo from the village of Inari is not safe in winter; markings become buried, and the path is not visible.

The Juutuanjoki River near the village of Inari does not freeze completely in winter, and due to the strong current, moving on the ice is not safe.

Urho Kekkonen National Park
Inari hiking area