Hiking & outdoor recreationLength33 km
Duration(1-3 days)
Degree of difficultyHard
The Riisitunturi Trail is a 26-kilometer hiking trail from Riisitunturi to Kirintövaara. The trail passes through Riisitunturi National Park and Karitunturi Nature Reserve, offering a true wilderness hiking experience. The trail lacks durable surfaces and modern conveniences but compensates with breathtaking views, untamed forests, and lush stream valleys. It is well-marked but challenging due to its wilderness nature and partly rugged terrain.
Campfire sites removed from maintenance in Riisitunturi as of June 1, 2025
As of June 1, 2025, firewood supply and toilet maintenance have ended at the Kuoppavaara lean-to shelter and the Ahmatupa open wilderness hut, located south of Riisitunturi National Park.
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Route marker in the terrain
The trail can only be used during the snow-free seasonTrail markers are easily covered by snow in winter.
Campfire siteAlways check for any wildfire warnings in effect before making a fire.
Camping permittedCamping is allowed only near marked rest and campfire sites at Riisitunturi and around Liittolampi, while elsewhere along the trail camping is permitted under everyman's right.
HutKaritunturi’s day-use hut
Dry toiletRemember to bring toilet paper.
Remember to bring a trash bagThere are no waste bins on the trail. Bring along your own trash bag and take your waste out with you when leaving.
No water pointThere are streams and springs along the trail, but it is recommended to boil the water before using it as drinking water.
Contact information
Starting pointRiisitunturi parking area
The Riisitunturi Trail can be started from either Riisitunturi or Kirintövaara. This description follows the route from Riisitunturi towards Kirintövaara.
There is no public transport or car transfer between the starting and endpoint, so if you wish to return to your car, you’ll need to use a taxi. The trail can also be hiked back and forth, in which case it is recommended to allow 3–5 days.
Riisitunturi parking area - the top of Riisitunturi
The trail begins at the parking area of Riisitunturi National Park, where it heads up a gravel path towards the top of Riisitunturi. The first 1.7 kilometers feature an ascent of 105 meters, offering an energetic start.
The top of Riisitunturi - Uusilampi lean-to shelter
From the top, the trail descends along a partly gravel-covered but sometimes rooty path to the Uusilampi lean-to shelter, the first rest area along the trail. The lean-to shelter has a dry toilet and a woodshed.
Uusilampi lean-to shelter - Liittolampi lean-to shelter
From Uusilampi, the trail continues for another 300 meters along the same path as Riisin rietas Trail until reaching a junction, where you turn left. At this point, the gravel paths are left behind, and the rest of the trail follows natural and partly wet paths.
For the next two kilometers, the trail runs through relatively flat forest terrain until reaching Hevonharja Ridge. The ascent to the ridge is steep and rocky in places, but the top offers wonderful views over the taiga forests of Riisitunturi National Park. The descent from the ridge is also steep and rooty.
Almost immediately after descending from Hevonharja, the trail crosses a very wet bog with poor-condition duckboards, requiring caution. After the bog, the trail passes a rocky section before reaching the Liittolampi lean-to shelter. The distance from Uusilampi to Liittolampi is 4.6 kilometers.
Liittolampi lean-to shelter is beautifully situated by the pond, with a view over the water. At the lean-to shelter, there is also a dry toilet, woodshed, and a covered dining area. Tent sites are available nearby.
Liittolampi lean-to shelter - Koljat lean-to shelter
The trail continues from Liittolampi to Koljat lean-to shelter, 5.2 kilometers away, through impressive old-growth forest with small streams adding diversity. At Kirkkotunturi, the trail follows a majestic high bog, and just before Koljat, it crosses a hillside bog along duckboards, offering a beautiful view.
This section of the trail is sometimes very wet, and other parts are rooty and rocky, with a few steep, rocky, and rooty ascents. Duckboards and bridges are in poor condition in some places. The trail may be slippery when wet.
Koljat lean-to shelter is beautifully located at the edge of Koljat’s top, with views over a patchwork of taiga forests, bogs, and lakes. The area around the lean-to shelter includes a dry toilet and a woodshed. Tent sites are limited, but a few spots are available. Water can be hard to find, but a spring is located on a nearby bog at coordinates 66°11.914’, 28°21.587’. Natural water should be boiled before use.
Koljat lean-to shelter - Karitunturi
The journey continues from Koljat towards Karitunturi, 6.5 kilometers away. After the lean-to shelter, the trail crosses a wet hillside bog without duckboards before entering the Karitunturi Nature Reserve. The boundary is not noticeable in the landscape, and the forest remains equally magnificent.
The trail continues over Rytitunturi, which, despite its name, is not a fell. The terrain differs from the rest of the trail and is rocky and somewhat difficult to traverse. Some ascents and descents are steep but short. On Rytitunturi, look out for large pines still bearing old marks from axes.
After Rytitunturi, the trail starts to ascend toward Karitunturi, first through Vesakko-Karitunturi, also known as Aho-Karitunturi, and then up to Karitunturi itself. The ascent is partly wet and muddy as it passes through a hillside bog. Pause to enjoy the views backward during the climb, which has an elevation gain of 55 meters over 700 meters.
At the top of Karitunturi is a day-use hut with a stunning view behind it. In poor weather, the view can also be enjoyed from inside the hut. The hut area includes a dry toilet, woodshed, and campfire site. A spring is located behind the hut, making the area suitable for camping.
Karitunturi - Ahmatupa open wilderness hut
From the top of Karitunturi, the trail continues towards Kirintövaara. After descending for half a kilometer, you reach a junction where you can either turn towards Karitunturi’s Ahmatupa open wilderness hut or continue straight towards Kirintövaara. Ahmatupa is an additional 600 meters through beautiful old-growth forest, covered in moss and accompanied by the sound of a forest stream.
Ahmatupa is a wilderness hut with two sections. One section has beds for six people, and the other for four. Both sections have wood stoves and tables, and a gas stove is available on the hut’s covered terrace. The hut area includes a campfire site, toilet, and woodshed. Water can be collected from a nearby spring stream and should be boiled before drinking.
Ahmatupa open wilderness hut - Kirintövaara
From the Ahmatupa junction, the trail continues towards Kirintövaara, crossing Pikku Karitunturi and along the western slope of Matalavaara until reaching the Kuoppavaara lean-to shelter, which includes a dry toilet and a woodshed. The distance from the junction to the lean-to shelter is 3.2 kilometers, along a natural path.
From the lean-to shelter, continue 3.1 kilometers downhill until you reach the parking area at Kirintövaara.
Hiking the trail back and forth
If you want to hike the trail in both directions, Ahmatupa open wilderness hut can be a good turning point, where you can enjoy a night in the hut. This gives the hike a total length of about 40 kilometers.
For the return to Riisitunturi, you can choose to go via Riisisuo bog and Soilun lean-to shelter, reducing the need to cover the same trail twice. This route also offers beautiful views over the national park from Pikku Riisitunturi.
End pointKirinrinteentie, 97900 Posio