Oulanka National Park
Home of the Bear's Trail - rushing rapids, hanging bridges and river gorges in the north-east, one of the finest hikes in Finland.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
Oulanka is a park of moving water: clear rivers, roaring rapids and gorges cut through pine forest near the Russian border. Its Bear's Trail, the Karhunkierros, is one of the classic long-distance hikes of Finland, strung with suspension bridges over the whitewater.
What you actually see
- The Bear's Trail - the famous long hiking route past rapids, gorges and hanging bridges.
- Kiutakongas rapids - powerful red-rock rapids on the Oulanka river.
- Suspension bridges - swaying wire footbridges over the rushing water.
- Wild flowers and rare plants - the calcareous soil supports flora rare in Finland.
When to go
Summer for hiking and high water; late August and September for autumn colour and fewer mosquitoes. The full Bear's Trail takes several days; day walks sample the best of it.
Honest expectations
The full trail is a genuine multi-day wilderness hike needing proper kit and planning, though shorter loops give you the highlights in a day. Mosquitoes are fierce in midsummer. It is remote in the far north-east, so reaching it takes real travel.
Nearby
The Ruka ski resort and Kuusamo are close; the Kitka river rapids offer rafting nearby.
What to pack for Oulanka National Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
