Pyha-Luosto National Park

Pyha-Luosto protects a chain of very old, worn-down fells, among the most ancient rock in Finland, cut by the deep Isokuru gorge. On the Luosto summit sits a working amethyst mine where visitors can dig for a purple stone to keep, and two ski resorts flank the park.

Background

The park was formed in 2005 by joining Pyhätunturi National Park, founded in 1938 as the oldest in Finland, to Luosto, so it counts as both one of the oldest and one of the newest national parks in the country. It covers 142 square kilometres. Its backbone is the southernmost tunturi line in Finland, twelve fell summits along a 35-kilometer-long quartzite ridge left from mountains dating back nearly two billion years. Noitatunturi rises to 540 metres and Ukko-Luosto to 514 metres. Isokuru Gorge plunges over 200 metres and shows wave patterns in its quartzite. Pines on the hills are 200 years old or older, and some trees exceed 400 years. Nearly 199,000 visits were recorded in 2024.

Source: Wikipedia, "Pyhä-Luosto National Park"

Highlights

• Isokuru gorge - the deepest gorge in Finland, reached by boardwalks and stairs.
• The amethyst mine - a summit mine where you can search for and keep an amethyst.
• The fell tops - open summits with wide Lapland views.
• Waterfalls and boardwalks - trails past small falls and across the fell.

When to go

September for autumn colour, March for skiing, summer for hiking the gorge and fells. The amethyst mine and boardwalk trails suit families in the warm season.

What to expect

It is more accessible and resort-flanked than the deep-north parks, which makes it easy but less wild. The amethyst mine is a paid, touristy activity, fun for families but not wilderness. The gorge and fell walks are the natural highlights.

Nearby

The Pyha and Luosto ski resorts border the park; Rovaniemi and the Arctic Circle lie to the south.

Key facts