Oulanka National Park

Ristikallio cliffs in Oulanka National Park. Photo: Vastavalo / Jari Hindström
Kitkajoki river. Photo: Hannu Hautala
Hiker on Jyrävä falls. Photo: Minna Koramo / Parks and Wildlife Finland
Winter in Oulanka National Park. Photo: Hannu Hautala

The Emblem of Oulanka National Park - Calypso Orchid In the rugged landscape of the Karhunkierros Trail, you will observe the power of water. The many trail options and hanging bridges of the Oulanka National Park will take you to the most impressive waterfalls in Finland. The jumps of wild brown trout, the dives of European dippers, the unlimited beauty of the aapa mires and the lovely calypso will challenge even the experienced nature photographer.

Nature doesn't recognise any state boundaries: the vast wilderness of the Paanajärvi National Park is to be found on the Russian side of the border.

Surging Rapids along the Karhunkierros Trail - in Oulanka National Park

Location: In Northern Ostrobothnia in Kuusamo (www.kuusamo.fi) and in Eastern Lapland in Salla (www.salla.fi). Read more

Arrival: By car and public transportation. Read more

Activities: Hiking, canoeing, snowshoeing. Read more

Sights: Rugged riverbanks shaped by the ice age, meadow barns, rapids and waterfalls, hanging bridges, aapa mires, rare species. Read more

Suitability: Suitable for everyone, all year round.

Services: A wide variety of services, throughout the year: the Oulanka Visitor Centre, the Oulanka Camping Ground, the Karhunkierros Trail, numerous day trails, a trail accessible for all, open wilderness huts and tent sites, campfire sites and firewood, dry toilets, recycling points. Services provided by our cooperation enterprises are available in the area. Read more

Trails: Routes ranging from short day trails (2-12 km) to the Karhunkierros Trail (82 km), which is an excellent choice for your first ever long hiking trip. The area has a total of 150 km of marked trails. The River Oulankajoki canoe route (1-25 km), the wintery wilderness trail (26 km), a trail accessible for all (0.3 km). Read more

This is the web page www.nationalparks.fi/oulanka