Services in Arctic Circle Hiking Area

Customer Service and Guidance

• Pilke House Customer Service, Rovaniemi
• There are information boards and maps at Vaattunkiköngäs and Vikaköngäs, the area's main starting points.

Services offered by enterprises and other organisations

• Following enterprises and other organisations offer services in the Arctic Circle Hiking Area.
  • They have a cooperation agreement with Metsähallitus and they follow the principles of sustainable nature tourism when operating in the area.

Meals, where to buy and prepare

Shops

• The closest shops are in the village of Vikajärvi and in the town of Rovaniemi (rovaniemi.fi).

Campfire Sites, lapp huts and huts

• Kaltio: campfire site
• Karhukumpu: campfire site
• Könkäänsaari: campfire site
• Niittypirtti: day trip hut and campfire site
• Sortovaara: lapp hut and campfire site
• Säynäjäoja: campfire site
• Ukkoharri: campfire site
• Vaattunkijoki: campfire site
• Vaattunkilampi: campfire site
• Vikaköngäs: campfire site

• There is a rest stop on each trail where visitors can enjoy picnic lunches.
• It is prohibited to light campfires even in the designated campfire sites if the forest fire warning or the grass fire warning is in effect. Check the current warnings (en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi).

  • This prohibition does not apply to the Sortovaara lapp hut or the stove of the Niittypirtti day trip hut.

Drinking water

• The surface water from the lakes, rivers and brooks must be boiled before use.
• Water in the springs and running water in the brooks is usually good for drinking. However, the quality of the water cannot be monitored, so the use of natural water is at your own risk. There are springs on Vaattunkivaara Nature Trail and Pikkurompa Trail. The quality of the water in the springs has not been tested.
• Look at the tips for outdoors drinking water in Hiking in Finland -pages.

Waste Management

• The outdoors destinations within the hiking area do not have waste bins. It is the responsibility of each hiker to dispose of waste that accumulates during the trip.
• Biodegradable waste should be placed in a dry toilet or composter, and small amounts of clean paper and cardboard can be used as kindling in a campfire. Take all other waste out of the area to recycling points. You can get more information on recycling and waste management on the Hiking Without Littering page.
• There are recycling points at Vikaköngäs and Vaattunkiköngäs, the trails' starting points.

Toilets

• There are dry toilets at each rest spot. Dry toilets for the disabled can be found by the Vikaköngäs and Vaattunkiköngäs starting points and the Könkäänsaari lean-to shelter.
• Toilets in Vikaköngäs and Vaattunkiköngäs starting points are emptied with suction and therefore even biodegradable waste should not be placed in them. In other dry toilets biodegradable waste can be placed.

Overnight stays

Camping and Lean-to Shelters

• Camping is an Everyman's Right (ymparisto.fi) in the hiking area, but we recommend that you sent up camp in the vicinity of rest spots. Hikers may also spend the night in the area's lean-to shelters, as long as they are not disturbing other people in the area.

Rental Cabins

• Well equipped Vaattunki cabin lodge at Vaattunkiköngäs. 

Lodging in the Surrounding Area

• Information on lodging services in the surrounding area can be found on the Rovaniemi (rovaniemi.fi) websites.

Equipment Rental

• Ask about hiking and outdoor recreation equipment at private tourist enterprises in Rovaniemi. A list of these enterprises can be found on the Rovaniemi (rovaniemi.fi) websites.

Services for the Disabled

• There is a trail suited for disabled visitors from Vaattunkiköngäs to Könkäänsaari. The River Raudanjoki has a hanging bridge across it. The barrier-free Könkäänsaari Nature Trail is suitable for the disabled. The Könkäänsaari lean-to shelter has also been designed for the disabled. The trail has been classified as a demanding wheelchair route. 
• At Vikaköngäs there is a plank trail as well as a lean-to shelter and a pier, which are suited for the disabled. The plank trail leading from the hanging bridge to the Vikaköngäs lean-to shelter has been classified as an easy wheelchair route. Fishing is one possible activity at Vikaköngäs.
• Accessible dry toilets can be found by the Vikaköngäs and Vaattunkiköngäs starting points and the Könkäänsaari lean-to shelter.

Services for Boaters

• A harbour has been built at the north end of Lake Olkkajärvi. The harbour has a parking area and is situated next to main road E75. From the harbour boaters can sail or row on Olkkajärvi and then along the River Raudanjoki all the way to Vaattunkiköngäs when the water is not frozen over.

Other Services in the Surrounding Area

• Information on services in the surrounding area can be found on the Rovaniemi (rovaniemi.fi) websites.
• Find out more about visiting Lapland (lapland.fi).