Services along Karhunkierros Trail
Karhunkierros Trail runs mainly within Oulanka National Park. Services such as kiosks and cafés are situated at 2-day-hike intervals. The cafés and kiosks sell foodstuff and hiking supplies. This means that you do not have to carry everything with you.
The maintenance of Karhunkierros Trail and customer service along the trail are managed by Metsähallitus and the town of Kuusamo. Metsähallitus manages the portion of the trail which is within Oulanka National Park and the town of Kuusamo manages the remaining portion running from the village of Juuma to Konttainen.
Meals, Where to Buy and Prepare
Stores, Kiosks and Restaurants
Along the Karhunkierros trail:
- In Hautajärvi village Napapiiri Café (napapiiricafe.fi)
- In Oulanka Camping (in Finnish, Oulankacamping.fi) there is a kiosk
- At the visitor centre, Restaurant Ravintola Talonpöytä (talonpoyta.fi), provides its services in the summer season. The selection of the restaurant includes lunch, burgers, café products and snacks.
- In Juuma at Basecamp Oulanka (Basecampoulanka.fi) there are a kiosk, a restaurant and a café
On the way to the starting points of Karhunkierros:
- In Käylä village there is a grocery store (in Finnish, s-kaupat.fi).
- In Ruka holiday centre there are several restaurants (Ruka.fi) and shops
Drinking Water
- The areas ground waters - in lakes and rivers - should be filtered or boiled before drinking, as the water's quality changes from place to place.
- Drinking water from rivers and lakes is at your own risk.
- There are drinking water taps at the Oulanka visitor centre and in cafés. The water tap of the Oulanka Visitor Centre is located outside on the exterior wall, by the door of the café and it is available around the clock.
Waste Management
In Oulanka National Park and on Karhunkierros Trail each visitor is responsible for the waste that accumulates during his/her stay. Biodegradable waste should be placed in a toilet or composter, and small amounts of clean paper and cardboard can be used as kindling in a campfire. Read more about Hiking without littering.
- Karhunkierros Hiking Trail has two recycling points; first one is located close by the Oulanka Camping Ground and the second one is along the Pieni Karhunkierros trail. Visitors can recycle for example glass and metal at these points.
Firewood
Firewood is transported during winter to open wilderness hut and campfire sites by snowmobile. They are trunks which must be sawed or chopped before they can be used to get s proper fire. During summer firewood supplies are restocked if need be.
Oulanka National Park is a very popular destination and therefore a large amount of firewood gets used each year on Karhunkierros Trail. Please use firewood moderately.
Dry Toilets
There are 10 wilderness huts on the trail and all have a dry toilet by them. Biodegradable waste can be put into dry toilets. The toilets are emptied regularly when the container fills up.
There is no toilet paper in dry toilets so take enough toilet paper with you.
Management of Firewood and Waste
A majority of Karhunkierros Trail is maintained by Metsähallitus. There are couple of service calls in week in the area. From Juuma village to the north of Konttainen the Karhunkierros Trail is maintained by Kuusamo Town.
- In the area of Oulanka National Park the trail is maintained by Metsähallitus, Natural Heritage Services, Ostrobothnia-Kainuu. Address: Torangintaival 2, 93600 Kuusamo, Finland.For more information contact Oulanka Visitor Centre, tel. int. + 358 206 39 6850.
- Kuusamo Town maintains the services along the portion of Karhunkierros Trail outside of Oulanka National Park. For more information contact Kuusamo Info (kuusamo.fi), tel. int. +358 40 860 8365.
Connecting Trails
The section of the UKK Trail from Hossa via Kuusamo to Sallatunturi Fell follows the route of Karhunkierros Trail from Ruka to Hautajärvi.
Other Services in the Surrounding Area
- There are rental cabins near the Karhunkierros Trail in the municipality of Salla (salla.fi).
- For information on lodging, shops, transport, equipment rental and other services in the Kuusamo area contact Kuusamo Info (kuusamo.fi), tel. int. +358 40 860 8365. Information on services in Kuusamo and at Ruka is available on the Ruka and Kuusamo website (ruka.fi).
- More information about services in Salla area from Salla Tourist Info tel. int. +358 400 269 838 or from Salla website (visitsalla.fi)
Notices
Oulanka National Park is one of Finland's most popular National Parks. The area receives over 200,000 visits yearly. This large amount of visitors wears the hiking trails and causes them to be quite crowded especially during peak seasons.
We ask that hikers only use marked trails, so that the surrounding nature will remain intact and so that new paths would not form in the area.
Overnight Stays
Open Wilderness Huts
There are 7 open wilderness huts (owh) and 3 day-use huts (dth) on Karhunkierros Trail. Eight of these are within Oulanka National Park.
- Savilampi owh is on the bank of the River Oulankajoki.
- Taivalköngäs owh is on the bank of the River Oulankajoki.
- Puikkokämppä dth and Ristikallio owh, are on the bank of the River Aventojoki.
- Ansakämppä owh is on the bank of the River Oulankajoki.
- Jussinkämppä owh is on the shore of Lake Kulmakkojärvi.
- Siilastupa owh is on the bank of the River Kitkajoki at Jyrävä on Pieni Karhunkierros Trail.
- Myllykoski dth (outdooractive.com) is on the bank of the River Kitkajoki on Pieni Karhunkierros Trail.
- Porontimajoki owh (outdooractive.com) is on the bank of the River Porontimajoki.
- Valtavaara dth is at the top of Valtavaara Hill.
Rules for using Wilderness hut
Please read these rules before going on the hike. More detailed instructions for using the hut are provided in the folder that you can find inside.
For whom
- Hikers and skiers can rest in the hut and stay for 1-2 nights.
- If there are more than 5 people in your group, you should preferably use your own tents.
- You can bring your pet into a wilderness hut if other users do not object.
- Not for commercial use. Guided groups may not use huts for overnight stays.
Using the hut
Respect other hikers:
- Always make room for newcomers.
- Keep your pet on a leash.
- In busy times, leave your gear outside.
- Do not disturb other people at night.
- Smoking is prohibited inside the hut.
Fireplace:
- Check that the fireplace is in working order and empty of rubbish.
- Empty the ashes in the ash bucket.
- The ash bucket should be kept outside.
- Please use firewood sparingly.
Drinking water:
- Boil water from natural sources before consumption.
- Do not wash dishes or yourself at the water supply point.
When you leave the hut
- Tidy the hut and take all rubbish with you.
- Do not leave food in the hut as it will attract animals.
- Write your name and your next destination in the visitor’s book.
- Chop some firewood for the next visitor.
- Check that the fire has been put out.
- Close the door and windows carefully.
Camping Grounds
- Oulanka Camping (in Finnish, oulankacamping.fi) is located on Karhunkierros Trail in the centre of the park.
Equipment Rental
- Oulanka National Park's partners rent hiking gear.
- For information on equipment rental in the area visit the Ruka website (ruka.fi).
Equipment
Karhunkierros is a pleasant trail to hike if you have basic knowledge of hiking and survival skills. The most important things you will need are a good map (Rukatunturi - Oulanka Outdoor map 1:50,000) and good advance information about the area.
The open wilderness huts along the trail are often full during peak season, so a tent and sleeping bag are good to have with.
Check for Warnings
When forest and grass fire warnings (en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi) are in effect, fire is only allowed at covered campfire sites that have a flue. A fire can be also lit in fireplaces at wilderness and other huts. Always use extreme caution when handling fire. The one who lights a fire is always responsible for its safe use. Please note, that making fire at these campfire sites can be banned locally.
Gathering at the campfire sites increases the risk of coronavirus infection. Guidelines concerning coronavirus COVID-19.