Oulu, Kainuu & Koillismaa - Finland - page 533

Rukapalvelu in Ruka rents tents, packs and other hiking equipment.
Hautajärvi Visitor Centre NATURE CENTRE
( 040-834-6814; www.outdoors.fi ; 9am-4pm Tue-Fri mid-Feb-May & Oct, 8.30am-5pm Mon-Fri,
9am-5pm Sat & Sun Jun-Sep)
Helpful, at the northern trailhead, right on the Arctic Circle on the Kuusamo-Salla road,
1km north of Hautajärvi village. There's a cafe and exhibition on the ecosystem of the
mires, dotted with apposite literary quotes.
Oulanka Visitor Centre NATURE CENTRE
( GOOGLE MAP ; 040-732-5615; www.outdoors.fi ;Liikasenvaarantie 132; 10am-4pm Oct-May,
10am-6pm Jun-Sep; )
In the middle of Oulanka National Park, accessible along a 13km unsealed road from
Käylä. There's an exhibition, trekking supplies, cafe, maps and fishing licences. An 8km
round walk takes you along the Oulankajoki to the Kiutaköngäs rapids. You can also rent
kayaks and canoes here ; the price includes pick up or drop off and a safety lesson.
Getting There & Around
From early June to early August, a handy early-morning bus ( 040-722-2022;
www.rukacharter.fi ;Kuusamo to trailheads €11.80-13.70, Ruka to trailheads €6.80-10.10) runs from
Kuusamo to Salla via Ruka, Juuma, Ristikallio and Hautajärvi from Monday to Friday, and
returns. There's a connection from Käylä to Oulanka Visitor Centre on Monday, Wednes-
day and Friday.
Outside these dates, there's a less convenient afternoon service, with no weekend buses.
A taxi ( 08-868-1222; www.rukataksi.fi ) from Ruka costs a fixed €42 to €48 to Juuma,
and €77 to €90 to Hautajärvi.
River Routes Around Kuusamo
The Oulankajoki and Kitkajoki, which meet close to the Russian border, offer wonderful
canoeing and rafting opportunities in wilderness areas. You can do these trips as organised,
guided adventures, or hire canoes or kayaks from one of many outfitters, who can arrange
transport at either end.