Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Two historical
Skolt Sámi settlements
, with restored old houses, lie 2km south of Raja-
Jooseppi, and 2km west of Snelmanninmaja hut, respectively.
Activities
Hiking
There's some great hiking to be done on well-defined trails in the Saar-
iselkä-Kakslauttanen-Kiilopää area. Grab a map and plan your own day hikes. For longer
adventures, use wilderness huts as bases and destinations, and create your own itinerary
according to your ability: an experienced, fit hiker can cover up to 4km per hour, and up to
28km per day. You will need to carry all food; water in rivers is drinkable.
The four- to six-day loop from the main road to Luirojärvi is the most popular, and can
be extended beyond the lake. To reach areas where few have been, take a one-week walk
from Kiilopää to Kemihaara.
The most remote route follows old roads and walking routes through the fells all the
way from Raja-Jooseppi in the north to Kemihaara or Tulppio in the southeast.
Sleeping
Within the park are 200 designated free camping areas as well as some 40 free wilderness
huts, some with locked bookable sections. Book these (€11 per bed; shared sleeping), and
the few private cabins, at any of the park visitor centres.
You'll need a sleeping bag and mat for the wilderness huts; bookable ones have mat-
tresses. Visitor centres supply maps and details of huts, as does the
www.outdoors.fi
web-
site.
Getting There & Away
The easiest trailheads are Saariselkä or Kiilopää. From Savukoski contact the
post-taxi
(
040-730-6484)
for transport to Kemihaara, 1km from the park's boundary.
Raja-Jooseppi border station is another starting point for treks, as it takes you directly
into real wilderness; you can get there on Murmansk-bound buses from Ivalo.
