recommended routeRiisin rääpäsy trail in Riisitunturi National Park
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/ Aerial view of RiisitunturiPhoto: Heikki Sulander, Metsähallitus -
/ hiking trail in Lapland: Riisin rääpäsy trail in Riisitunturi National ParkVideo: Outdooractive
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/ This beautiful pond ("Window pond") creates natures own infinity pool when weather conditions are rightPhoto: Heikki Sulander, Metsähallitus
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/ The entrance to Riisitunturi National ParkPhoto: Veera Vihervaara, Ruka Kuusamo
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/ There is a map of the area and other useful information at Riisin rääpäsy -trails starting pointPhoto: Heikki Sulander, Metsähallitus
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/ Riisitunturi open wilderness hut in winterPhoto: Ruka Kuusamo
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/ Views from Riisin rääpäsy trail in Riisitunturi National ParkVideo: MH Luontopalvelut
Riisitunturi National Park is world-famous for its photogenic winter sceneries with crown snow trees, but the park offers beautiful views in all seasons.
Riisin rääpäsy round-trip trail takes you to top of Riisitunturi fell and is recommended to be hiked clock-wise. Riisitunturi open wilderness hut along the trail offers an idyllic place for a break.
Humid climatic conditions contribute to Riisitunturi's natural beauty, and the park has some of the finest sloping bogs anywhere in Europe. On the top of Riisitunturi you can spot the crystal clear lake Kitkajärvi, which is actually Europe's largest spring.
Safety information
- If you face an emergency on your hike, e.g. get lost, get injured or observe wildfire, call 112 and report an emergency.
- Read more about securing your safety during hiking in Nationalparks.fi.
Tips and hints
- There is no light pollution in Riisitunturi fell, so in autumn and winter Riisitunturi is an ideal place to see the Northern Lights.
- Riisitunturi is also a great place to admire the autumn colours of Lapland. Autumn colours, or “ruska” in Finnish turns the green leafs to various shades of red, yellow, purple, black, orange, pink, magenta, blue and brown. Best time to witness the changing colours of the fell sceneries is in September.
Start
Note
Getting there
Riisitunturi National Park starting point is along Tolva road (Syrjälahti), about 6 km from Tolva Village. See in Google Maps.
From Kuusamo, it is about 54 km to Riisitunturi National Park. Drive north on road 5 (E63) towards Ruka and Kemijärvi for about 31 km. Drive pass Ruka and about 6,5 km after passing Ruka, turn left onto the road going to Kitka. There are signs to Riisitunturi National Park before the fork of the road. Drive on road 9471 (Kitka - Patoniemi) for about 11 km, and then turn to Tolva, which is about 9 km away.
From Rukatunturi / Ruka area it is 35 km drive to Riisitunturi National Park. Drive to road 5 (nro 5 / E63) towards Kemijärvi (north) 6.5 km, turn to left Alakitkantie road and drive about 12 km. After that turn left to Tolvantie road (nro 3471). Drive about 13 km and turn to a forest road and drive 1.2 km to the parking area of the national park. There are national park's traffic signs near the crossroad.
Parking
There is space for dozens of cars and a few buses in the parking area.
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