Leave the stressful city life behind and step into blissful forest greenery. Finland is full of gorgeous forests and wilderness areas that you can hike in almost any time of year. Choose from the pine barrens and coniferous forests of Southern Finland to the fells, bogs and birch forests of Lapland. Some trails are well suited for a family forest trip, where you can get to know the flora and fauna and have a little snack in the woods. Some trails, on the other hand, are better for hikers who want to totally detach from everyday life for several days and just embrace mother nature. You can go hiking by foot or you can have a nice trip cycling or paddling a canoe. So pack up a tent, suitable clothes, yummy snacks and a soft sleeping bag, and head out to give your soul some nature therapy!

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    Karhunkierros Trail

    Explore nature's wonders on the classic Karhunkierros Trail

    Karhunkierros Trail
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    This gorgeous hiking trail in the woods of Ruka and Kuusamo, also known as The Bear's Trail, has earned a reputation of being the best hiking destination in Finland for a reason. Here in the Lapland borderlands, Finland's rugged nature gets to really shine, and even the most hardened career-driven person can take a breather. Get deep into the woods, breath in the cleanest air of the wilderness and listen to birds chirping while you walk past wild rapids and green forested hills. Sights like the cliffs of Rupakivi and Oulanka canyons that rise from the middle of a lake will make any visitor forget their daily worries. When you get hungry, you can stop at one of the many firepits and grill some sausages or other treats. At the end of the day you can get to sleep in your own tent or one of the free huts along the way. The whole 50-mile-long Karhunkierros Trail takes about 3–7 days, and it's best suited for more experienced hikers. The trail is well marked however, and maps and fishing licenses are sold at the beginning and end of the trail for enthusiastic fishers.

    Öffnungszeiten: Karhunkierros Nature Centre is the beginning and end of the trail, and it's open from mid-February to the end of October.

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    Hetta-Pallas Trail (Hetta-Pallaksen vaellusreitti)

    Explore Lapland by foot, skis, bike or even with snowshoes on

    Hetta-Pallas Trail (Hetta-Pallaksen vaellusreitti)
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    Now there are plenty of options: you can do the 4-day long hiking trail taking in the stunning views of Pallas-Yllästunturi in at least 4 different ways. If you're a fan of snowy Lapland, grab a pair of skis or rent a pair of snowshoes and you'll get to admire the grand mountains and gorges when they're covered in snow. Keep an eye on the footprints left by reindeer, hares and even lynxes if you're lucky, and enjoy the crisp and cold winter weather. When it gets dark, you can warm up by the heat of a stove in a free hut or a cabin you booked in advance. Don't forget to go back outside to admire the incredibly bright starry sky and perhaps even the flaming northern lights! In the summer you can enjoy the scenery in Lapland in all its shades of green by foot or mountain bike. If you want, you can start the trail by crossing Lake Ounasjärvi by boat. Admire the magnificent views all the way to the borders of Sweden and Norway, covered in green conifers, and look at the reindeer standing on the mountains. Then you can enjoy a relaxed evening in the midnight sun either in a free hut along the way or in your own tent.

    Öffnungszeiten: The hiking period in the summer starts around midsummer and continues until mid-October. In the winter you can ski through the whole trail from March until April.

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    Pyhä-Luosto Trail (Pyhä-Luoston vaellusreitti)

    Explore the ancient holy places of the forest Sámi people

    Pyhä-Luosto Trail (Pyhä-Luoston vaellusreitti)
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    Go for a hike in the middle of virgin forests, ponds and ancient holy places of the Sámi people! Pyhä-Luosto hiking trail in Lapland, near Sodankylä, offers unforgettable views and experiences for beginners and experienced hikers alike. See the southernmost big fells of the country, like Ukko-Luosto, Noitatunturi, which is magical to the Sámi people, and Isokuru, which was shaped by the water from melting ice during the Ice Age. Other sights along the trail are Pyhäkasteenlampi Pond, which was worshipped by the forest Sámi people, and its 55-foot-high Pyhäkaste Waterfall, and the only working amethyst mine in Europe, Lampivaara Amethyst Mine. The mine is open for visitors; you can dig your own amethyst there to keep. Get familiar with the curious Siberian jays, enjoy your packed lunch in one of the many resting spots and spend the night in an empty hut you can use without booking for free, or one you book in advance. The Pyhä-Luosto hiking trail is 28 miles long, and it usually takes a couple of days to walk through. You can get there by car and public transport.

    Öffnungszeiten: The best time for a hike is in the summer, but you can hike a part of the trail in the winter, too.

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    Kevo Trail (Kevon reitti)

    Hike in the rugged and magical nature of northernmost Lapland

    Kevo Trail (Kevon reitti)
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    At times challenging but varied, Kevo Trail is a true gem for the experienced hiker. Go to Kevo Nature Reserve in Utsjoki to experience unforgettable moments in the kingdom of mountains, brooks, cliffs and downy birch trees. The trail includes sections of jagged rocks, big height differences and several fords, so it's not suitable for beginners. Despite its challenging nature, Kevo Trail is a charmer: the steep slopes of Kevo Canyon, 85-feet-high Fiellu Waterfall and several different bird species from golden eagles to rough-legged buzzards offer amazing memories and photo opportunities. If you get thirsty along the way, you can drink from a nearby brook. Since Kevo Trail goes through a nature reserve, you're only allowed to walk along the marked paths and set up camp in designated areas. The trail is about 40 miles long and takes 3–5 days to hike. There are free huts and wickets along the way, but we recommend taking your own tent with you. Don't forget your compass and map!

    Öffnungszeiten: The main hiking season is from midsummer to autumn.

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    Kalotti Trail (Kalottireitti)

    This trail takes you through the wilderness in Finland, Sweden and Norway

    Kalotti Trail (Kalottireitti)
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    When you really need to take your mind off everyday things, there's nothing like the 500-mile-long Kalotti Trail. For this hike you have to take a decent chunk of time off of work. Along the way you'll see open highlands, glowing glaciers, impressive cliffs, roaring rapids and high mountains. You can start your hike from Finland, from the trail in Käsivarsi Wilderness Area. The easiest way to get there is from Kilpisjärvi, and from there you can head to Kvikkjokk in Sweden or Sulitjelma or Koutokeino in Norway. The trail is mostly well marked, but sometimes it's hard to distinguish from the rest of the terrain. Cross rugged rocky ground, wade through shallow mountain brooks, admire gorgeous waterfalls and chat about your experiences to other hikers you meet along the way on this unique hiking trail. You can sleep in a free hut or cabin, but you should definitely pack your own tent just in case.

    Öffnungszeiten: The recommended hiking time is from the beginning of July to mid-September.

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    Foto von MattiPaavola (CC BY-SA 3.0) bearbeitet

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    Nuuksio National Park (Nuuksion kansallispuisto)

    Take the kids to explore nature just a stone's throw from the capital

    Nuuksio National Park (Nuuksion kansallispuisto)
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    Many of the hiking trails in Finland tend to be in Lapland, but that doesn't mean you can't go hiking in Southern Finland. Nuuksio National Park is right next to Helsinki and you can explore it by foot or bike, or even on a horse, and it's also accessible to wheelchairs and prams. Do you want to go for a nice day trip with the family or are you interested in a longer hike in the deep woods? There are many trails of different lengths and suited for different purposes, and they have all kinds of services from rental saunas and cabins to firepits and water fountains. Pack up the kids and snacks, choose one of the many easy bike trails of the national park, and try to catch a glimpse of the animals that live in the area. You might see a moose, fox, lynx or even a cute flying squirrel. When you get tired and hungry, it's time to bring out the packed lunch, marshmallows and traditional buns on a stick. A trip to nature has never been this fun and easy!

    Öffnungszeiten: Nuuksio is open all year long, but in the winter the trails are not kept up.

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    Ruostejärvi - Liesjärvi National Park Trail (Ruostejärvi - Liesjärven kansallispuiston reitti)

    Listen to coniferous trees sough in the heart of Tavastia

    Ruostejärvi - Liesjärvi National Park Trail (Ruostejärvi - Liesjärven kansallispuiston reitti)
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    This hiking trail in Ruostejärvi Recreation Area and Liesjärvi National Park offers lots of opportunities for both day trips and longer hikes. Wear your good hiking boots and clothes suitable for a forest hike, and explore one of the oldest trails in a Finnish national park surrounded by pine and spruce trees. The glistening ponds, gentle waves of the lakes and rhythmic knocking of a woodpecker are the best way to cure stress. On the way you can explore the Korteniemi forest ranger's cabin, which has great cultur-historical value, and in the late summer and early autumn you can find lots of different kinds of edible mushrooms, blueberries and lingonberries all along the trail. Nom! The Ruostejärvi - Liesjärvi National Park Trail is split in two; one trail is 7.5 miles long and the other is 20 miles. If you're looking for a long hike, you can continue onwards from Liesjärvi National Park, since it's a part of a 124-mile-long set of trails in Tavastia called Ilvesreitistö. Although the Ruostejärvi - Liesjärvi National Park Trail is easy to walk, hikers should remember to take a map with them.

    Öffnungszeiten: The hiking trail is open when there's no snow.

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    Tapion Taival Trail

    Hike in the peaceful virgin forests of the eastern border

    Tapion Taival Trail
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    Go for a 2-day trip to the easternmost hiking trail of Finland, to the forests of Karelia. Tapion Taival in Ilomantsi is a 12-mile trail, where you get to see grand old pine trees covered in a thick layer of bark, the slowly flowing Koitajoki River, wet bogs and all kinds of plants. It's also the home of different kinds of creatures, the largest of them bears and wolves. You can stop and read the guideposts along the trail and learn even more about the forest creatures. Halfway along the trail you can veer off to the path leading to Lake Virmajärvi; at the end of the path you'll find the easternmost point of the mainland of the European Union. You can also find the Pirhuvaara forest ranger's cabin along the Tapion Taival Trail. When it gets dark in the evening, you can stay the night in one of the free huts that were used for logging back in the day. Keep in mind that most services in the area are located in the southern half of the Koitajoki area, because the northern half goes through the protected Koivusuo Nature Reserve. In the nature reserve you're only allowed to walk on the marked trail.

    Öffnungszeiten: The hiking trail is open when there's no snow.

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    Foto von Htm (CC BY 4.0) bearbeitet

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    Kayaking in Simojoki River

    Move from land to water and enjoy the varied scenery of Simojoki River

    Kayaking in Simojoki River
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    If you're starting to get tired of walking, rent a canoe or a kayak and explore nature from the water. Simojoki River is located in Ranua, Southern Lapland, and it's great for beginners too, so grab a paddle and enjoy the ride! There are plenty of rapids in the river, but the ones at the beginning of the river in particular are fairly easy for inexperienced paddlers. Start your water adventure near Lake Simojärvi from the smooth water part of the upstream, where you can enjoy the peace of the wilderness and listen to birds chirping. Every now and then you'll get to go over a rapid. After 25 miles the river turns into connected lakes, after which you'll see typical Southern Lapland views with barns and cows in the pasture. If you get hungry or tired, there are plenty of good places to get off the canoe/kayak, and services are available at frequent intervals. You can stay the night in a rental cabin, although we recommend booking a bed in advance. You can also bring your own tent. If you're an enthusiastic paddler, you can go all the way to the end at Bothnian Bay.

    Öffnungszeiten: The best paddling circumstances are during the spring flood or between June and July, when there's a lot of water in the river.

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    Poronpolku Trail

    Take a day trip to the kingdom of gorgeous eskers and pine barrens

    Poronpolku Trail
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    Even though the name Poronpolku means "reindeer path", unfortunately you won't get to see reindeer there anymore. Despite that, this hiking trail is popular among Finns; they go there to enjoy the beautiful nature. This trail in Loppi got its name in the 1960s from 10 reindeer that were kept there for test feeding purposes by Hankkija, but they left the area a decade later. The name stayed however, and every September there's a special Poronpolku event. The trail is 19 miles long, but it's divided into 6 shorter routes; the shortest of them is Pikku-Samo, which is 2 miles long. Take the kids with you and explore nature with them – you'll learn plenty of fun facts from the guideposts. Take a look at the slowly overgrowing Lukkolampi Pond, look for the miniscule observation tower and admire the pine barren view of Hirvenharju. Part of the trail goes along gravel and asphalt roads instead of small paths. You can find resting spots here and there, so you won't have to miss a snack break. If you're looking for a long hike, you can continue onwards from Poronpolku, since it's a part of a 124-mile-long set of trails in Tavastia called Ilvesreitistö.

    Öffnungszeiten: The hiking trail is open when there's no snow.

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