All activities / Trekking / Hiking / Oulanka National Park
Trekking / Hiking in Oulanka National Park
A national park in Kuusamo, north-eastern Finland near the Russian border, where the Oulankajoki and Kitkajoki rivers cut through boreal forest, sandy river banks, gorges and rapids. It carries the Karhunkierros, the Bear's Trail, Finland's classic long-distance hike and its most walked wilderness route, at its best in the golden ruska colours of autumn.
Why here
The Karhunkierros, or Bear's Trail, is the classic Finnish long-distance hike and the most walked wilderness route in the country. Its full 82 kilometres run from Hautajarvi to Ruka through Oulanka National Park, following the Kitkajoki and Oulankajoki rivers past gorges, rapids, suspension bridges and boreal old-growth forest, with a chain of free open wilderness huts to sleep in along the way. Most people take four to six days for the whole thing, while the southern Pieni Karhunkierros day loop from Juuma gives a taste in a few hours. The high season runs from mid-summer snowmelt to the fiery ruska colours of September, when the birch and aspen turn gold and red. Guided trips take the logistics off your hands, with hut-to-hut support that means no tent to carry, and local guides who read the terrain, the river crossings and the autumn weather.
Best months
The main hiking season is roughly mid-June to late September, opening once the snow and high water clear and finishing with the ruska autumn colours in early to mid-September, the most popular window. The trail is well marked with boardwalks and bridges but includes rooty, rocky and boggy sections and some steep river banks, so proper boots matter. Nights are cold even in summer and the huts fill in ruska season. Book guided departures ahead; operators handle hut logistics and transfers.
Getting there & around
Oulanka National Park lies in Kuusamo, in north-eastern Finland near the Russian border. The usual gateway is Kuusamo Airport with flights from Helsinki, then a drive of 30 to 50 kilometres to the Ruka, Juuma and Hautajarvi trailheads; buses serve Ruka in season. The route runs point to point, so most walkers use trailhead transfers or a guided trip. Free wilderness huts along the trail take no bookings and can be busy in autumn.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (2)
Basecamp Oulanka
OutfitterBasecamp Oulanka is a wilderness hotel and activity base built inside Oulanka National Park at Myllykoski, on the Kitkajoki river, run to a sustainable design since 1998. It sits directly on the Karhunkierros, the Bear's Trail, and runs guided and self-guided hikes on the route with hut stops that provide food and beds so walkers need not carry a tent, alongside guided river paddling and rafting. The lodge has a restaurant, cafe and sauna and holds Sustainable Travel Finland certification.
MyTrail Finland
GuideMyTrail Finland is a Ruka-Kuusamo hiking operator led by local Finnish guides who work the trails of Oulanka and the surrounding national parks. It runs small guided groups of no more than eight on day and multi-day walks, including the Karhunkierros and the shorter Pieni Karhunkierros loop, the Oulanka canyon and river trails, and winter snowshoe outings. The company is certified under Sustainable Travel Finland and Green Activities and provides equipment and trailhead transfers.