Things to do in Oulanka National Park

Oulanka National Park sits roughly 100 km from Rovaniemi via Kuusamo, depending which entrance you use, and covers ground in both Kuusamo and Salla municipalities rather than Kuusamo alone.

The Oulankajoki river has cut a network of gorges through the park, crossed by suspension bridges that make for the easiest short walks; keep an eye out for goosander and whooper swan on the water, and further north there is a slim chance of brown bear. The visitor centre near Juuma is the practical starting point for maps and trail conditions.

Rapids run free of ice from late May to October; the rest of the year the park reverts to snow-covered trails workable on snowshoes. Wild camping follows jokamiehenoikeus, Finland's everyman's right, but open fires are permitted only at maintained fire sites.