One Park, Many Landscapes

The varied scenery and versatile hiking options in Riisitunturi National Park make it one of the most interesting outdoor destinations in Southern Lapland. It is also easy to reach if you are staying in Rovaniemi, Kuusamo or any nearby resort town or ski center. Riisitunturi National Park offers wintry landscapes, filled with snow-laden trees (tykkylumi). These snow-covered trees, sometimes called snow giants, are already an internationally recognized phenomenon, particularly among photographers. We will be the first to admit Riisitunturi is also a favourite among Beyond Arctic’s staff of photographers!

Worth a Visit - with a Guide

Riisitunturi National Park is in the municipality of Posio, a small village around 160 km from Rovaniemi – or roughly a 2-hour drive. Due to Riisitunturi’s somewhat remote location, we will need to travel there by car. The easiest way to get there is by booking a guided tour, with a guide that will lead you all the way to the starting point of the Riisitunturi trails. Especially in winter, it is wise to trust a professional guide to navigate the roads on the journey and save your energy to enjoy the scenery while walking along the and up the fell in Riisitunturi.

What Makes Riisitunturi So Unique?

As one of Finland’s southernmost fells (tunturi), the wintry landscapes produced by the combination of its location, soil, and weather conditions are second to none. Riisitunturi is particularly famous for its spruce trees heavily covered in snow. In mid-winter and spring, you wouldn't even know they ARE trees, unless you knew one was hiding under hundreds of kilograms of snow and ice.

Humidity in the air, combined with the hillside bogs typical of the area also help moisture condense onto the trees. As the snow accumulates, the trees gradually begin to bend under the massive weight into the most imaginative shapes. Every winter, individual trees form a unique snow cover around themselves, resembling snow sculptures or giant Hattifatteners (from the world-famous and Finnish Moomin stories). Some call the trees snow giants and reach up to shake their icy hands. In late spring, as the weather warms up, the trees begin to shed their snowy frosting. By summer, the trees have returned to their normal shape after the snow masses have slipped off their shoulders.

Hiking in Riisitunturi National Park

Because of its spectacular scenery, Riisitunturi is a very popular hiking destination for visitors from Rovaniemi and surrounding areas. Still, you don’t need to fear crowds at Riisitunturi, as the national park is a very vast area, and hikers spread leaving enough space for everyone to enjoy the hike.

Perhaps one of the best features of Riisitunturi is that to enjoy it, you don’t need to be an experienced wilderness expert or a dedicated backpacker. Everyone who enjoys a simple walk in nature can enjoy Riisitunturi; the park welcomes families with children as well as pets to join the adventure. At its shortest, the 4.3 km circular trail Riisin Rääpäsy, starting right from the parking area, captures Riisitunturi's best features with its scenic views and rest stops. Riisin Rääpäsy is classified as an easy trail, and the route is marked in the terrain with colour-coded signposts.

To prepare for Riisitunturi’s snow conditions and to conquer the fell, you should equip yourself with snowshoes or sliding snowshoes (liukulumikengät). Even though the trails are marked, if you step off the path, the waiting snowdrift is deep and soft, making progress virtually impossible without proper equipment.

When heading to Riisitunturi National Park, your guide will make sure to bring enough hydration and snacks for the day. Along the hiking trails, there is a designated campfire sites where we can rest and enjoy our outdoor lunch. For example, along the Riisin Rääpäsy trail, we will come across the Riisitunturi open wilderness hut, where we can dry your mittens, wet from hugging the snowy trees, perhaps — while showing consideration for other hikers.

Riisitunturi's unique nature and hiking opportunities offer something for everyone interested in outdoor activities and Lapland's nature! Riisitunturi National Park serves hikers, photographers, snowshoers, skiers, and cyclists alike. Families, groups of friends, dogs, grandmas, and grandpas—everyone is welcome to enjoy the landscapes of Riisitunturi and a day out in Finnish Lapland. Perhaps in one of its most worth-visiting destinations!

Ready to book your own Riisitunturi Adventure? 

Our team of Arctic experts are here to help tailor a plan for your visit by phone or WhatsApp (+358 50 323 1090) or email (contact@beyondarctic.com) 

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