National park · Finland
Riisitunturi National ParkRiisitunturin kansallispuisto
Go for one day, not a week: walk the 4.3 km (2.7 mi) Riisin Rääpäsy loop to the fell, hut and Ikkunalampi pond, starting early enough to finish in daylight in Dec–Mar; skip it if you have no car and no winter gear.Go for one day, not a week: walk the 2.7 mi (4.3 km) Riisin Rääpäsy loop to the fell, hut and Ikkunalampi pond, starting early enough to finish in daylight in Dec–Mar; skip it if you have no car and no winter gear.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
77 km² (30 sq mi)30 sq mi (77 km²)
approximate
Established
1982
Best months
Feb–Mar, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Nordic countries ↗Decide light or dark before anything else: summer trips (June–August) and aurora trips (September–March in the Arctic) need different countries, clothes and bases.
- Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
- Finland ↗Finland is in the EU and the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border.
- Finland ↗The land border with Russia is closed to travellers; do not plan a route across it.
- Finland ↗Everyman's rights let you walk, camp for a night and pick berries on most land, but not near homes, and not to make fires without permission.
At a glance
- Country
- Finland
- Area
- 77 km² (30 sq mi)30 sq mi (77 km²)
- Park area only; the adjacent Karitunturi mire protection area adds more protected land (check).
- Established
- 1982
- Best months
- Feb–Mar, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Posio
Riisitunturi National Park protects 77 km² of fell and taiga in southern Finnish Lapland, about 30 km by road from Posio and close to the Arctic Circle. The fell rises above the treeline; the rest is spruce forest, high hills and open mires, with hanging bogs on the slopes and long views over the Kitkajärvi lakes. It was established in 1982 and has no visitor centre of its own — the Oulanka Visitor Centre and Kuusamo customer service, 50–60 km away by road, handle information and maps. The park is best known for two things: the winter tykky, when rime and condensed frost load the spruces into white shapes, and the colourful sloping bogs of the snow-free months. A 4.3 km loop from the main trailhead reaches the fell, an open wilderness hut and the Ikkunalampi pond; longer routes extend to Nuolivaara or run 33 km from Posio to Tolva. There is no entrance fee, the open wilderness huts are free, and the area is remote enough that phone coverage is patchy and help is slow to arrive.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1982.
Size and age
77 km² (30 sq mi)30 sq mi (77 km²) · national park since 1982
Park area only; the adjacent Karitunturi mire protection area adds more protected land (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Posio.
Why go
- Winter tykky: rime and condensed frost load the spruces into white shapes that are the park's main draw from December to March.
- Hanging bogs on the slopes of Riisitunturi fell, colourful and walkable on every marked route in the snow-free months.
- Views over the Kitkajärvi lakes from Riisitunturi and Pikku Riisitunturi, and from Koljatinlaki on the approach trail.
- Free open wilderness huts and lean-to shelters make a two-day walk possible without a tent outside peak summer.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunGo
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecGo
- JanTykky usually at its best; short daylight — plan the walk around the few usable hours (check)
- FebDeep snow, cold and often clear; dark nights give aurora chances
- MarLonger light, snow still deep; the classic photo season
- AprSki track maintained to late Apr; snow heavy and wet late in the month
- MayThaw; trails muddy and partly flooded, no winter track
- JunMidnight sun; dry trails, mosquitoes building
- JulBusiest month; mosquitoes at their worst
- AugStill busy; berries and mushrooms, wetter ground
- SepRuska colours, few people, dark enough for auroras late in the month
- OctFirst snow possible; short daylight, expect mud
- NovDark and often snow-poor; no maintained ski track yet — check conditions before committing (check)
- DecTykky forming; very short daylight and cold snaps — check the forecast and daylight hours (check)
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tykky — rime and condensed frost on the sprucesDec–Mar · The park's signature winter sight; it needs cold, humid air and calm days. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Hanging bogs in colourJun–Sep · Seen on all routes in the Riisitunturi area. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Ruska autumn coloursSep · Short window, usually the second half of September. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | no | no | no |
| Mosquitoes and blackfliesJun–Aug · Worst in July; repellent and long sleeves help. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| AurorasFeb–Mar, Sep–Oct · Needs clear sky and darkness; the fell top is the open viewpoint. | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Posio
Road 30 km (19 mi) to the Riisitunturi trailhead, then 3 km (1.9 mi) of gravel off the Posio–Tolva road; junction 3.5 km (2.2 mi) before Tolva. No public transport to the gate.Road 19 mi (30 km) to the Riisitunturi trailhead, then 1.9 mi (3 km) of gravel off the Posio–Tolva road; junction 2.2 mi (3.5 km) before Tolva. No public transport to the gate.
35–45 min
Open the page →
From Kuusamo
Nearest airport, about 54 km (34 mi) by road; taxi or rental car onward, or coach to Posio then a taxi.Nearest airport, about 34 mi (54 km) by road; taxi or rental car onward, or coach to Posio then a taxi.
1 h
Open the page →
From Rovaniemi
Daily coach to Posio along road 81, then taxi or your own car to the trailhead.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
From Tolva
Ski track from the village to the main entrance, 6.5 km (4 mi), maintained mid-Jan to late Apr from the Korpihilla Café car park.Ski track from the village to the main entrance, 4 mi (6.5 km), maintained mid-Jan to late Apr from the Korpihilla Café car park.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Kemijärvi
Nearest railway station, about 130 km (81 mi) by road; car needed for the last stretch.Nearest railway station, about 81 mi (130 km) by road; car needed for the last stretch.
2 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Riisitunturi fell and the main entrance | The fell above the treeline, the open wilderness hut, Ikkunalampi pond and the hanging bogs. | Open; 3 km (1.9 mi) gravel road from the Posio–Tolva road.Open; 1.9 mi (3 km) gravel road from the Posio–Tolva road. |
| Nuolivaara hills | The higher, rougher ground reached by the Riisin rietas extension, plus the general-purpose winter trail across Riisisuo. | Open; the winter trail is shared by skiers, walkers, fat bikes and dogsleds. |
| Karitunturi mire protection area | Open mire and old-growth forest south-west of the park, with the Ahmatupa hut and the day-trip hut on Iso Karitunturi. | Open; reached on foot or ski from Posio or Kirintövaara. |
| Noukavaara road | A road through the far end of the park between Noukavaara and Alimmainen Noukavaara. | In poor condition and not ploughed in winter; driving not recommended (check). |
Sketch map
- 1Riisitunturi trailhead (main entrance) · Gate≈66.228, 28.567End of the 3 km (1.9 mi) gravel road; approximate.End of the 1.9 mi (3 km) gravel road; approximate.Map ↗
- 2Riisitunturi Open Wilderness Hut · Sleep≈66.228, 28.567About 2 km (1.2 mi) along the marked trail from the trailhead and roughly 650 m north-east of the fell top; position approximate (check).About 1.2 mi (2 km) along the marked trail from the trailhead and roughly 650 m north-east of the fell top; position approximate (check).Map ↗
- 3Riisitunturi fell top · Summit≈66.233, 28.500Approximate; park coordinates from Wikidata.Map ↗
- 4Ikkunalampi pond · Viewpoint≈66.231, 28.530Approximate.Map ↗
- 5Karitunturi Ahmatupa Open Wilderness Hut · Sleep≈66.159, 28.300Map ↗
- 6Kirintövaara resort (Kirikeskus) · Sleep≈66.109, 28.288Map ↗
- 7Tolva village and Korpihilla Café · Village≈66.218, 28.709Map ↗
- 8Tykky café at the trailheads · Ranger station≈66.216, 28.586At the end of the gravel road by the park border; approximate.Map ↗
- 9Posio centre · Town≈66.067, 28.167Approximate.Map ↗
Take the points offline
9 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for orientation only; the park centre comes from Wikidata and the trailhead and hut points are rounded.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | Finnish national parks have no entrance fee; you pay only for parking, food and services. |
| Guided trips from Oulanka Visitor Centre | EUR 50 (≈ US$60) | group | 2026 estimate; that centre is 50–60 km away by road, and whether it runs trips into Riisitunturi is not confirmed (check). |
| Wilderness hotel Kirikeskus, 4-person room | EUR 135 (≈ US$160) | room | 2026 estimate; double room about €100, pet +€20, half board +€30 per person. |
| Open wilderness hut | Free | person | Free; no bedding, no electricity, wood stove only. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Fishing permit or guide
Camping at huts no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- €50≈ US$60
- €135≈ US$160
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Metsähallitus — Riisitunturi National Park before you go.
Park rules
- Entry
- No fee and no permit for walking, skiing or camping in the backcountry area.
- Camping
- No camping sites in the park; camp by the Riisitunturi and Karitunturi huts, or wild camp in the backcountry area only.
- Fires
- Open fire only at lean-to shelters and campfire sites, and never during a wildfire warning; a portable stove is allowed anywhere.
- Water
- Brook and lake water is not tested; boil it for a minute or two if unsure.
- Huts
- Open wilderness huts are free and shared — late arrivals may ask you to make room. No bedding, no mattresses, no electricity.
- Pets
- Not allowed in the Karitunturi Ahmatupa hut; check the rules for other huts and trails before bringing a dog (check).
- Off-trail
- Walking and skiing off the marked routes is allowed except in any restricted areas.
Where to stay
In the park
Riisitunturi Open Wilderness Hut
Free, wood stove, about 2 km (1.2 mi) along the trail from the trailhead and 650 m north-east of the fell top; no bedding.Free, wood stove, about 1.2 mi (2 km) along the trail from the trailhead and 650 m north-east of the fell top; no bedding.
In the park
Karitunturi Ahmatupa Open Wilderness Hut
Free, on the western slopes of Iso Karitunturi at the mire area border; gas stove, no pets.
In the park
Karitunturi Day Trip Hut
Former firewatcher hut on the top of Iso Karitunturi, for breaks rather than sleeping.
Near the park
Wilderness hotel Kirikeskus
Lakeside hotel and restaurant by Kirintövaara, about 15 km (9.3 mi) from the trailhead; canoes, boats and ski slopes.Lakeside hotel and restaurant by Kirintövaara, about 9.3 mi (15 km) from the trailhead; canoes, boats and ski slopes.
Near the park
Posio and Tolva
Posio has shops and cafés; Tolva has a taxi and the Korpihilla Café at the ski track start. Lodging in the villages is limited — check availability before relying on it (check).
Safety
Cold and short daylight in winter high
No phone coverage medium
Steep, rough ground medium
Remote location and slow rescue medium
Thin ice and spring thaw medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- There are no accessible trails or services for disabled visitors in the park.
- The nearest accessible visitor services are at the Oulanka Visitor Centre and Kuusamo customer service, 50–60 km (31–37 mi) away by road.The nearest accessible visitor services are at the Oulanka Visitor Centre and Kuusamo customer service, 31–37 mi (50–60 km) away by road.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on the marked routes in the hanging bogs; the mire surface is fragile and slow to recover.
- Use the dry toilets at the shelters and carry out all rubbish, including food waste.
- Keep fires to the official campfire sites and respect wildfire warnings.
- Do not break or shake rime-covered trees to get a photo; the tykky is the reason people come.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Riisitunturi National Park?
Nothing. Like other Finnish national parks, Riisitunturi has no entrance fee and no permit for walking, skiing or backcountry camping. You pay for transport, parking, food and any guided tour — the Oulanka Visitor Centre charges about €50 per group for guided trips (2026 estimate, check).
What are the best hikes in Riisitunturi National Park?
The 4.3 km Riisin Rääpäsy loop from the Riisitunturi trailhead is the one to do: the fell, the open wilderness hut, Ikkunalampi pond and the hanging bogs in 1.5–2.5 hours. Add the 10.7 km Riisin rietas extension to Nuolivaara if you want a harder half day, or walk the 33 km Riisitunturi trail from Posio to Tolva over two days using the huts.
When is the best time to visit Riisitunturi National Park?
February and March for the snow-loaded tykky trees and aurora nights, and September for ruska colours with few people. July and August are the busiest and the mosquito season; November is the worst month, with polar night, no maintained ski track and no snow base.
Can I get there without a car?
Only with effort. Coaches from Rovaniemi and Kuusamo run to Posio, but the trailhead is 30 km further on a gravel road with no public transport. From Tolva you can ski in on the 6.5 km track from mid-January to late April, and the village has a taxi.
Can I camp or sleep in the park?
There are no camping sites. You may camp by the Riisitunturi and Karitunturi huts, or wild camp in the backcountry area. The open wilderness huts are free and first-come, with a wood stove but no bedding, mattresses or electricity — carry a tent in peak summer.
Is Riisitunturi suitable for beginners?
The Riisin Rääpäsy loop is fine for most walkers in summer and often in winter. The longer routes are steep and rough, and the park is remote with patchy phone coverage and slow rescue, so treat winter trips as serious and go with someone experienced if you have no cold-weather background.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go