recommended route
Könkään keino Trail 8 km, Oulanka National Park
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Kiutaköngäs springflood in Oulanka National ParkPhoto: Veera Vihervaara, Ruka Kuusamo
Enjoyable day-hike through the herb-rich forests, pine heats and mires in beautiful Oulanka National Park. The highlight of this trail is the flowing waters of Kiutaköngäs rapids.
The River Oulankajoki has been carving its way through the sandy riverbanks for thousands of years. Könkään keino trail takes you to the ancient riverside route with a beautiful view towards the wide river valley.
The recommended direction for this circle trail is anti-clockwise, so that Kiutaköngäs rapids with its rusty red cliffs will crown your hike.
First section of the trail follows the same trail as Hiiden hurmos trail and you will be able to enjoy a large variety of different sceneries. The dry, light-filled pine heaths change into mires, and from mires into lush herb-rich forests. There are some altitude differences and duckboards along the trail, but in general the trail is wide and easy to walk on. The last section of the trail follows the legendary Karhunkierros trail back towards Oulanka Visitor Centre.
Along the trail you can spot the observation tower by a former reindeer roundup enclosure, enjoy the charming, rich green forest of Merenoja stream and have a break at Merenoja campfire site or in the sheltered rest spot in Kiutaköngäs.
- Trail is marked with green paint signs.
Author’s recommendation
No waste bins along the trail. Please carry all your waste with you and do not litter.
Track types
Safety information
Instruction and rules of Oulanka National Park can be read in nationalparks.fi.
Tips and hints
- Read more about Könkään keino trail and other trails in Oulanka National from nationalparks.fi
Start
Note
Public transport
No regular public transport connection to Oulanka Visitor Centre. Read more about getting to Oulanka Visitor Centre with public transportation from nationalparks.fi.
Getting there
Getting to Oulanka Visitor Centre by car:
- There are road signposts from Kuusamo, Ruka and Kemijärvi to the visitor centre.
- From Kuusamo: take road E5 towards Kemijärvi for 38 km, and turn right onto road 950, going to Salla. Drive 7 km to Käylä. From Käylä, turn onto road 8693 going to Liikasenvaara. The Visitor Centre is 13 km from Käylä. There are signposts to the Visitor Centre (Oulangan luontokeskus) from the Käylä intersection on road E5.
- From Kemijärvi: take road E5 towards Kuusamo for 96 km and turn left onto Räväntie road (to Käylä). Drive 8 km to Käylä village, go straight to Liikasenvaarantie road (8693) and drive 13 km to the Visitor Centre.
Parking
Spacious parking area in front of the visitor centre, no parking fee.Coordinates
Equipment
Dress according to the weather and pack your packback with some water and snacks.
Statistics
- 2 Waypoints
- 2 Waypoints
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