Directions to Urho Kekkonen National Park

Urho Kekkonen National Park is located east of the Sodankylä-Ivalo road (road no. 4 / E75). The distance to the national park from Rovaniemi is 240 km and from Ivalo 30 - 50 km. The nearest airport is in Ivalo and the nearest railway station is in Rovaniemi.

To the Hiking Trails

The starting points for the hiking trails in the Saariselkä-Kiilopää and Tankavaara areas of the Urho Kekkonen National Park are close to the main road. Other starting points are at the parking areas of Aittajärvi, Raja-Jooseppi, Kemihaara and Haukijärvenoja (Nuortti hiking route).

By Bus to Urho Kekkonen National Park

There are buses (matkahuolto.fi) all year round from Rovaniemi to Kiilopää, Saariselkä and Tankavaara.

There are bus connections to Kiilopää and Saariselkä (eskelisen.fi) from flights arriving in Ivalo.

By Car to Urho Kekkonen National Park

Saariselkä parking area, Lutontie 10-12, Saariselkä (Inari). Space for 20 cars. Winter maintenance. There are public parking areas by Saariselkä Chapel and next to Laanilan Piispankivi, some spaces are reserved for corporate customers.

The starting gate of Kiilopää, Kiilopääntie 620, 99830 Saariselkä. Coordinates: WGS84 lat: 68° 20.7882'  lon: 27° 27.7299'.

Tankavaara parking area, Tankavaarantie 11 B, 99695 Tankavaara (Sodankylä). Space for 50 cars. During the winter maintenance period, the parking area is smaller.

Access to the Aittajärvi parking area: From the Saariselkä-Ivalo road (road no. 4) turn onto the easterly Kuutua forest road. Drive along the forest road for approximately 35 km. There are signs at a couple of intersections along the road that guide you to turn right towards Aittajärvi. Space for 50 cars. No winter maintenance. 

Raja-Jooseppi parking area, Rajajoosepintie (no. 91), approximately 42 km from Ivalo. The road diverges to the right three kilometres after the border guard station, before Raja-Joosepinvaara. The road is signposted. Space for 30 cars. No winter maintenance.

Haukijärvenoja parking area, approximately 93 km from Savukoski village centre. Drive on Tulppiontie (road no. 9671) for 80 km and from Tulppio turn left onto Rannisvaarantie. Space for 10 cars. There is no winter maintenance on Rannisvaarantie.

Kemihaara parking area, Korvatunturintie 1062, Savukoski. The distance is 107 km from Savukoski. From Savukoski village drive approximately 12 km (road no. 967), turn right (road no. 9671), before Tulppio turn onto Korvatunturintie (road no. 19512) towards Kemihaara. Space for 20 cars. Winter maintenance.

Please note that some of the roads are forest roads and you can ask about their condition from the customer service of Urho Kekkonen National Park.