What's Currently Happening in Arctic Circle Hiking Area
Welcome to celebrate Lapland's first hiking area in Vaattunkiköngäs!
(Published 9th of September 2024)
In June 2024, the Arctic Circle Hiking Area became the sixth official hiking area in Finland and the first official hiking area in Lapland. The opening of the hiking area will be celebrated in a public event in Vaattunkiköngäs in Rovaniemi on Wednesday 18 September at 4 p.m.
The locally popular Vaattunkiköngäs brings together activities organised by associations and companies operating in the hiking area. The day’s celebrations include husky rides (the company charges a nominal fee from the participants), whitewater rafting and paddling, advice on hiking and mushroom picking, and simply enjoying the magnificent local nature by a campfire. Dance students from Rovaniemi will also put up forest-themes performances along the trail. You can bring your own snacks to eat around the campfire. Sausages will be served at the event.
The official opening ceremony will be held at Vaattungin Kämppäkartano at 6 p.m. The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah, the Director General of Metsähallitus, and the representative of Visit Rovaniemi share their thoughts on the newly official Arctic Circle Hiking Area and future opportunities. Participants also get to see song and dance performances.
Free bus transport to the opening ceremony is available from Pilke. If you wish to take the free transport, register in advance. Bus transports depart at 15:15, 16:15 and 16:30. The buses return from Vaattunkiköngäs at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. The area is not accessible to private cars due to parking space issues.
Register for the event and transportation:
- Bus #1 at 15:15: https://www.lyyti.fi/reg/bussikuljetus1/
- Bus #2 at 16:15: https://www.lyyti.fi/reg/bussikuljetus2/
- Bus #3 at 16:30: https://www.lyyti.fi/reg/bussikuljetus3/
Bus transports can accommodate the first 50 registrations per bus.
PLEASE NOTE: It is not possible to come with your own car! The Vaattunkiköngäs parking area will be out of use on Wednesday 18 September 2024. Hikers can use the Makialampi parking area which is located at the junction of Vaattunkiköngäs along Highway 4.
What will change when the hiking area becomes official?
The establishment of an official hiking area will enable the long-term development of the area's hiking and recreational use and nature tourism as well as the reconciliation of different forms of forest use. The development of the hiking areas and the hiking area brand is part of the implementation of the National Nature Recreation Strategy. The other hiking areas in Finland are Kylmäluoma, Iso-Syöte, Ruunaa, Oulunjärvi and Evo. The primary purpose of national parks is nature conservation. The aim of developing hiking areas is to respond to the growing demand for nature tourism and to offer versatile opportunities for hiking and recreation without putting an unreasonable burden on individual nature sites.