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Aurora dome
Photo: Heini Koivuniemi, Metsähallitus
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The Aurora walking trail near the center of Saariselkä takes the traveler directly into the embrace of nature in Urho Kekkonen National Park all year round.
easy
Distance 2.2 km
Duration1:00 h
Ascent23 m
Descent23 m
Highest point303 m
Lowest point279 m
On the Aurora trail, there is an opportunity to enjoy the midnight sun and the nightless night. On the route, you can feel the touch of winter nature and the atmosphere of the polar night. In clear weather, there is also the possibility to gaze at the northern starry sky or admire the wonderful northern lights. The trail guides the traveler to experience the dim northern coniferous forest and to see the headwaters of the Lutto River. The shelter along the trail provides excellent facilities for nature observation, protecting from frost, snowstorms, rain, and mosquitoes.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
303 m
Lowest point
279 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Track types
Dirt road 100%
Dirt road
2.2 km
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Safety information
The trail is easy to walk and well marked. The route is kept open in winter by plowing and sanding, but caution is advised on slippery conditions.
Tips and suggestions
More information about Urho Kekkonen National Park and its routes is available on the Luontoon.fi website.
Tips for hiking in Finnish conditions can be found on the Luontoon.fi website, in the Hiking ABC section.
Explore the nightless night and the polar night with the northern lights through the Aurora trail story.
Roadbook
The Aurora trail starts at the Saariselkä starting gate of the national park. The circular trail runs along the side of the fell gorge east of the Lutto River. It is recommended to allow at least one hour to complete the year-round open Aurora trail. The total length of the trail is 2.1 km. The trail is also suitable for walking with children. The trail is gravelled but due to elevation changes it is not suitable for wheelchair users. The trail can be walked in both directions.
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Near the starting point of the route at the Saariselkä tourist center, there are daily bus connections from Rovaniemi and Ivalo. Current bus timetables can be viewed on the Matkahuolto website.
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Aurora trail in Urho Kekkonen National Park
Parking
Saariselkä starting gate in the northern part of the park, along highway E75
Coordinates: WGS84 lat:68° 25.0989' and lon: 27° 25.6173'
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The Aurora walking trail near the center of Saariselkä takes the traveler directly into the embrace of nature in Urho Kekkonen National Park all year round.
Difficulty
easy
Overall difficulty
easy
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
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