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Aurora trail in Urho Kekkonen National Park

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  • Aurora dome
    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
    1:00 h
    23 m
    23 m
    303 m
    279 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.
    Difficulty
    easy
    Overall difficulty
    easy

    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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    Aurora, päivätupa

    Public transport

    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'

    Address: Lutontie 12, 99830 Saariselkä

    Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/dSLvyWa2ntx 

    Coordinates

    DD
    68.418440, 27.426561
    DMS
    68°25'06.4"N 27°25'35.6"E
    UTM
    35W 517509 7589578
    w3w 
    ///procreation.facing.rafted
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    Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

    Equipment

    Outdoor clothing and shoes suitable for walking are needed on the route, for example running shoes in summer.

    The trail is not lit, so it is advisable to take a flashlight for a winter walk. 


    Localization

    Parts of this content were machine translated using Finnish as the source language

    The most beautiful hikes in Urho Kekkonen National Park
    Finland › Lappi › Inari

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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.

    Distance
    2.2 km
    Duration
    1:00 h
    Ascent
    23 m
    Descent
    23 m
    Highest point
    303 m
    Lowest point
    279 m
    Round trip Family-friendly 'Healthy climate'

    Weather at the starting point

    10-day forecast

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