Winter is a great time to go on a hike – just make sure you have the right gear and attitude. In Ruka-Kuusamo, you can head to a winter wonderland on snowshoes or skinbased skis with a guide or by renting equipment for a self-organised trip.
On snowshoes or skinbased skis, you can reach the river valleys of Oulanka National Park, the peaks of Riisitunturi fell, the ridge scenery of Hossa National Park and the peaks of Rukatunturi, Valtavaara, Konttainen and Pyhävaara along marked trails.
Walking is allowed in Kuusamo centre on the edge of the Ympäryslatu circular ski trail along the route Kolvankijoki bridge – Sports centre – Kirkkosaari bridge – Tolpanniementie.
Walking is allowed in Ruka on Vuosseli outdoor trail and also on the Talvijärvi dog trail if the dog trail runs as a separate ski trail next to the actual ski trail tracks.
These ski trail sections have clear signs regarding walking on the trail.
Vuosseli ski trail around Ruka's Vuosselijärvi and Rokova area will be turned into a year-round multi-purpous outdoor trail, and the multi-use will be tested during spring 2023. In addition to skiing, you can ride a fatbike and walk on the route, and temporary signs have been installed on the route. In the testing phase, experiences are gathered both in the use and maintenance of the route. Each mode of transport is assigned its own "lanes" and the joint responsibility of route users is emphasized.
Joint use will be successful with a positive attitude towards the multi-use of the route and respect for other users. However, during the testing phase, the modes of transportation are limited so that only skiing is allowed on the section between the newest underpass and Uuttusuo. On the rest of the route, in addition to skiing, you can ride a fatbike and walk.
In the Vuosseli outdoor trail project, the city of Kuusamo invested in Ruka to convert Vuosseli's old skitrail into a year-round outdoor trail with the support of the European Rural Development Fund managed by the North Ostrobothnia ELY Center. The approved funding for the project is 819 896 €, divided as follows: EU 344 356 €, State 299 571 € and the city of Kuusamo 245 969 €. The three-year project will be completed in 2023.
About the route project: Pasi Rääpysjärvi, tel. 040 860 8039.
Skinbased skis are fairly short and wide skis with strips of synthetic hair underfoot to add grip. Skinbased skis glide when you are going forward and provide grip when the ski would otherwise glide back, such as when climbing up a hill. Skinbased skis have bindings that are like snowshoes, which means you can use regular, sturdy winter shoes with skinbased skis. As getting around with skinbased skis is gliding, similar to skiing, you will also need ski poles with wide baskets when heading out.
Many who enjoy the great outdoors on skinbased skis prefers high-ankled neoprene boots that provide support when moving about in hilly places, because the support from the shoe helps when heading downhill. Skinbased skis are excellent when you are heading out at a time when there is already some snow and it’s fairly dry. In places with little snow and damp snow (e.g. when water rises above a lake’s icy surface), skinbased skis are not at their best, because the hair freezes and gets scratched eaily.
If you are hiking with dogs, skinbased skis are a great choice because the trail they provide is consistent, when compared to individual, deep steps formed by snowshoes. It’s easy for your dog to follow you when you are on your skinbased skis.
Snowshoes and skinbased skis open up the access to the trails of Oulanka, Riisitunturi and Hossa National Parks as well as the trails of Rukatunturi, Valtavaara, Konttainen and Pyhävaara.
Snowshoe trails in Ruka area as well as to Konttainen, Kiutaköngäs and Myllykoski can usually be accessed by foot during winter except of heavy snowfall and during melting snow cover in springtime. These trails are not maintained by groomers.
Lammintupa Fatbike Trail is a multi-purpose trail, available for fatbikers and walkers alike. This trail is maintained by groomer. Dogs are allowed on this trail except at Lammintupa Winter Village area (due to Lammintupa's own husky and reindeer farm).
