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Iisakkipää Nature Trail (6 km)

—•Hiking Trails

6 km

Route

P 1

Description

Luontoon.fi – Iisakkipää Nature Trail+

Description

For visitor rules, seasonal advice, and up-to-date information on this marked hike in Urho Kekkonen National Park, start from the Iisakkipää Nature Trail page on Luontoon.fi. The trail is about 6 km: a classic Saariselkä outing from the village into the UK park that climbs Iisakkipää fell and returns toward services near the gate. It runs through Inari in northern Lapland. You start from the busy Saariselkä trailhead zone near Lutontie—Retkipaikka’s Luontopolkumies walk used the spacious parking at Saariselän lähtöportti and crossed the ski track before the real climb. On our map the nearest car access is Saariselkä Parkkipaikka and Saariselkä Parkkipaikka 2 beside Santa's Hotel Tunturin kuntosali for orientation. Just after leaving the village edge you pass Karvaselän Kummituskämppä and Kelo-ojan kota, a day-use hut and Lapp kota that make an early shelter before the ascent. The path works through forest, then opens onto treeless fell shoulder above about 350 m with blueberry and dwarf birch terrain typical of Lapland. Retkipaikka highlights Pääsiäiskuru halfway round—a striking gorge—and a string of illustrated nature boards along the way. Taipaleita notes green trail markers and a mix of gravel tread, wooden steps, and natural path, with roughly ten information boards and an easy-to-moderate overall feel despite the climb. The high point is near 454 m on Iisakkipää with open views toward fells such as Kaunispää, Kiilopää, and the Nattaset group on clear days. The descent leg is shorter and steeper in places than the ascent in accounts that circled counter-clockwise up the south side. Near the finish you pass Aurora päivätupa - tapahtumatupa, Aurora tulentekopaikka, and Aurora liiteri-käymälä: a day-hut cluster with an indoor fireplace space, outdoor fire ring, woodshed, and dry toilet—read more about booking and day-use rules on our Aurora päivätupa - tapahtumatupa page, and confirm reservable spaces on Luontoon.fi. Winter travel is popular; Luontoon.fi may recommend snowshoes in snow while some visitors report managing in sturdy boots when snow is firm. Fatbikes share sections with other resort trails, so expect occasional riders where routes coincide. If you mainly want wheels, Saariselän maastopyöräilyreitit uses overlapping parking near the village. Pack wind layers for the summit even in summer; breeze on the fell top cools quickly.

Length & route

The trail is about 6 km. Visitor write-ups often quote about 6.7–6.8 km for similar summit-and-return loops from Saariselän lähtöportti with the same character; small gaps are rounding and which connectors are counted in each GPS trace. The route gains on the order of 160 m from the Luttu river crossing to the fell top in visitor trip descriptions, with the summit near 454 m above sea level.

Getting there

Drive or walk to the Saariselkä national-park gate area on Lutontie: Retkipaikka and Taipaleita both treat the Iisakkipää walk as starting from Saariselän lähtöportti (Lutontie 12) with large parking, then crossing the ski track toward the forest climb. Matkalla Missä Milloinkin likewise anchors the longer Iisakkipää circuit to the main gate parking and notes it can fill on busy winter days. On our map use Saariselkä Parkkipaikka and Saariselkä Parkkipaikka 2 beside Santa's Hotel Tunturin kuntosali at Lutontie 3, 99830. Buses from Ivalo and Rovaniemi serve Saariselkä village a short distance away.

Good to know

National-park rules apply from the gate. Luontoon.fi may advise snowshoes in deep soft snow even if packed routes feel fine in boots after cold spells. If you plan to use reservable Aurora päivätupa - tapahtumatupa spaces, confirm current booking rules on Luontoon.fi.

Managed by

Inari

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Either direction on the marked circuit; one common pattern is to climb the gentler southern flank and descend the shorter, steeper northern leg, as described in trip reports.

Route direction

green

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Retkipaikka – Iisakkipään polku Saariselällä (Luontopolkumies)

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

6 km

Distance

about 2–3 hours moving steadily; allow longer for photography and hut breaks

Est. Time

Dirt / Gravel

Surface

Single Track, Wide Track

Route Type

Partial Shade

Shade

Location

68.42253°N, 27.42850°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

LaplandRegion

InariCity

SaariselkäVillage

Hiking TrailsCategory

Explore nearby

Santa's Hotel Tunturin kuntosali

201 m

Laanila summer trail

491 m

Free

Inarin moottorikelkkaurat

254 m

Free

Latu Välimaa-Vahtamapää

418 m

Free

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Inari, and other trusted sources, in March 2026. Our route / place GPX data comes from Metsähallitus / Lipas, last updated March 2026. Always check their official website for safety-critical updates.

Finland Lapland Inari Hiking TrailsIisakkipää Nature Trail (6 km)

Iisakkipää Nature Trail (6 km)6 km

Route

P 1

Parking 1

0.0 km|Free

Saariselkä Parkkipaikka 2

0.0 km|Free

Free Parking

Saariselkä Parkkipaikka

0.0 km|Free

Free Parking

Karvaselän Kummituskämppä

0.4 km|Free

Kelo-ojan kota

0.4 km|Free

Aurora päivätupa - tapahtumatupa

5.7 km|Free

Description

Luontoon.fi – Iisakkipää Nature Trail+

Description

Length & route

Getting there

Good to know

Managed by

Inari

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Location

Either direction on the marked circuit; one common pattern is to climb the gentler southern flank and descend the shorter, steeper northern leg, as described in trip reports.

Route direction

green

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Retkipaikka – Iisakkipään polku Saariselällä (Luontopolkumies)