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Vasapolku

—•Hiking Trails

1.3 km

Route

P 1

Description

Luontoon.fi – The story of Ukselmapään Elska+

Description

The trail sits in Urho Kekkonen National Park on the Kiilopää side of Saariselkä, in Inari in Lapland. For how the national park frames the Vasapolku gnome trail and the character Ukselmapään Elska, start with Luontoon.fi. The Metsähallitus Vasapolku brochure lists difficulty, timing, elevation change, and the themed facilities at the end of the loop. Johanna on Outdoor Family describes walking it with small children and what the boards and play area feel like on the ground. The trail is about 1.3 km and forms a short loop on the lower slopes of Ahopää near Kiilo-oja. It is aimed at families and anyone who enjoys light, playful nature tasks: along the way, boards invite you to watch, listen, and compare what you see to fell-side plants and animals, in the spirit of Ukselmapään Elska. The loop takes roughly an hour at an easy pace. At about 1.2 km along the route you reach Kiilo-oja tulipaikka, where the brochure places a campfire spot, a woodshed, and a small climbing play area meant for moving “like a bear cub”. The path is gravelled and easy underfoot, with only a small height difference overall. The same Kiilopää yard holds practical services before or after your walk. Kiilopää pysäköintialue offers parking, Suomen Latu Kiilopää - Kahvila & Ravintola runs the café and restaurant, and Kiilopään uimapaikka and Kiilopään Kuurakaltio add swimming and winter-swimming options beside Kiilopään frisbeegolfrata if you want to combine the outing with other activities. From this trailhead you can also step onto longer marked routes in the park, including Ahopää and Poropolku, for a fuller day in the fells.

Length & route

The trail is about 1.3 km as one loop on our map. Metsähallitus rounds the distance to about 1 km on paper and quotes roughly 15 m of height difference and about one hour at an easy pace. Luontoon.fi describes it as a one-kilometre themed gnome trail on Kiilopää with nature observation tasks along the way. Activities listed for the route include walking, snowshoeing when snow allows, and nature watching.

Getting there

Vasapolku starts from the smaller Kiilopää departure area on the Kiilo-oja side of the Suomen Latu Kiilopää yard at Kiilopääntie 620, Saariselkä, within Urho Kekkonen National Park. By car from Highway 4 (E75), turn east at Kakslauttanen onto Kiilopääntie; it is about 6 km from that junction to the Kiilopää centre courtyard. Long-distance buses and airport shuttles serve Kiilopää (Inari); Ivalo Airport is about 46 km north. Use Kiilopää pysäköintialue when you arrive by car.

Good to know

Urho Kekkonen is a national park: follow Metsähallitus rules for campfires, litter, and protecting vegetation and wildlife. Weather on the fell can be windy and changeable; dress in layers and carry a small snack if you plan to use the fireplace and play area at the end.

Managed by

Inari

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Walk the loop in either direction; it is a short ring trail.

Route direction

National Park

Area

Marked Route

Route Signs

Stroller Friendly

Accessibility

Open / Good Condition

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

1.3 km

Distance

about 1 hour

Est. Time

Gravel-based path with gentle slopes; easy walking and suitable for sturdy pushchairs where the surface allows.

Surface

Loop, Single Track

Route Type

Partial Shade

Shade

Light Traffic

Traffic

Metsähallitus – Vasapolku trail brochure (PDF)+

Location

68.34594°N, 27.46099°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

LaplandRegion

InariCity

SaariselkäVillage

Hiking TrailsCategory

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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 TrailsVasapolku