Ruuhitunturi Trail is a roughly 16.7 km point-to-point hiking route through Salla’s forest protection and fell scenery east of Sallatunturi, in Salla, Lapland. For national park rules, trail hubs, and seasonal guidance for this landscape, start with the Salla National Park material on Luontoon.fi. The parallel winte...
Luontoon.fi – Sallan kansallispuisto+
Description
Ruuhitunturi Trail is a roughly 16.7 km point-to-point hiking route through Salla’s forest protection and fell scenery east of Sallatunturi, in Salla, Lapland. For national park rules, trail hubs, and seasonal guidance for this landscape, start with the Salla National Park material on Luontoon.fi. The parallel winter line is published separately as Ruuhitunturin latu. In the Woods, Dear walks readers through Ruuhitunturi’s tykky forests, junctions, café, tower, and practical tips in a long on-the-ground article that complements the official pages.
The trail is about 16.7 km end to end. It is not a loop: you follow one continuous path through several distinct stretches—open fellsides, forested connectors, and mire edges—rather than returning to the same trailhead on the route itself. Walkers often budget most of a day, with time for breaks at shelters and at the fell top.
From the Hangasjärvi end, you soon pass Hangasjärven laavu Salla, a first chance to pause by the water. A few kilometres farther, Ämminpolun laavu, Tupien laavu, and TUPIEN JÄNKÄ, Luonnonilmiöiden havaintopaikka cluster near the old Sotka croft landscape—Karhulammen grillikatos and Sallatunturi frisbeegolf sit in the same resort outdoor belt beside Holiday Club Salla. This is the busy “village fringe” of the route before the trail climbs toward Ruuhitunturi itself.
Around 5 km from the start you reach Ruuhitunturin kahvila and Ruuhitunturin päivätupa with Lehtoaapa kota and dry toilet nearby—natural rest points before and after the steeper work toward the summit area. About 14.8 km along, Ruuhitunturi luontotorni crowns the open fell: the tower looks out over Sallatunturi’s slopes, distant fells, candle-shaped spruces in winter, and the mires that ring the hill.
The final kilometres drop toward mire and forest again, with Kontiolammen laavu and Tammakkolammen laavu along the shorelines and Upinlammen grillikatos near the eastern end of the trail. Where this route shares junctions with Ruuhitunturin kierros or Sallan pyöräilyreitti, you can shorten or extend a day by switching onto those networks instead of completing the full point-to-point hike.
Length & route
The trail is about 16.7 km as one continuous point-to-point route. In the same landscape, In the Woods, Dear discusses longer round-trip winter ski and walking variants around Ruuhitunturi (often quoted in the high teens of kilometres including approaches) and a separate short loop to the observation tower—use those figures only when you deliberately combine variants, not as the length of this route. Winter ski-track length and grooming on the parallel latu are described on Luontoon.fi.
Getting there
Most visitors reach the Sallatunturi and visitor-centre side of Salla by car, then walk or ski into the protection forests where the trail runs. For the national park’s general access rules, parking, and season-specific guidance, follow Metsähallitus material on Luontoon.fi. In winter, track grooming and which branches are open are easiest to confirm through Salla’s Infogis trail service and the Ruuhitunturin latu page.
Good to know
Expect mixed use where the route crosses busy resort and winter sports infrastructure: snowmobile routes and drone activity are mentioned by independent visitors near the café and tower area in peak season. Mobile coverage is often adequate on the main fellsides. For dogs, follow any national park and local leash rules stated on Luontoon.fi and on site.
Walkers usually travel the trail in the direction that matches their chosen trailhead; where the route meets Ruuhitunturin kierros, you can join or leave the circuit instead of completing the full point-to-point hike.
Route direction
National Park
Area
Recreation Area
Recreation Area
Lake
Lake
https://www.infogis.fi/salla/
Winter Maintenance
Winter ski and walking routes in this network are often described with blue paint markers on trees; always follow the symbols for the branch you intend to use where several tracks meet.
Route Signs
Open / Good Condition
Open / Good Condition
In the Woods, Dear – Ruuhitunturi, Salla
Activities allowed
Ski
Activity
Hike / Walk
Activity
Terrain & conditions
16.7 km
Distance
Typically about 5–8 hours on foot in summer conditions, depending on pace and time at Ruuhitunturin kahvila, Ruuhitunturin päivätupa, and Ruuhitunturi luontotorni.
Est. Time
Forest paths, duckboards and mire edges in places, and open fell slopes toward Ruuhitunturi luontotorni; expect steeper snow on the summit approach in winter.
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Answers to your questions
Our data was researched from Salla, 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.
Ruuhitunturi Trail is a roughly 16.7 km point-to-point hiking route through Salla’s forest protection and fell scenery east of Sallatunturi, in Salla, Lapland. For national park rules, trail hubs, and seasonal guidance for this landscape, start with the Salla National Park material on Luontoon.fi. The parallel winte...
Luontoon.fi – Sallan kansallispuisto+
Description
Ruuhitunturi Trail is a roughly 16.7 km point-to-point hiking route through Salla’s forest protection and fell scenery east of Sallatunturi, in Salla, Lapland. For national park rules, trail hubs, and seasonal guidance for this landscape, start with the Salla National Park material on Luontoon.fi. The parallel winter line is published separately as Ruuhitunturin latu. In the Woods, Dear walks readers through Ruuhitunturi’s tykky forests, junctions, café, tower, and practical tips in a long on-the-ground article that complements the official pages.
The trail is about 16.7 km end to end. It is not a loop: you follow one continuous path through several distinct stretches—open fellsides, forested connectors, and mire edges—rather than returning to the same trailhead on the route itself. Walkers often budget most of a day, with time for breaks at shelters and at the fell top.
From the Hangasjärvi end, you soon pass Hangasjärven laavu Salla, a first chance to pause by the water. A few kilometres farther, Ämminpolun laavu, Tupien laavu, and TUPIEN JÄNKÄ, Luonnonilmiöiden havaintopaikka cluster near the old Sotka croft landscape—Karhulammen grillikatos and Sallatunturi frisbeegolf sit in the same resort outdoor belt beside Holiday Club Salla. This is the busy “village fringe” of the route before the trail climbs toward Ruuhitunturi itself.
Around 5 km from the start you reach Ruuhitunturin kahvila and Ruuhitunturin päivätupa with Lehtoaapa kota and dry toilet nearby—natural rest points before and after the steeper work toward the summit area. About 14.8 km along, Ruuhitunturi luontotorni crowns the open fell: the tower looks out over Sallatunturi’s slopes, distant fells, candle-shaped spruces in winter, and the mires that ring the hill.
The final kilometres drop toward mire and forest again, with Kontiolammen laavu and Tammakkolammen laavu along the shorelines and Upinlammen grillikatos near the eastern end of the trail. Where this route shares junctions with Ruuhitunturin kierros or Sallan pyöräilyreitti, you can shorten or extend a day by switching onto those networks instead of completing the full point-to-point hike.
Length & route
The trail is about 16.7 km as one continuous point-to-point route. In the same landscape, In the Woods, Dear discusses longer round-trip winter ski and walking variants around Ruuhitunturi (often quoted in the high teens of kilometres including approaches) and a separate short loop to the observation tower—use those figures only when you deliberately combine variants, not as the length of this route. Winter ski-track length and grooming on the parallel latu are described on Luontoon.fi.
Getting there
Most visitors reach the Sallatunturi and visitor-centre side of Salla by car, then walk or ski into the protection forests where the trail runs. For the national park’s general access rules, parking, and season-specific guidance, follow Metsähallitus material on Luontoon.fi. In winter, track grooming and which branches are open are easiest to confirm through Salla’s Infogis trail service and the Ruuhitunturin latu page.
Good to know
Expect mixed use where the route crosses busy resort and winter sports infrastructure: snowmobile routes and drone activity are mentioned by independent visitors near the café and tower area in peak season. Mobile coverage is often adequate on the main fellsides. For dogs, follow any national park and local leash rules stated on Luontoon.fi and on site.
Walkers usually travel the trail in the direction that matches their chosen trailhead; where the route meets Ruuhitunturin kierros, you can join or leave the circuit instead of completing the full point-to-point hike.
Route direction
National Park
Area
Recreation Area
Recreation Area
Lake
Lake
https://www.infogis.fi/salla/
Winter Maintenance
Winter ski and walking routes in this network are often described with blue paint markers on trees; always follow the symbols for the branch you intend to use where several tracks meet.
Typically about 5–8 hours on foot in summer conditions, depending on pace and time at Ruuhitunturin kahvila, Ruuhitunturin päivätupa, and Ruuhitunturi luontotorni.
Est. Time
Forest paths, duckboards and mire edges in places, and open fell slopes toward Ruuhitunturi luontotorni; expect steeper snow on the summit approach in winter.
Be the first to write a review for "Ruuhitunturi Trail"
Share a photo from a recent trip
Answers to your questions
Our data was researched from Salla, 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.