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Tankavaara Geological Trail

—•Hiking Trails

6.4 km

Route

P 1

Description

Luontoon.fi – Tankavaara's Geological Trail+

Description

Tankavaara Geological Trail is about 6.4 km of hiking in the Tankavaara area of Urho Kekkonen National Park in Sodankylä, Lapland. For the official trail description, maps, and national park service updates, start with Tankavaara's Geological Trail on Luontoon.fi. Visit Sodankylä ties a visit to the Gold Prospector Museum in Tankavaara with this trail, quoting about 7 km where you can learn how local rocks relate to gold in the landscape. The hike climbs through forest onto the slopes of Pikku-Tankavaara; trip writers describe a spur onto Jorpulipää with views toward the Nattaset fells and geology-themed information boards along the way. About 2.8 km along you reach Koiranjuomalammen laavu on the shore of Koiranjuomalampi; dry toilets sit a few steps from the lean-to at Koiranjuomalampi käymälä. Later, Tankavaaran luontopolun tulipaikka and Tankavaaran luontopolku tulipaikka 2 offer campfire spots, Tankavaaran luontopolun kota is a kota shelter, and Tankavaaran lintutorni gives a raised vantage for birdwatching over the surrounding forest and fells. You pass Tankavaara Gold Disc Golf very close to the beginning of the route from the main parking direction. The trail is marked with tall wooden posts bearing a pine cone symbol. Much of the return is described as sharing the way with Kuukkeli nature trail, Tankavaara, and you can shorten the day with the Urpiainen nature trail (1 km), Tankavaara or weave in other marked loops such as Koppelo Nature Trail, Tankavaara from the same trailhead area. Tankavaaran luontokeskus by the trail network is a summer visitor facility; Urho Kekkonen National Park visitor service year-round is handled from the Kiehinen service point in Saariselkä. Jonna Saari’s Retkipaikka article from an autumn–winter hike is worth reading for atmosphere along Koiranjuomalampi and practical notes on snow, light, and pacing. Kohteena maailma walked Geologinen polku as part of a longer Kuukkeli combination of about 12 km and comments frankly on rocky footing and duckboard maintenance in places.

Length & route

The trail is about 6.4 km along the prepared line. Tourism copy sometimes rounds to about 7 km for the full day circuit. Expect forest footpaths that steepen into rockier, rootier stretches on the climbs; one independent trip report found duckboard sections wet and uneven in places and noted maintenance issues on some boardwalks in 2018. Marking is on wooden posts with a pine cone symbol rather than a single paint colour. Hikers often describe clockwise travel and a segment shared with Kuukkeli nature trail, Tankavaara.

Getting there

Tankavaara sits on Finnish national road 4 (E75) about 30 km south of Saariselkä and roughly 100 km north of Sodankylä town. Day visitors commonly leave cars at Tankavaara pysäköintialue beside the Tankavaara visitor hub and gold-village services; the geometric start is on the trail line near that parking cluster. The Gold Prospector Museum and restaurant cluster are part of the same roadside destination as the nature trails. For winter national park questions when Tankavaaran luontokeskus is closed, Metsähallitus directs year-round service through Kiehinen in Saariselkä.

Good to know

Normal Finnish national park rules apply: stay on marked routes, respect restricted seasons or zones if posted, and follow any campfire guidance shown on site or on Luontoon.fi. Firewood availability at lean-tos can vary by season; check current notices before lighting a fire. Snow and limited daylight add challenge from late autumn onward; Retkipaikka describes snowshoes or careful timing as sensible for winter attempts.

Managed by

Sodankylä

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Sources often describe hiking clockwise.

Route direction

National Park

Area

Marked Route

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Activities allowed

Bike

Activity

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

6.4 km

Distance

About 2–4 hours depending on stops, photos, and snow underfoot.

Est. Time

Dirt

Surface

Loop, Single Track

Route Type

Partial Shade

Shade

Light Traffic

Traffic

Location

68.17769°N, 27.09713°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

LaplandRegion

SodankyläCity

TankavaaraVillage

Hiking TrailsCategory

Explore nearby

Tankavaara Gold Disc Golf

326 m

Free

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Sodankylä, 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 Sodankylä Hiking TrailsTankavaara Geological Trail