Salla Lapland – Kaunisharju Trail and Aurora Viewpoint

Outdoors // 17 April 2024

The hiking trails in the Salla area take you through the forests and fells of the national park. Most of Salla's trails are easy to hike due to the large number of duckboards.

The trails of Salla lead to the northern old-growth forests and fell landscapes. Finland's newest national park, Salla National Park, offers easily accessible hikes and trails, along with a touch of history.

The Salla area lies in the Southern Lapland forest and mire zone. Salla's forests consist of ancient moss-covered candle spruce trees and pine trees with thick bark plates. Quiet marshes and ponds spread around the ridges and mountains.

The Kaunisharjun kierros Trail runs through Salla National Park and the old-growth forest conservation area. The wilderness-like Kaunisharju consists of two adjacent ridges, the southern Kauniinhaudanharju and the northern Hanhiharju.

Nestled at the root of Sallatunturi fell, the Kaunisharju Trail is an 11-kilometer day route suitable for hiking, trail running, and especially fat biking, and in winter, skiing as well.

Salla Hiking Trails

Salla National Park extends mainly to the east and north of the Salla-Kuusamo road (Road 950), while vast forest conservation areas open up to the west and south of the road.

The hiking trails in the Salla area take you through the forests and fells of the national park. Most of Salla's trails are easy to hike due to the large number of duckboards. Therefore, the trails are suitable for short day trips and beginners.

Marked trails in the Salla National Park area include Sallatunturi’s Taivaan tavoittelijan taival Trail, Kaunisharjun kierros Trail, Kolmiloukkosen kierros Trail, and Pahakurun kierros Trail.

From the Salla Visitor Centre, you can access the forest conservation area, where trails such as Ruuhitunturin kierros Trail run. From Ruuhitunturi fell, you can continue to Aikkipetsi via Topsakantaival Trail. The popular nearby trail Ämmin polku Trail is an easy and short day hike.

The well-known UKK Trail also passes through the Sallatunturit. On the northern side, the UKK Trail leads to the Tuntsa wilderness area, considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. The route from the starting point of Karhunkierros Bear’s Trail in Salla's Hautajärvi and Napapiiri to Salla is called Topsakantaival Trail.

Kaunisharju Nature Observation Point

The Kaunisharju Nature Observation Point in Salla National Park is a great destination for seeing the Northern Lights, the starry sky, and the midnight sun. From the ridge shaped by the Ice Age, which is almost 300 meters above sea level, breathtaking views unfold over the spruce and pine forests. In the background rise the peaks of Sallatunturi fells, Pieni Pyhätunturi, and Iso Pyhätunturi, also known as the Taivaan tavoittelijan taival Trail.

The Kaunisharju Viewing Point is located right by Hautajärventie road (Road 950) north of Lake Kolmiloukkonen in Salla. It can be found on Google Maps under the names "Kaunisharjun luonnonilmiöiden havainnointipaikka" and " Kaunisharjun levähdyspaikka".

At the rest area, there is a long stretch for parking, suitable for even bigger vans. Information boards and a large map of Sallatunturi are available, as well as a shelter with tables.

A little further at the actual Kaunisharju Nature Observation Point, right on the edge of the ridge, there is a new and modern shelter. There are no dry toilets or fireplaces at the rest area or the viewing point. Making fires is also prohibited at Kaunisharju.

Kaunisharjun kierros Trail

The length of the Kaunisharju Trail is approximately 11 km (6.8 miles), depending on the starting point. The trail is mostly wide and easy to walk. In winter, there is an illuminated ski track along the Kaunisharju route.

The starting point of the Kaunisharjun kierros Trail is marked at the Fell Center (Tunturikeskus), and maps are available at the Salla Visitor Centre. However, you can access the trail more quickly by crossing the road directly from the Visitor Centre. You can also descend directly to the trail from the Kaunisharju Nature Observation Point via stairs.

Along the Kaunisharju Trail, there are two new lean-to shelters and fireplaces, the Kaunisharju lean-to shelter and the Tunturilampi lean-to shelter. Most of the Kaunisharjun kierros Trail runs within Salla National Park, with only the portion on the west side of Sukkajänkkä mire falling outside the park.

Biking is allowed and popular on the Kaunisharju route. The recommended direction is counterclockwise. Trail markings can be confusing in some places.

The Kaunisharju Nature Observation Point in Salla National Park is a great destination for seeing the Northern Lights, the starry sky, and the midnight sun. From the ridge shaped by the Ice Age, which is almost 300 meters above sea level, breathtaking views unfold over the spruce and pine forests.

Kaunisharjun kierros Trail - Route Description

I hiked the Kaunisharju Trail clockwise in two parts. In between I hiked to the top of Sallatunturi (Pieni Pyhätunturi) and the Taivaan tavoittelijan taival Trail (Iso Pyhätunturi), as well as the Pahakurun kierros Trail. I set off from the Visitor Centre, under the big sign for Salla Reindeer Park.

From the Visitor Centre, you walk a couple of hundred meters and cross Hautajärventie road. A hundred-meter connecting path leads to the Kaunisharjun kierros Trail.

The landscape throughout the trail is quite similar: a wide path amidst pine and spruce forests. There are plenty of trail markers, red UKK signs on tree trunks, directional signs at many turns, and even some icons pointing into the woods. It quickly becomes evident that the Kaunisharju Trail is popular for fat biking.

A wooden bridge crosses a stream, with the planks beautifully weathered. At Sukkajänkkä bog, there is some mud, and if your shoes aren't waterproof, they'll get wet. A passing couple inquires whether the entire route is as wet – as in Salla, even dry areas are typically covered with duckboards.

Officially, the Kaunisharjun kierros Trail loops right from the base of Sallatunturi fell. I missed about two kilometers of illuminated exercise track as I passed by Sukkajänkkä bog.

The northwest corner of the Kaunisharjun kierros Trail intersects various paths, and it can be challenging to discern the correct route. When the trail becomes overgrown and resembles more of a forest work road, you might start to doubt if you've strayed off the path.

However, a sign for the Tunturilampi lean-to shelter reveals that at least the trail leads to the right place. The orange glow of a bog looks magnificent after the forest. At the same time, you arrive at a T-junction by a gravel road. Turning left leads to the Tunturikeskus fell center and the road to Sallatunturi fell, while turning right, the Tunturilampi lean-to shelter awaits 500 meters away.

The Tunturilampi lean-to shelter has recently been rebuilt. Now, there are two modernly designed shelters adorned with capercaillie motifs facing each other. There are also two fireplaces. The dry toilets have been renovated as well, and the gray woodshed looks traditional.

The shelters are not located right by the water. It's worth taking a few steps along the wide duckboard trail to reach Tunturilampi – the pond and the towering Iso Pyhätunturi fell behind it might offer the most beautiful scenery on the Kaunisharjun kierros Trail, excluding the Kaunisharju viewing point.

From Tunturilampi pond, the trail continues towards the Kaunisharju lean-to shelter, a distance of 3.2 kilometers according to the sign. While the trail is still lined with streetlights, the forest is more moss-covered, and the scenery is more beautiful. You might even see plenty of reindeer.

In the forest, the low undergrowth and other vegetation are as abundant as in the Tuntsa wilderness area. In autumn, it looks like colorful carpets have been spread under the trees. Kontiokangas forest area is the highlight of the trail.

Midway through, you reach an intersection (which isn't even on the map). According to the sign, you turn right uphill towards the lean-to shelter, then ascend the ridge, and descend again. The trail is somewhat messy. Long duckboards have been laid over a nonexistent ditch.

The last stretch before the lean-to shelter follows the edge of a bog in the forest. Then you turn right and reach the edge of an open bog. You can cross the bog using duckboards.

The Kaunisharju lean-to shelter is similar to the Tunturilampi lean-to shelter, with a black capercaillie motif. The woodshed is located near the shelter, with the dry toilets a little further away. A path leads left to a staircase, from where you can reach the Kaunisharju viewing point.

The final section is along a very wide ski track, which turns into what looks like a forest road in the last few meters. There are piles of loose rocks and dead branches on the sides of the trail. From the last junction, it's a 400-meter walk back to the Visitor Centre.

Salla National Park

Salla National Park, which celebrated its opening in the summer of 2022, is Finland's newest and 41st national park. The renovation work on routes and structures is well underway but still partially incomplete.

There are plenty of new trails, lean-to shelters, day huts, and especially duckboards and graveling in Salla National Park and its surrounding areas. The guidelines and rules for the national park are still being finalized. For up-to-date information, you can inquire at the Salla Visitor Centre.