In winter, Ruuhitunturi fell in Salla Lapland shows you the magic of the crown-snow forests. The Ruuhitunturi lookout tower offers beautiful views of the fells and hills, candle trees and open mires. The Ruuhitunturi trail in winter is a great cross-country skiing trail. You can also reach the top of Ruuhitunturi fell by foot and fat bike.
Salla National Park and the Salla area are part of a cohesive zone of protected areas and other special sites of ecological value. The Oulanka National Park in Kuusamo belongs to the same zone. Salla's forests are characterised by old candle fir trees and age old pines with thick trunks.
Salla area and Salla National Park - routes
Salla's trails lead to the northern ancient forests, fells and hills all year round. Salla National Park has new and comprehensive hiking facilities and easily accessible routes.
Salla National Park extends mostly to the east and north of the Salla-Kuusamo road (road 950), with extensive forest reserves to the west and south of the road.
Signposted routes in the Salla National Park area include the Sallatunturi Taivaan Tavoittelijan Taival Trail, Kaunisharju Trail, Kolmiloukkonen Trail and Pahakurun kierros Trail.
The Visitor Centre (formerly Reindeer Park) provides access to the forest protection area, which includes the Ruuhitunturi trail, the Topsakantaival Trail to Aikkipetsi hut and the popular local Ämmi Trail.
Salla's winter trails include ski trails, snowshoe trails and winter biking routes. Sallatunturi Taivaan Tavoittelijan Taival Trail in winter is a snowshoe or walking route, Sallatunturi (Pieni Pyhätunturi) has a winter walking route, Kaunisharju Trail in winter is cross-country skiing track, Tunturin ympäri Trail is cross-country skiing track, and Pahakuru Trail is for winter biking. These are located in Salla National Park.
On the west side of the road, the more wilderness-like winter routes (cross-country skiing) are the Ruuhitunturi Trail and the Kalliojärvi Trail. Ruuhitunturi and the short Kolmiloukkonen Trail are also accessible on foot and fat bike.
Ruuhitunturi circuit trail
The Ruuhitunturi circuit trail is approximately 17.5 km to 19 km long (around 11 miles), calculated from the ski map. On top of that, there is the distance between the ring trail and the starting point and, if you wish, a loop of about 1.5 km to the Ruuhitunturi fell observation tower.
- Kaira Cafe - Ruuhitunturi fell 7,5 km
- Tunturikeskus Ski Centre - Ruuhitunturi and visit to the top of Ruuhitunturi fell 8,7 km
- Ruuhitunturi - Siskellampi Lappish hut - Visitor Centre 10,5 km
- Ruuhitunturi observation tower 1,5 km
The starting point for the Ruuhitunturi tour is at the Tunturikeskus Ski Centre all year round. You can also start from the Visitor Centre to Ruuhitunturi - walking in summer and skiing in winter. Maps are available from the Salla Visitor Centre.
In winter, you can ski the Ruuhitunturi circuit on a maintained ski track. The winter walking and biking trail is a one-way route between the Tunturikeskus Ski Centre and Ruuhitunturi fell. The walking and cycling trail is just under 7 km in one direction.
Along the Ruuhitunturi winter trail there are several lean-to shelters and huts. Ruuhitunturi has a café and a day hut near the top, as well as a lookout tower at the top. The Ruuhitunturi café is open in spring as a ski café.
The Salla trail map, which can be found along the skiing tracks, shows the Ruuhitunturi skiing track slightly wrong between the visitor centre and Ruuhitunturi fell. The map shows the track as straighter and shorter than the current cross-country skiing track. The correct track can be seen on the large wall map in the Visitor Centre's exhibition and on Salla Infogis ski track map.
The Ruuhitunturi cross-country skiing route in winter
You can start he Ruuhitunturi trail from, for example, next to the Kaira Cafe restaurant. The skiing track runs through a clearing to the edge of the forest, where there is a lean-to shelter and a place to watch northern lights.
After gentle ascents and descents, the skiing track continues to Sotka's Ämmi's spring. This was once the site of the Sotka estate. It is worth visiting the open water spot to admire the movement of the rings in the sandy bottom of the spring.
A little after the spring, you reach a crossroads. To the left is the track towards the visitor centre, to the right up the slope towards Ruuhitunturi fell. The middle track is the return track from Ruuhitunturi.
After a thigh-warming ascent, you ski for a while among tall pines and spruces. Then descend towards Hangasjärvi leant-to shelter. It is a hundred metres from the crossroads to the shelter. The winter hiking trail comes directly to Hangasjärvi over the ridge.
After Hangasjärvi, the track gradually climbs up the slopes of Hangasharju hill. The trees thin out and the landscape opens up. Higher up, the trees gleam with frost, even if the milder weather on the lower slopes has taken the snow load from the fir trees.
For a while, the ascent is mostly gentle and flat. There's an old grey tree trunk to check the snow depth. Shortly before Lehtoaapa, you reach another crossing. The left trail leads to Sallatunturi and the right one to Lake Kalliojärvi.
As you ascend the slopes of Ruuhitunturi, you start to see candle trees covered in crown-snow. The Sallatunturi fells are visible in the distance. The last stretch before the Ruuhitunturi café leads towards the Lehtoaapa Lappish hut and Aikkipetsi open wilderness hut.
The Ruuhitunturi café is a popular place to take a break in winter. In the yard you can see fat bikes, skis and snowmobiles. The noise of the drone overhead does not quite fit the image of the wilderness experience of Ruuhitunturi fell. Perhaps the observation tower is where you find the peace of the wilderness.
Ruuhitunturi observation tower
There are trails to the top of Ruuhitunturi from the Ruuhitunturi café. A snowmobile track climbs straight up to the left, the track is only for snowmobiles. The skiing track curves gently forward and to the left and is suitable for walkers and skiers.
There is no maintained skiing track to the top of Ruuhitunturi, but the route is on natural tracks and footprints. When walking, you can also be prepared for sinking snow.
After a short stretch, the slope becomes very steep. It's a lot of workout the whole length of the slope up to the flat top. But, the scenery is so beautiful that it's nice to take breaks all the way up.
The Ruuhitunturi observation tower gleams between the snow-loaded trees on the flat summit. Snow can accumulate on the stairs and make them slippery, but the climb up the tower is worth the effort.
The Ruuhitunturi lookout tower offers spectacular winter views: the Sallatunturi and its ski slopes and the other peak to the north, the old Sallatunturi on the Russian side to the east, and the rolling hills and surrounding marshes on both sides of Ruuhitunturi fell. The evening sun paints the crown-snow trees with gold.
From the Ruuhitunturi lookout tower, you can continue skiing forward, or you can return the same way back to the café. The steep slope gives you a great speed downhill.
From Ruuhitunturi to the visitor centre
The route continues from the cafe towards the Lehtoaapa Lappish hut. First you descend a long and fast slope, then continue across the open bog to the hut.
From there, the route continues towards Siskellampi Lappish hut, a good three kilometres from Lehtoaapa. You could also ski to the Aikkipetsi open wilderness hut from Lehtoaapa. The track winds around the southern side of Ruuhitunturi in hilly terrain and finally descends into the open landscape of Siskellammit.
From the Siskellampi shelter, the route continues along the edge of the bog area into the woods. There are ascents and descents on small hills. There are fine views of Tuohenlusikkajänkä swamp and Kolmiloukkosenvaara hill.
At Tuohenlusikkajänkä, the skiing track makes big bends. Sometimes it feels as if you are going in the wrong direction. The skiing track is crossed by a sled dog track - the huskies are running fast in snow!
The Ruuhitunturi trail in summer runs over Pirttivaara hill via a great viewpoint. In winter, the Ruuhitunturi skiing track runs along the eastern side of Pirttivaara in the forest. After a few nice views of the fells, the trail starts to go around Tammakkolampi pond under the power lines.
The skiing track descends to a bridge and climbs back up. On the right side is the Tammakkolampi shelter. If you want to return to the starting point of Kaira Cafe, the skiing track continues left and goes around Kontiolampi shelter for about 1 km back to the ring trail.
Turn right to continue to the visitor centre. First you pass the Upinlampi grill hut, the rest of the way is a flat track for about 600 m to the visitor centre.
Ruuhitunturi in winter - my experiences
- Ruuhitunturi is perhaps the best place in Salla to watch the winter sunset. As a day trip, the tour can be done well at a slower pace from Kaira Café and back the same route. It's a good idea to bring a headlamp if you don't make it back before dark.
- Even though it's quite quiet on the skiing tracks even in high season, you may not find the peace and quiet of the wilderness, especially at the lean-to shelters and huts. On Ruuhitunturi, drones are a nuisance and the snowmobile trail comes right up to the lookout tower - there may be snowmobiles and people taking photos in the middle of the landscape at the most beautiful sunset.
- Check the Infogis website for ski track routes and maintenance. The track on the eastern side of the Ruuhitunturi fell is different from the signposts along the track, and it can be difficult to find the starting point from the visitor centre. I got help to find the track by a local employee, but he didn't mention the Infogis service.
- Mobile phone coverage on the Ruuhitunturi route is good (Telia).
- On a winter ski trip, it's a good idea to bring a change of warm clothes, a hot drink, toilet paper, matches and a torch - if you're not on sport skis, but with more adventurous mind with on fell skis and a backpack, exploring the wonders of nature.
Other destinations nearby
Salla, a small place, is great for spending a few days in summer and winter. For a longer trip, it is worth combining for example:
Ruka and Kuusamo (80 km)
- Konttainen Trail in winter
- Valtavaara Trail in winter
- Pieni Karhunkierros Small Bear's Trail in winter
- Pyhävaara Trail in winter
Posio and Riisitunturi National Park (120 km)
Pyhä-Luosto National Park(120 km)
