Bear's Trail

Small Bear’s Trail Is the Most Popular Day Hike in Finland

The “Pieni Karhunkierros” or Small Bear’s Trail in Oulanka National Park near Ruka Finland in Kuusamo is the most popular short hiking trail in Finland. It is visited by over 100,000 hikers annually. Known as a scenic route, the Small Bear’s Trail showcases most of the finest viewpoints of the legendary Karhunkierros Bear's Trail.

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Pieni Karhunkierros Small Bear's Trail

  • Destination: Oulanka National Park, Kuusamo & Ruka Finland
  • Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
  • Difficulty level: moderate
  • Duration: 3-6 h

Konttainen - Beautiful Hike in Ruka Kuusamo, Finland

Konttainen Trail in Kuusamo & Ruka Finland is one of the finest destinations for day hiking in the Ruka and Kuusamo region. From the summit of Konttainen, you can also access Finland's most famous hiking trail, Karhunkierros Bear’s Trail. In the Valtavaara-Pyhävaara Nature Reserve, you'll find stunning views of hills and fells.

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Konttainen Hike in Kuusamo

  • Destination: Ruka, Kuusamo, Finland
  • Distance: 2 km (1.24 miles)
  • Difficulty: Easy (Classified as Demanding)
  • When to go: From June to October (year-round)
  • Duration: 1-2 hours

The 5 Best Hikes & Trails in Finland

What are the best and longest hiking trails in Finland? Although southern Finland also offers beautiful landscapes, all the top five long-distance hikes are located in northern latitudes. On these multi-day hikes you will find unique nature, the most picturesque landscapes, the highest peak in our country and the cleanest air in the world.

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Pieni Karhunkierros, The Small Bear’s Trail, in Kuusamo is probably the most popular short hiking trail in Finland. Thousands of backpackers visit the 12-kilometer (7.5 miles) hiking trail all year round. Most of the famous sights of the legendary Karhunkierros Bear’s Trail in Oulanka National Park are located on the Pieni Karhunkierros Trail.

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Pieni Karhunkierros hiking trail in winter

  • Destination: Oulanka National Park, Kuusamo, Finland
  • Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
  • Difficulty level: moderate-demanding
  • Travel time: 3-6 h (summer), 4-8 h (in winter with breaks)

Konttainen Kuhaus Trail in winter in Kuusamo Finland invites you to an incredible crown-snow heaven. Konttainen is almost as high as Valtavaara, the peak reaches 433 meters above sea level. At the top of Konttainen there are several viewpoints from which the scenery opens up to North Kuusamo and Ruka, Valtavaara and Lake Konttaisenjärvi.

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Konttaisen Kuhaus Winter Trail

  • Destination: Ruka, Kuusamo, Finland
  • Distance: 2 km (1.24 miles)
  • Difficulty: Easy (Classified as Demanding)
  • When to go: From December to April (year-round)
  • Duration: 1-2 hours, snowshoeing or by foot

Valtavaara fell in winter is one of the most popular hiking destinations in Ruka, Finland. Valtavaara is the highest protected fell in Kuusamo, the peak reaching 491 meters. In clear weather, amazing landscapes open up from the top of Valtavaara to northern Kuusamo and Russia to the east.

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Valtavaara winter trail

Destination: Ruka, Kuusamo, Finland
Difficulty: demanding
When to go: From December to April (year-round)
Duration: 3 hours, a half-day trip snowshoeing or by foot


Hiking the 82 km Karhunkierros Bear's Trail 2/2

The most popular hiking trail in Finland is Karhunkierros, also known as the Bear’s Trail. It takes you through the Oulanka National Park to beautiful forests and scenic views by the swirling River Oulankajoki. The difficulty level varies from easy to more challenging, but I don’t think there are any difficult parts really, even if you are an unexperienced hiker.

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Karhunkierros Bear’s Trail hike info

  • Destination: Oulanka National Park, Lapland and Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland
  • Distance: 82 km (several shorter distances available)
  • Difficulty: physically demanding but quite easy
  • When to go: from June to October for a summer and autumn hike
  • Duration: 3-5 days
  • Where to stay: camping in tent or wilderness huts for free, various camping sites and rental cottages and hotels in Ruka and Juuma

Karhunkierros - Hiking the 82 km Bear’s Trail 1/2

Karhunkierros, the Bear’s Trail, is the most popular hiking trail in Finland. It takes you through the Oulanka National Park to beautiful forests and scenic views by the swirling River Oulankajoki. The difficulty level varies from easy to more challenging, but I don’t think there are any difficult parts really, even if you are an unexperienced hiker.

Read more

Bear’s Trail hike info

  • Destination: Oulanka National Park, Lapland and Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland
  • Distance: 82 km (several shorter distances available)
  • Difficulty: physically demanding but quite easy
  • When to go: from June to October for a summer and autumn hike
  • Duration: 3-5 days
  • Where to stay: camping in tent or wilderness huts for free, various camping sites and rental cottages and hotels in Ruka and Juuma