Rovaniemi's most popular self-guided destinations for travelers fall into two categories: easy nature spots located near the city center (accessible by foot or taxi) and more extensive day-trip destinations that require a car or bus ride.
From a rental shop's perspective, these are the best destinations to recommend to customers when renting snowshoes, sliding snowshoes, or winter clothing:
Near the city center (No car required, perfect for snowshoeing)
Ounasvaara winter walking and snowshoeing trails: Rovaniemi's most popular and accessible self-guided destination right on the edge of the city. The top of Ounasvaara and the viewpoints on the Jätkänkynttilä bridge side offer stunning views over the Kemijoki river and the city. Excellent for a few hours of snowshoeing and northern lights spotting.
Arktikum shore (Arktikum Park): An open area and ice edge located right near the city center, behind the science center. This is the most popular spot for travelers to walk in the evenings to see the northern lights without needing to leave the city. Also a popular destination for daytime walks.
Kuninkaanlaavu (Santavaara): A spectacular viewpoint on top of a hill located about a 10–15 minute drive (or taxi ride) north of the city center. A short, roughly one-kilometer winter walking trail leads from the parking lot to the lean-to shelter, which offers great views and a chance to grill sausages yourself.
Necessary equipment
Snowshoes and sliding snowshoes
clothing
headlamps
outdoor dining gear
backpacks
Day-trip destinations (Require a car, bus, or transport)
Arctic Circle Hiking Area (Vaattunkiköngäs & Vikaköngäs): A magnificent area located about 20 kilometers northeast of the city center, filled with accessible suspension bridges, river rapids, and fire pits. The short trails at Vaattunkiköngäs, in particular, are perfect for winter walking and sliding snowshoeing among snow-laden trees.
Necessary equipment
Snowshoes and sliding snowshoes
clothing
headlamps
outdoor dining gear
backpacks
Korouoma Canyon and frozen waterfalls (Posio): A destination located about a 1.5-hour drive away that is highly popular among international travelers. The 5-kilometer Koronjää loop trail showcases the area's massive, dozens-of-meters-high frozen waterfalls. The trail is steep, so high-quality crampons are needed here.
Necessary equipment
Clothing
headlamp
Backpacks
Outdoor dining gear
Ranua Wildlife Park (Ranua): An arctic zoo located about an hour's drive to the south. Travelers walk along a wooden, approximately 2.8-kilometer-long boardwalk through a snowy forest to see animals such as polar bears, wolves, and lynx. A very easy destination for self-guided traveling families (bus connection from Rovaniemi city center works well).
Necessary equipment
clothing (link to clothing)
Riisitunturi National Park (located in Posio) is one of Finland's most famous and photogenic winter destinations. It is world-renowned for its fairytale-like spruce trees covered in thick "tykky" (snow load), which look like white snow sculptures in winter.
Distance and travel from Rovaniemi
Location: Riisitunturi is located about 150–160 kilometers east of Rovaniemi.
Getting there: A self-guided trip practically requires a rental car (the drive is about 2 hours each way). The road to the main parking area at the trailhead is plowed throughout the winter.
Most popular winter route: Riisin rääpäsy (4.3 km)
A firm favorite among travelers is the Riisin rääpäsy loop trail.
In winter, the trail is well-packed, easy to traverse, and also suitable for families. The path rises gently to the top of the fell, which offers completely unobstructed arctic snow-load landscapes in every direction. There is also a wilderness hut with a fire pit along the route for grilling snacks.