5 TIPS TO EXPLORE KOROUOMA CANYON ON YOUR OWN
Kourouoma Canyon with its frozen waterfalls is a must-see during your stay and exploration of Lapland, and an excellent year-round playground for adventurers.
The officially protected nature reserve of Korouoma is a valley stretching for thirty kilometers and dating back from hundreds of millions years ago. There you’ll find magnificent scenery no matter what season, with rich vegetation and wildlife. In winter, unique formations are created with impressive frozen waterfalls. In summer, these waterfalls give way to imposing cliffs and the trickling river in the middle of the Canyon.
This site offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, nature and animal observation, ski trekking, ice climbing, fishing and many more.
PART 1 : OUR GUIDED TOUR TO THE FROZEN WATERFALLS OF KOROUOMA
At Nordic Odyssey we offer our own guided excursion to discover this incredible site. During this tour, you’ll have the chance to hike right in the heart of the canyon, passing through forests and admiring the best viewpoints, including the various frozen waterfalls. This experience is also an opportunity for you to learn a great deal about this environment, with your guide sharing their knowledge such as how to build a fire.
Afterwards, a delicious Finnish-style snack will be served around a fire to warm you up and create a memorable moment.
Over the past few years, the number of visitors in Korouoma has grown considerably, leading to sometimes negative impacts on the environment. Nordic Odyssey is therefore committed to an ethical approach and only operates 1 tour per day for a maximum of 8 participants.
What´s included in our tour : transportation and hotel pick-up, expert outdoor guide, hiking (around 2h), snacks and hot drinks.
PART 2 : OUR ADVICE AND INFORMATION FOR YOUR OWN EXPLORATION
You can also decide to explore Korouoma Canyon on your own during all seasons. And over several days if you wish. Here is a list of useful information for your exploration:
1. TRANSPORTATION AND HOW TO GET THERE ?
There are several ways to get to Korouoma Canyon from Rovaniemi:
By car : From Rovaniemi, head in the direction of Posio for around a hundred kilometers (Rovaniementie road no.81). Then turn right onto Koppelojärventie road and when you arrive at a junction, turn again to the right on Saukkovaarantie road.
Be careful, the last part of this two-way road is very narrow. Cars sometimes run off the road. If you are not used to driving on snow, or if you have any doubts, opt for a guided tour.
The approximate distance is around one hundred kilometers and takes 1 hour and a half.
At the start of the Korouoma canyon you will find a parking for cars and information boards to help you find your way.
Itinerary Rovaniemi-Korouoma from our Nordic Odyssey office.
By public transport: There is no public transport that will take you directly to the Canyon, however the Rovaniemi/Posio bus service is available to get you as close as possible (see the matkahuolto.fi website). The nearest stop is in the village of Pernu, 4km from the starting point.
2. WHICH HIKING ROUTE TO FOLLOW ?
To explore Korouoma Canyon by foot. The majority of hikes can begin from Saukkovaara starting point, with various options possible :
Koronjää trail (5 km loop – available all year round). If you wish to discover the frozen waterfalls, with this trail you will be able to observe up close the 3 main waterfalls. In summer, once the ice has melted, the landscape is transformed, giving way to a wild canyon.
Piippukallion pihaus trail (5 km loop – only available in summer). After winter, another trail opens up to discover the heart of the canyon between forest and river. Be careful, though, as this trail requires you to be in good physical condition.
If you wish to explore Korouoma in greater depth over several days to observe the various treasures the canyon has to offer, a 20km trail is available. This hike can begin at two starting points: Saukkovaara and Lapiosalmi.
3. WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED ?
To make your trip to Korouoma as comfortable as possible, you’ll need to be well equipped.
The hiking trails are mainly accessible on foot, but as this is a canyon, you won’t be walking on flat paths. For this reason, the use of ice cleats is advised during winter time, or even snowshoes if you wish to venture out of the paths and directly into the snow. However, even with snowshoes, it is best to stay on or near the tracks for your own safety.
To make your journey easier to the canyon, Nordic Odyssey prepared for you a hiking backpack full of useful tools that you might need during your exploration. It includes a first aid kit, a thermos, a kettle, an axe and a knife, a matchbox, a sausage stick, etc. (rental available at Nordic Odyssey)
RESERVE YOUR EQUIPMENT ONLINE
SELECT DATE & AMOUNT :
PROCEED TO PAYMENT :
Select your date & time and the number of ice cleats you would like to rent. Our team will prepare the equipment for you.
You may then collect your ice cleats directly at our Nordic Odyssey office in the city centre (address : Jaakonkatu 4-6, 96200 Rovaniemi)
Given that the telephone network can be of poor quality, it might be a good idea to take a satellite phone with you. However, this can be a costly alternative, so choosing to be accompanied by a guide can be a wise decision, as this person will always be equipped with a satellite telephone. If you are unable to obtain one, we advise you to keep your mobile phone warm, as the cold temperatures can have a direct impact on its performance.
In case of an accident, the Finnish emergency number is 112. You can also download the 112 app, which allows you to send your satellite coordinates directly to the emergency services. Finally, for security purposes, it is always better to tell an outsider about your walking route beforehand and to bring with you a first-aid kit.
When it comes to clothing, remember to wear clothes that are appropriate for the different seasons and weather conditions (negative temperatures, snowfall, strong wind).
Finally, last piece of advice, remember to take snacks and drinks with you on your excursion.
4. INFRASTRUCTURES AVAILABLE ON SITE
In Korouoma Canyon nature reserve, you will find a wide range of facilities for visitors.
These include various huts and “laavu”, shelters with fireplaces for cooking your meal/snacks. Wood for lighting fires is freely available at these facilities.
You will also find dry toilets at the starting point, in the huts and near the fire pits. However, you will need to bring your own paper.
Before heading to the canyon, if you want to shop for the ingredients of your meals or simply have a coffee, the nearest stores can be found in the town of Posio.
For the more adventurous, it’s also possible to stay overnight in one of the laavu/huts or simply try camping. Dedicated camping areas are available. If you’re looking to rent equipment for your outings, Nordic Odyssey offers tents, mattresses and sleeping bags.
5. RULES TO RESPECT
To protect the unique natural wealth of the Canyon of Korouoma, this site became a nature reserve which is the step before becoming a national park in Finland. Therefore, when exploring Korouoma Canyon, it is important to follow some instructions and rules in order to respect this reserve. (Metsähallitus rules).
Forbidden :
1. Don´t throw your rubbish into nature. Please pick it up after yourself.
2. Do not damage the reserve´s structures.
3. Don’t let your pets run free. Please keep them on a leash.
4. Don´t collect plants.
5. Do not damage and disturb the environment and wildlife. It is preferable that you use the marked paths and behave respectfully by remaining calm and quiet.
6. Do not use drones.
7. Use of snowmobiles and use of motor vehicles off-track is forbidden.
Restrictions :
1. Starting fires only in the fire pits. Please note that lighting fires is prohibited during forest fire alerts.
2. Camping is only permitted in areas specifically designated for camping.
3. For your own safety, keep your distance from ice climbers as blocks of ice can detach from the wall as they climb.
That’s it, it is the end of our tips to explore Kourouma Canyon reserve!
We hope you enjoyed reading this blogpost.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!
We will be glad to help you plan your trip to Rovaniemi!
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