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Best snowshoe tour in Ruka: choosing the landscape

A person in a winter parka carrying snowshoes across a snowy footbridge between spruces

Illustration photo: a footbridge in winter, not in Oulanka.

Lapland Handbook Staff How we research this

The short answer

For the river and the rapids, book the five-hour walk along the Little Bear's Trail in Oulanka, four to five kilometres on snowshoes. For the snow-laden trees, the demanding day to the top of Riisitunturi, for walkers of twelve and over. For a long walk without a long drive, the hill of Valtavaara beside Ruka. For a gentle hour in old forest with a fire, the wild forest walk.

How the operators compare

Prices are the operators' own published starting prices as of the date this guide was updated, and they change through the season.

Ruka Safaris: Oulanka trailRuka Adventures: RiisitunturiRuka Safaris: ValtavaaraRukapalvelu: wild forest
Length 5 h 5 h 4.5 h 3.5 h
On snowshoes 4–5 km About 4.3 km Not stated About 1 h
Adult €114 €139 €93 €120
Youngest 8 12 8 7
Food Coffee and sandwiches Not stated Snack by a fire Snack by a campfire

Nothing is ranked: the four go to different landscapes, and a harder walk is not a better one. Prices are compared on the price page.

Where these figures come from
  • Ruka Safaris: Oulanka trail: Five hours with four to five kilometres along the Little Bear's Trail past the Myllykoski old mill.
  • Ruka Adventures: Riisitunturi: A demanding day of about 4.3 km up to the top of Riisitunturi and a wilderness hut.
  • Ruka Safaris: Valtavaara: Four and a half hours up the hill beside the resort, with a break by a fire.
  • Rukapalvelu: wild forest: About an hour on snowshoes in the Petäjävaara wild forest, with a snack by a campfire.

Around Ruka the longer snowshoe walks are chosen by the landscape they reach, and each of these four goes further into its own than the short walks do.

The Oulanka trail

Ruka Safaris drives to Juuma and walks four to five kilometres of the Little Bear’s Trail, along the Kitka river to the old mill at Myllykoski, with coffee and sandwiches on the way.1

The summit of Riisitunturi

Ruka Adventures’ Friday and Saturday day climbs about 4.3 km from Tolva to the top of Riisitunturi and its wilderness hut. The company rates it challenging and takes no one under twelve.2

The hill beside the resort

Ruka Safaris’ Valtavaara walk stays close to Ruka but still fills four and a half hours, with a break by a fire for a snack and a hot drink.3

The wild forest

Rukapalvelu’s walk in the Petäjävaara wild forest spends about an hour on snowshoes, then a snack by a campfire, and lends boots and poles as well as the snowshoes.4

The shorter walks and the family options are on snowshoeing in Ruka and snowshoeing with children in Ruka; what each costs is on snowshoe tour prices in Ruka.

Tours you can book

Questions people ask

How fit do we need to be?

It varies more than the distances suggest. Ruka Adventures rates its Riisitunturi day as challenging and does not recommend it under twelve. Ruka Safaris' Oulanka walk covers four to five kilometres and takes children from eight, and Rukapalvelu's forest walk spends only about an hour on snowshoes. If anyone in the party is unsure, pick the shorter Oulanka walk on the snowshoeing page.

Which days do the national park walks run?

Ruka Adventures prints its Riisitunturi day for Friday and Saturday at ten. Ruka Safaris' walks are open departures that go once four people book, and Rukapalvelu needs four adults. On a short stay, book the fixed day first and treat the open departures as a second chance, because a departure that does not fill is cancelled.

Do we need our own winter clothing?

Ruka Adventures includes clothing on its Riisitunturi day, and Rukapalvelu lends snowshoes, boots, poles and winter clothing if needed. Ruka Safaris includes the gear on its Oulanka walk and lends a winter outfit on the Valtavaara walk if you need one. Whatever is lent, bring a warm hat, mittens and a spare layer for the stops.

Written by

Lapland Handbook Staff

Lapland Handbook is written by its editorial staff in Rovaniemi. Every price, age limit and group size in a comparison is read from the operator's own page and marked "Not stated" when the operator does not publish it. Each guide names who should not book, and names the operator that suits each kind of group, whichever it is.

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