UKK Park – Luirojärvi Trek
Also known as Urho Kekkonen National Park · Luirojärvi loop · UKK puisto
Urho Kekkonen National Park — 'the UKK park' — is a vast arctic wilderness of open fells, clear rivers, silent spruce forest and endless mires east of Saariselkä, brushing the Russian border. Its flagship trek loops from Kiilopää through the heart of the park to Lake Luirojärvi, beneath Sokosti (the park's highest fell), staying hut to hut across roadless tundra. What makes the UKK park special is how easily you step from ski-resort comfort into genuine, trackless wilderness — and how much of it offers, as one guide put it, 'nothing' as the main attraction: silence, space and self-reliance.
Urho Kekkonen is one of Finland's largest and wildest parks, bordering Russia in the east. It splits into two worlds: well-marked 'Out onto the Fell' day trails near Saariselkä, Kiilopää and Tankavaara, and the 'Out into the Wilderness' zone of unmarked routes where you navigate by map and compass. The Luirojärvi trek is in the second category — only attempt it with solid Lapland wilderness skills. If you're not an experienced wilderness hiker, stick to the marked nature trails near the gateways.
Getting to the trailhead
The nearest airport is Ivalo (~30 km from Saariselkä); Rovaniemi has an airport and train station too. Daily buses run on Route 4/E75 from Rovaniemi and Ivalo to Saariselkä, Kiilopää and Tankavaara.
The main trailhead for treks is the Kiilopää gateway (Kiilopääntie 620, 99830 Saariselkä), about 15 km south of Saariselkä village. Saariselkä's own gateway is within walking distance of the village centre.
Buy a topographic map before you go — sold in Saariselkä supermarkets, outdoor shops and the Kiilopää visitor centre (~15–20 €). In peak autumn-colour season, parking at popular trailheads fills up. Deeper trailheads (e.g. Aittajärvi) need your own transport.
Plan by season
Temperature
10–20 °C; snow can fall even in summer
Daylight
Nearly 24h daylight
Trail condition
Hiking season summer to autumn. Peak crowds July–early August (huts fill up). Early-summer meltwater makes some sections muddy and raises river crossings.
What to pack
A self-sufficient wilderness trek with unbridged crossings and no resupply once you leave the gateway.
Tent and sleeping bag — open huts fill up in peak season; always have a backup
Map and compass (and offline GPS) — the route is unmarked; phones fail in cold
Sandals or wading shoes for stream/river crossings; trekking poles
Waterproof boots for muddy meltwater sections
Camp stove and full food supply; firewood is in hut woodsheds but bring fire-starting kit
Mosquito net and repellent for summer
Trail stops — tap one
A common counter-clockwise hut-to-hut plan: Kiilopää–Suomunruoktu (~14) – Tuiskukuru (~13) – Luirojärvi (~8) – Sokosti day trip (~13 return) – Lankojärvi (~19) – Kiilopää (~16). Total ~70–80 km. Sokosti's height differs between sources (718 m vs 912 m) — verify. The route is unmarked.
Kiilopää
Main trailhead (Kiilopää gateway, Kiilopääntie 620). Fell Centre with services. The unmarked Luirojärvi loop sets off from here, typically counter-clockwise.
Good to know
Water
Plenty of clear rivers, lakes and streams; boil or filter before drinking. Crossings don't always have bridges — wade on stepping stones in summer and pack sandals.
Camping
Everyman's right applies; camping is allowed in the park, and most marked routes have official campsites with fire pits. Note part of the wider area touches the Sompio Strict Nature Reserve, where you must keep to the marked trail — check zoning for your route.
Campfires & toilets
Fires at marked campfire sites and hut fireplaces; firewood usually in the woodsheds, but bring your own fire-starting kit. Don't burn foil/plastic packaging. Check the wildfire warning.
Waste
No bins — carry out everything. Biowaste can go in dry toilets (not vacuum toilets); clean paper/card can be used as fire kindling.
Mobile signal
Mobile coverage is poor across most of the park; download offline maps and tell someone your route and return time.
Trail markings
Gateway day trails are well waymarked, but the Luirojärvi and other wilderness routes are unmarked — map and compass are essential.
Huts & shelters
The park has 37 Metsähallitus huts and cabins; open wilderness huts are free and first-come-first-served (often full in peak season), reservable hut beds bookable at Eräluvat.fi. Some, like Rautulampi, are modern with a sauna. Carry a tent as backup.
Emergency & winter
112 works across the EU even with low signal, but coverage is patchy and the interior is remote. Sign hut guest books so markings can aid rescuers. Fog or blizzard can form fast on the fells — leave your route plan with your lodging or a visitor centre.
Segment by segment
Kiilopää → Suomunruoktu
~14 kmSetting off from the Kiilopää gateway into the park's interior on unmarked terrain, across fells and forest to the Suomunruoktu open and reservable wilderness hut — a typical first night.
Suomunruoktu → Tuiskukuru
~13 kmDeeper into the open fell country to the Tuiskukuru wilderness hut, with the silence and scale that define the UKK park.
Tuiskukuru → Luirojärvi
~8 kmA shorter leg to Lake Luirojärvi at the heart of the park — the trek's scenic turning point, with huts by the water beneath the bulk of Sokosti.
Sokosti side trip
~13 km returnAn out-and-back day trip from Luirojärvi to the summit of Sokosti, the park's highest fell, for sweeping wilderness views before continuing the loop.
Luirojärvi → Lankojärvi → Kiilopää
~35 kmThe return legs: a long ~19 km stretch to the Lankojärvi hut, then ~16 km back across the fells to the Kiilopää gateway to close the loop.