Five Finnish Lapland national parks: Urho Kekkonen, Pallas-Yllästunturi, Lemmenjoki, Riisitunturi, Pyhä-Luosto. Gateway villages and when to visit.
How many national parks are there in Lapland? The Lapland region has seven national parks: Lemmenjoki, Urho Kekkonen, Pallas-Yllästunturi, Bothnian Bay (Perämeri), Pyhä-Luosto, Salla and Riisitunturi, about 6,900 km² in total. Oulanka and Syöte reach partly into Lapland as well. We profile five of them in detail: Urho Kekkonen, Pallas-Yllästunturi, Lemmenjoki, Riisitunturi and Pyhä-Luosto. Each has its own gateway village to base out of, from Saariselkä for UKK to Hetta and Muonio for Pallas-Yllästunturi.
Which is the largest national park in Finnish Lapland? Lemmenjoki National Park, about 2,850 km², is the largest in Lapland and in all of Finland. Urho Kekkonen, about 2,550 km², is the second largest; it runs from the Saariselkä fells eastward into roadless wilderness, with open fells, river gorges and old pine forest.
Do you need a permit or entrance fee for Lapland national parks? No. Finland's national parks are free to enter and there is no permit for normal hiking, day visits or staying in open wilderness huts. Some reservation huts and saunas charge a small fee, and guided activities or gold panning at Lemmenjoki have their own costs, but walking the trails costs nothing.
When is the best time to visit the parks? Early to mid-September for ruska autumn colour, June and July for the midnight sun and long hiking days, and February to March for snow-crowned trees and ski touring, Riisitunturi is at its most striking under heavy tykky in late winter. Boat services such as the Ounasjärvi crossing and the Lemmenjoki river boat run only in summer, so check their dates before you go.
Where can you pan for gold in a Lapland national park? Lemmenjoki National Park is the heart of gold panning in Finland. The 25.5 km Gold Trail loop from Kultahamina passes the old gold fields and claims, and in summer a scheduled boat runs between Njurgulahti, Ravadas and Kultahamina. Panning on a claim of your own needs a permit from Tukes.