We’ve selected five of the best hiking trails and walking routes in Finland, using Wikiloc‘s GPS data to provide the most accurate trail maps.
They are all short-distance loop trails with an acceptable difficulty level, which makes them suitable for short breaks and day hikes, and for any kind of hiker or walker. You can download these GPS trails and waypoints from Google Maps.
Leivonmäki National Park, near Selänpohja (Western Finland)
Distance: 14 km – Uphill: 126 m – Downhill: 125 m – Time: 3:50/4:40 hrs
Leivonmäki is a national park in Western Finland which covers 29 sq km of esker forests, lakes, and swamps. It has around 28 km of well-marked trails.
Saimaa Lake Region, near Enanranta (Eastern Finland)
Distance: 15 km – Uphill: 91 m – Downhill: 91 m – Time: 3:40/4:40 hrs
Formed by glacial melting, Saimaa is the largest lake in Finland. Most of its surface is spotted with islands and narrow canals divide it into many parts.
Pieni Karhunkierros Trail, near Juuma (Northern Ostrobothnia)
Distance: 12 km – Uphill: 239 m – Downhill: 239 m – Time: 3:20/4:00 hrs
On this trail, you can explore the beautiful scenery of Oulanka National Park. Several wooden cabins are available across the park for hikers, free of charge.
Ruska in Finnish Lapland, near Pyhähuhta (Lapland)
Distance: 11 km – Uphill: 235 m – Downhill: 235 m – Time: 3:10/4:00 hrs
Lapland is Finland’s northernmost region, a sparsely populated area renowned for its boundless subarctic wilderness and its spectacular natural phenomena.
Nuuksio National Park, near Takkula (Southern Finland)
Distance: 11 km – Uphill: 228 m – Downhill: 236 m – Time: 3:10/3:50 hrs
Easily accessible from the capital Helsinki, Nuuksio National Park offers three main trails for hiking and various locations for grilling and camping/lodging.
Best time to go to Finland: Jun-Aug
Backpacker cost per day: 75 USD = 69 EUR
For more inspiration, check out our Finland Travel Guide.
Sources: some text excerpts from Wikipedia; GPS data from Wikiloc.