MODERN TREASURE HUNT
Geocaching, what in the world? A few years ago, we ran into this hobby that had already hooked millions, but at the time we weren’t even thinking about it. Until the spring of 2020, when the world shut down due to a pandemic, we started this hobby. This moving and educating hobby leads its enthusiasts to wonderful destinations and there are endless amount of those kind of secret spots here in Lapland.
Some of the caches are easily accessible and some require miles of hiking. Today, almost everyone can find a smartphone in their pocket, and a geocaching application is downloaded in either free or premium version. The application and the gps signal are used to search for caches and when a cache is found, you log it under your own nickname.
In many cases, the caches are hidden in interesting or beautiful places, and the cache description of the application often contains information about the history of the area, for example. So fully recharge your batteries and head for adventures, experiences, breathtaking scenery and historical sites. Already familiar objects take on a new dimension with geocaching. We think geocaching is suitable for everyone, regardless of age.
We give you few places we think are worth visiting, where you can get to know unique natural sites, interesting historical events and places, and at the same time engage in modern treasure hunting as in geocaching. https://www.luontoon.fi/geokatkoily
NATURAL WONDERS, GOLD FEVER AND WAR HISTORY
Our trip starts in Vuotso, where you can get to know the magnificent scenery of the Nattaset fell range in the area of the Sompio strict nature reserve, it is nice to walk along the marked routes and enjoy the wonderful nature, and at the same time get to know the ancient Ruija trail.
About 10 km North of Vuotso is Tankavaara, where the hiker takes his steps on the 6 km long Kuukkeli trail to the Urho Kekkonen National Park. In addition to the Gold Museum, there is plenty to do in the area for those interested in military history, and a couple of caches can be found there if you are lucky.
Next we head towards the cultural road and there are two routes with geocaches suitable for those interested in gold history: the Laanila gold route, which is also suitable for open fell biking. A longer trip takes you to to Kultala on the Ivalojoki River, where you can still feel the tension caused by the gold rush. On the way to Kultala, you can also collect caches and get acquainted with the exciting history of the area with the help of cache descriptions.
FORMER AND CURRENT CENTRES
The journey continues north, and Saariselkä is good for recharging batteries, both cachers and smartphones. And if there is enough power, of course there are many caches hidden in Saariselkä to be found.
After the break, we head North towards Bear’s Nest, which is located 15 km before Inari, a nice place to refresh yourself, to look for caches and discover a unique natural wonder from the ice age.
There are several places of interest in Inari, the Pielpajärvi wilderness church and its surroundings is one of our favorite destinations and on the way there you can increase the amount of caches found. Through geocaching, we found very interesting places that would not otherwise have been explored, e.g. World War II prison camps. In Inari, there is enough to see and experience for several days, and there are also nice hotels and tasty food for all.
FROM THE TURNS OF KAAMANEN TOWARDS KARIGASNIEMI
Our road trip continues for about 35 km on highway 4. Our intention was to continue directly to Kaamanen, but we find that there are caches in Riutula on the way! Turning left and we make a small hook of 6 km on Angelintie and get to know its history with the help of geocaches. We return to the original itinerary and continue our journey. After Kaamanen, we turn towards Karigasniemi. Along the road to Karigasniemi, you can admire great scenery and the geocacher’s brake lights come on at the latest at Giellajohka, where you can grab a geocache and a delicious meal from Giellajohka’s restaurant. On the way to Karigasniemi, a spectacular 620-meter-high Ailigas fell can be seen rising against the skies. The ascent to this sacred fell of the Sámi is sweaty, but rewards the wandererr with geocaching and breathtaking scenery to the fells of Norway.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ROAD IN FINLAND
From Karigasniemi, turn right towards Utsjoki. Road 970 has been said to be the most beautiful in Finland, and not without reason. The road has been built in accordance with the path following the riverside, without straightening the bends, and the mind makes a stop at every break to admire the scenery and, of course, look for geocaches. Especially at the Mauno rock, it is worth stopping just because of the landscape that opens up to Rastigaisa. The descriptions of geocaches in the area provide information on road construction.
FINLAND’S NORTHERNMOST GRATICULES
At this point we will pass the Utsjoki River and continue our journey along Teno River towards Nuorgam and Pulmankijärvi scenic road. Lake Pulmankijärvi and its river valley is a former Arctic Ocean fjord and the environment is ideal for hiking. The area is mostly woodless, so the scenery opens up wonderfully in every direction. Here, during a hike, a geocacher can grab caches and color the northernmost squares of his gratic map.
In the description of the cache called Utsjoki Church, we are talking about church huts, what are they? The mystery needs to be clarified, so the geo-mobile is turned towards Utsjoki and its church. Near the church you will find a cache and on the other side of the road on the shore of Lake Mantojärvi, an incredibly magnificent historical place to visit, church huts and Ulriikka’s trail.
It is hard to leave the North, but this road trip is coming to an end. Geocaching has once again served as an informative travel guide for our adventures.
Written by:
Minna & Vesa Mäkkeli
Sámi Educational Institute
Vocational Qualification in Tourism Industry