Kiilopää – Fell Centre and Open Fell Trails

A fell resort that needs no introduction. Kiilopää, one of the most rugged and highest peaks in the Saariselkä fells, rises towards the sky and hosts the fell area, being by far the largest. At the foot of Kiilopää is the Kiilopää Fell Centre, which also houses the world’s most famous smoke sauna. The scenery from the top of Kiilopää is stunning, but so is the network of trails surrounding the fells and the opportunities to get out and about in the great outdoors.

Auringonlasku kumpuilevien kukkuloiden yllä, joilla on hajanaisia mäntyjä, oranssi taivas ja maiseman halki kulkeva mutkitteleva hiekkatie. Maisema on rauhallinen ja lämpimässä valossa kylpevä.

Traveller’s tips to Kiilopää

Kiilopää is a fell destination and outdoor base in the Saariselkä area, next to Urho Kekkonen National Park.

Stay at Fell Centre Kiilopää or nearby accommodation, with trails, restaurant services, gear rental and activities close by.

Must-sees include Kiilopää Fell, Kuurakaltio smoke sauna, open fell landscapes and the year-round trail network.

Popular experiences include hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, winter biking, trail running, sauna moments and ruska colours in the fells.

A dark green map outline of northern Finland features white borderlines and a marker highlighting Kiilopää, with its name displayed in bold yellow text.

Kuurakaltio Smoke Sauna

At the foot of this iconic peak lies the Kiilopää Fell Centre, a hub for outdoor enthusiasts and the starting point for countless adventures. Kuurakaltio smoke sauna is one of Kiilopää’s best-known experiences. After a day on the trails, visitors can relax in the warmth of a traditional smoke sauna and enjoy the surrounding Arctic nature.

More about smoke sauna

Kaksi uimapukuista ihmistä laskeutuu varovasti puuportaita alas kirkkaaseen luonnonlammikkoon maalaismaisen puurakennuksen vieressä, jota ympäröivät kivet, puut ja vehreys aurinkoisena päivänä.

Trail network

Kiilopää’s trail network runs through forests, open fell landscapes and the edge of Urho Kekkonen National Park. The area offers routes for hikers, bikers, skiers and winter walkers, from easy local trails to more demanding outdoor routes.

Explore Urho Kekkonen National Park

A close-up of a campfire with burning logs, a piece of meat cooking on a stick, and a black kettle hanging above the flames. Rocks surround the fire, creating a rustic outdoor setting perfect for winter warmth.

Ilmakuva lumisesta maisemasta, jossa on hajallaan mökkejä ja mäntyjä, lumen peittämien kukkuloiden ympäröimänä vaalean pilvisen taivaan alla.

Nature in every season

Kiilopää is a year-round destination where nature is always close. The open fells, forests and marked routes make it easy to enjoy the outdoors in winter, spring, summer and autumn.

Fell Centre Kiilopää

Kuurakaltio smoke sauna – Fell Centre Kiilopää

Restaurant Kammi

Café – restaurant Fell Centre Kiilopää

Wilderness Hotel Muotka

Ilmari Slant Ky

Services at Fell Centre Kiilopää

Fell Centre Kiilopää offers accommodation, restaurant services, gear rental and access to outdoor routes in the Saariselkä area. It is a practical base for day trips, longer hikes, skiing and visits to Urho Kekkonen National Park.

Explore services

A person wrapped in a towel relaxes on a wooden sauna bench, eyes closed, holding a ladle. A metal bucket sits nearby in the dimly lit, warm atmosphere.

Hiking, biking and gear rental

Outdoor equipment can be rented for summer and winter activities, from short outings to longer days on the trails. After a day outdoors, visitors can relax at Kuurakaltio smoke sauna and swimming area or stop for a meal at the café and restaurant.

More about gear rental

More about Kuurakaltio sauna

Kaksi kypäräpukuista henkilöä ajaa läskipyörillä nurmipolulla avoimella ulkoalueella, taustalla sininen taivas ja harvat puut.

One of the highest fells in the Saariselkä area

At 546 metres, Kiilopää is one of the highest and best-known fells in the Saariselkä area. Located by Urho Kekkonen National Park, Kiilopää is accessible from the park’s Kiilopää gate. The route to the summit is about two kilometres each way along a marked trail, with rest stops along the way.

A vast, rocky tundra landscape stretches into the distance, with rolling hills covered in sparse vegetation and distant mountains fading into a hazy, cloudy sky. — Kuva: Pertti Turunen

Kiilopää summit in every season

Kiilopää can be visited throughout the year, and the summit offers wide views across the surrounding fells. The experience changes with the season, from midnight sun and autumn colours to snowy winter landscapes and the first northern lights of the darker months.

In winter, the foot of the fell can be reached by Ski Bus, and there is also a large car park near the starting point.