Skiing tracks

According to locals and most of our visitors, Saariselkä’s cross-country skiing tracks are the best in the world. The track maintenance works like a well oiled machine and every skier can experience the joy of skiing on tracks suitable for their own skill level. We open the tracks when nature is ready and the weather permits, we do not use preserved snow or make snow until it is certain that the frost will continue steadily. Saariselkä is very much snow-proof and there is enough snow until the beginning of May! Many people don’t know that in April we have the best weather and tracks. Come and enjoy the kilometers of leisurely skiing or seek a training challenge in the embrace of our fells.

Ski track report 21.2.2023

Snow depth: 65cm

All the ski tracks are now open! Most of the trails are groomed daily. Exceptionally the following trails are groomed three times a day

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays:

  • Kulmakuru
  • Laanilan Kievari
  • Vahtamapää nature trail
  • Vellinsärpimä – Taajoslaavu – Luulampi

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays:

  • Rautulampi
  • Niilanpää – Muotka
  • Sivakkalaakso

You can follow the maintenance in real time in Infokartta.

General info about the winter skiing tracks

The ski season traditionally starts in Saariselkä with a cannon snow track and natural snow. Saariselkä does not store snow, because we want to act in accordance with nature’s annual natural cycle.

Making the first snow track starts as soon as the temperature drops permanently below zero. Patience is a virtue in this work as well, in order to build a foundation for the whole winter. The track is made with cannon snow, and successful cannoning requires a longer period of frost. It does not make sense to make snow with zero temperatures, because the track base melts and does not stay in its shape under the paver. In addition, this consumes electricity unnecessarily.

First snow track is easy to find, as it runs along the edge of Saariselkä village all the way to Laanila village.

The priming of natural snow tracks starts when there is enough snow. It is difficult to estimate the sufficient amount because, as all skiers know, there are differences in the snow quality. The quality and quantity of snow together ensure that the track surface is durable.

The maintenance schedule for the season in general:

As soon as the snow conditions permit, the following tracks will be opened

  • Saariselkä – Laanila – Kiilopää – Kakslauttanen – Tieva/Muotka
  • Kuutamolatu skiing track
  • Prospektori
  • Koiralatu Saariselkä – Luttotupa
  • Sivakkaoja
  • Ahopää
  • Ahopään välilatu
  • Saariselkä – Rumakuru – Piispanoja

In week 51 and week 8, the following tracks will be opened

In week 51, the following slopes will be opened:

  • Kiilopää – Luulampi – Rumakuru
  • Saariselkä – Kaunispää – Palo-oja

In week 8, the following tracks will be opened:

  • Palo-oja – Moitakuru – Luttotupa
  • Iisakkipää
  • Lutto – Taajoslaavu – Luulampi
  • kaikki luontoladut

Phased closing of the skiing tracks in spring

  • Track maintenance will be stopped on May 6, 2023
  • The maintenance of the natural tracks will be stopped on April 15, 2023
    Lutto – Taajoslaavu – Luulampi and Palo-oja – Moitakuru – Lutto routes will be closed on 22.4.2023

    Due to the unstable operating environment, we reserve the right to make changes to the schedules during the season.