recommended route
Lemmenjoki National Park Gold Route
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Lemmenjoki National Park on the Golden RoutePhoto: Kirsi Ukkonen, Metsähallitus
The Gold Route takes you to Finland's largest national park and introduces a gold mining tradition unique across Europe. The route leads from the shores of a lush river valley through pine forests hundreds of years old to the open fell and the legendary gold area.
The route passes through the key gold mining areas of the national park and tells how Lemmenjoki gold was formed, how it was discovered, what kind of lifestyle developed around the gold and how the gold is extracted from the soil.
Hiking can be started from Kultahamina, which is reached by river boat transport from Njurgulahti along the river valley, whose appearance changes with the seasons. The boat trip is a delightful experience.
You can hike to Kultahamina from Njurgulahti along the river valley route. The riverside route runs in the shade of old peaceful pine forests. The river crossings have wire ferries at Searitniiva and Härkäkoski.
The route has campfire and camping areas, rental and wilderness huts and day huts.
Author’s recommendation
Fall in love with the river valley and old-growth forest, immerse yourself in the rhythm of gold mining life, and relax while listening to the nostalgic song of the bluethroat on the open fell.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Safety information
Anyone hiking in Lemmenjoki National Park needs wilderness hiking skills. The Lemmenjoki Gold Route is well marked in the terrain, but especially in the open fell the weather conditions can be challenging at times and visibility poor.
A topographic map and compass must be carried.
There are mobile phone dead zones where it does not work at all.
Note that the descent and ascent to Jäkälä-äytsi are steep and the route may have loose stones, so this is the most challenging part of the route.
Note that in Pihlajamäki and Jäkälä-äytsi the route passes through active gold mining areas. In these places it is very important to stay on the marked trail both for your own safety and to preserve the privacy of the gold miners.
Tips and suggestions
More information about Lemmenjoki National Park and its routes can be found on the luontoon.fi website.
Tips for hiking in Finnish conditions can be found on the luontoon.fi website in the Hiking ABC section.
Directions
By car From Inari about 45 km on the Kittilä road (no. 955) then turn west onto Lemmenjoentie road (no. 9551) leading to Njurkulahte.
For those starting hiking from Kultahamina (starting with a river boat from Njurgulahti):
Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 68° 39.1794' lon: 25° 51.9327' ETRS-TM35FIN P: 7616094m I: 453916m
Googlemaps (river boat departure point in Njurgulahti):
https://www.google.com/maps/@68.7609827,26.2676325,14.75z
For those hiking from Njurgulahti Metsähallitus parking area:
Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 68° 45.0984' lon: 26° 13.2005' ETRS-TM35FIN P: 7626869m I: 468453m
Googlemaps: https://www.google.com/maps/@68.7514957,26.2442946,15z
Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Author’s map recommendations
Lemmenjoki waterproof outdoor map, 1:100,000 / 1:50,000, Karttakeskus 2017. The map can be purchased at, among others, the Siida Upper Lapland Nature Center and the Ivalo service point.
Geological hiking map Lemmenjoki, 1:50,000 and guidebook. Geological Survey of Finland 2002. The map can be purchased at, among others, the Siida Upper Lapland Nature Center.
Topographic maps numbers W431, W433, W434 and V442, 1:50,000, National Land Survey of Finland 2008 - 2009. Maps can be purchased at, among others, the Siida Upper Lapland Nature Center, Ivalo service point and the National Land Survey.
Lemmenjoki, waterproof map, 1:25,000 and 1:100,000, Calazo Förlag 2016. The map is sold by Calazo, Saariselkä and Ivalo service points, the Siida Upper Lapland Nature Center and several local companies.
Hiking GT Northern Finland, 2016, 1:400,000. Maps can be bought from Karttakeskus and well-stocked bookstores.
Equipment
Needed equipment includes a good backpack, overnight gear (shelter, sleeping bag and pad), suitable clothing for hiking, rain gear, sturdy hiking boots, dry food for a few days, stove and utensils for cooking. Compass and map.
For the river boat trip, warm and windproof clothing is needed, such as an extra wool sweater, thermal pants or (light) down jacket.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Questions and answers
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Ratings and reviews
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