Finland’s best easy hikes you can explore right now

What is it? Finland’s first UNESCO Global Geopark is located in the Northern Ostrobothnia region, across the municipalities of Muhos, Utajärvi and Vaala. A geopark is a unified geographical area containing geologically significant sites of international importance that tell the story of the Earth’s history and development. Rokua Geopark can be reached by public transport, car, bicycle, on foot or even by boat.

Why we love it? Rokua Geopark is an exceptionally versatile destination for nature lovers, offering everything from family-friendly day trips to more demanding multi-day hikes, as well as canoeing and cycling adventures. The area is a fascinating place to explore traces left behind by the Ice Age, including eskers formed by ancient meltwaters and sand dunes shaped by the wind. Other standout sights include the vast sandy beaches, islands and shoreline cliffs of Lake Oulujärvi, along with the dramatic, deep ravines of the Oulujoki Valley, which create a strikingly varied landscape. The wide range of services available also gives visitors plenty of choice. You can camp under the stars or stay in a cottage or hotel, cook on a camping stove or enjoy a meal in a restaurant.

Time Out tip: On your way to Rokua Geopark, make a stop in the village of Ahmas in the Oulujoki Valley, known for its history of folk poets and traditional healers. Poems by local rune singers and spell-casters even found their way into the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic. In the heritage village, built through community volunteer efforts, you can explore old storehouses, cottages and a traditional smoke sauna. Wandering between them, it feels as though time has stood still.

What should you bring? A successful overnight trip starts with quality gear. Pack the lightweight Lundhags Padje Light 60 L Regular Short Unisex trekking pack, the ultra-light Nemo Dragonfly Osmo 2P 2026 Unisex dome tent and the inflatable Exped Ultra 3R MW Unisex sleeping mat.

What is it? The rentable Nolla cabins are located on the peaceful, uninhabited island of Tvijälp in Espoo’s inner archipelago. The island is reached by a 1950s wooden boat departing from Keilaranta Harbour in Espoo’s Keilaniemi district, which is around a 10-minute metro ride from central Helsinki.

Why we love it? A night on a deserted island, surrounded by nature yet sleeping comfortably in a bed – what could be better? One wall of the cabin is entirely made of glass, while one side of the roof is mirrored, reflecting the surrounding landscape into the space itself. If you choose cabin number 2 when booking your stay on Tvijälp, you’ll spend the night in a special Nolla cabin created in collaboration with Partioaitta, where pets are welcome too. The Partioaitta Nolla is equipped with quality gear designed to inspire adventures in local nature. Inside, you’ll find a nature guidebook, binoculars, a head torch and camping lantern, as well as a gas stove and seat pads.

Time Out tip: Get your adrenaline fix at Laguuni in Keilaniemi before unwinding at Nolla. You can test your balance at the floating water park, try wakeboarding or paddleboarding, or hire a kayak for an outing on the water.

What should you bring? This is a trip where you can prioritise comfort. Pack Yeti Coolers’ stainless steel Rambler 10 OZ Wine Tumbler and a compact travel towel from Lapuan Kankurit that won’t take up much room in your backpack.

What is it? The Tulliniemi Nature Trail leads to Uddskatan Nature Reserve, the southernmost point of mainland Finland. You can leave your car outside the entrance gate to Hanko Free Port, from where it’s just a few hundred metres to the start of the trail. The route is approximately 6.7 kilometres there and back.

Why we love it? The trail passes through an area of exceptional biodiversity. Tulliniemi is one of Finland’s most important bird migration routes and, particularly in autumn, huge numbers of migratory birds gather at the peninsula’s tip before crossing the sea. The varied landscape alternates between rugged sandy and gravel beaches, smooth coastal rocks that slope directly into the water and lush archipelago forest. At the end of the trail, the open sea stretches out before you with views in three directions. The area also has a rich history as an important maritime location and naval base. Along the route, you can spot the remains of 18th-century coastal fortifications.

Time Out tip: If you’re looking to experience a different side of Hanko, take a summer cruise or head out by private boat to see the Hauensuoli rock carvings. Located around 400 metres southwest of the tip of the Hanko Peninsula, this narrow strait once served as a sheltered anchorage for ships. From the Middle Ages through to the early twentieth century, sailors carved their markings into the surrounding island cliffs, leaving behind a fascinating historical record.

What should you bring? This is the perfect spot to relax in Ticket To The Moon’s legendary Original Hammock. Carry it and the rest of your essentials in Topo Designs’ retro-inspired Rover Pack Classic Unisex daypack. And don’t forget an ice cream break: pack your treats in Primus’s lightweight Flinta Insulated Lunch Jug 0.4L food flask to keep them cool.

What is it? The Teno River Road, officially Regional Road 970, connects Karigasniemi, Utsjoki and Nuorgam and is widely regarded as Finland’s most beautiful road. Stretching for 148 kilometres, it follows the Teno River for its entire length.

Why we love it? This reputation is well deserved. At times the road runs right alongside the Teno River, while elsewhere it climbs high above the shoreline on dramatic riverbanks. One of Finland’s most spectacular views can be enjoyed from the Báktevárri viewpoint, located roughly halfway between Karigasniemi and Utsjoki, where the Teno River Valley unfolds before you alongside the towering fells of Norway. It’s worth keeping your speed down on the Teno River Road, not only to take in the scenery but also for safety reasons. The route is winding and mostly unlit. There are significant changes in elevation and weather conditions can shift quickly. Moose and reindeer are also frequent users of the road. Finland’s most beautiful road is popular with cyclists too. The climbs make it a fairly demanding route, but with an electric bike it can comfortably be completed in a couple of days.

Time Out tip: Some of the area’s restaurants offer the chance to try local specialities, including reindeer kebab made entirely from reindeer meat. One such place is the restaurant at Aurora Holidays, located around eight kilometres from the village centre of Utsjoki.

What should you bring? A coffee break is easy wherever you are when you’ve packed Helinox’s compact Chair One (re) camping chair. Keep your coffee hot in a Primus Classic Light Vacuum Bottle 0.75L flask and enjoy it from a Pahkataide burlwood kuksa. For milk, a small Hydro Flask Micro Hydro 200ml bottle will keep it cool on the journey.

What is it? The routes of Urho Kekkonen National Park, along with Saariselkä’s fell trails and mountain biking routes, begin at the foot of Kiilopää Fell in Saariselkä. Suomen Latu Kiilopää is located around 15 kilometres from the centre of Saariselkä.

Why we love it? With its excellent facilities, Kiilopää is the perfect base for day trips in Urho Kekkonen National Park. Alongside accommodation and dining options, visitors can unwind in a traditional smoke sauna beside a mountain stream or hire a mountain bike to explore the surrounding landscape. If planning routes on your own feels daunting, guided excursions in the nearby nature offer an easy and stress-free introduction to hiking.

Time Out tip: The forests of Laanila in Saariselkä hide an unusual reminder of Lapland’s great gold rush era. In 1902, the Prospector gold mine was established here, but operations were soon abandoned when no significant gold deposits were found. Today, a log cabin stands above the former mine and can be reached via the Prospector Trail from Laanila. Through a hatch in the cabin floor, visitors can peer down into the deep, dark mine shaft while listening to recordings of the sounds once heard underground.

What should you bring? The essentials for a day hike are Osprey’s Talon 33 Men’s daypack and Yeti Coolers’ Rambler 18 OZ Bottle Chug water bottle.

What is it? The Koskikara Trail is a beginner-friendly and easy-to-follow 2.8-kilometre walking route in Leivonmäki National Park in Joutsa, around 50 kilometres south of Jyväskylä.

Why we love it? The route may be short, but the scenery packs a punch. The trail follows the banks of the Rutajoki River, giving hikers the chance to admire both powerful, fast-flowing rapids and peaceful stretches of calm water. Parts of the route run along boardwalks, while bridges carry you across the river at several points.

Time Out tip: If you’d like to experience an authentic Finnish summer dance pavilion, make time for a stop in the village of Rutalahti, just outside Leivonmäki National Park. Dances have been held at Letkaliiteri, a dance hall built inside an old barn, since 1950. On summer Saturdays, the venue fills with people as well-known performers take to the stage and keep the dance floor moving.

What should you bring? Stop for a meal with a view and cook on the spot. Pack a Primus Express Stove gas cooker, a Snow Peak Aluminium Trek 900 pot, and Vargo’s Titanium Scork camping utensil and Titanium 450 Travel Mug.

What is it? Kökar, the outermost island group in the Åland archipelago, consists of a populated main island and thousands of smaller islands and skerries. Kökar can be reached by ferry from Galtby in Korpo on the mainland or from the port of Långnäs in Åland. The ferry journey through the archipelago is a memorable experience in its own right.

Why we love it? Time seems to stand still among the rugged rocks of the outer archipelago. On the island of Källskär, you can admire unusual rock formations sculpted by the sea and ice over millions of years. The Kalen hiking trail in western Kökar winds through spectacular scenery, passing traces of the Bronze and Iron Ages, burial cairns, an ancient stone labyrinth known as a jatulintarha and the ruins of fortifications dating from the World Wars. If you’re exploring by bike, it’s worth looking into the ready-made cycling packages that include accommodation. You can also hire a canoe and discover the archipelago from the water. While paddling between the islands, you may even spot seals basking among the rocks.

Time Out tip: Pick up some local Kökar mustard as a souvenir. Kökarsenap won gold at the World Mustard Championships in 2023. At Peders Aplagård, you can also buy handcrafted ciders, soft drinks and jams made from apples grown on the island.

What should you bring? This is a place for wildlife watching and taking in the archipelago’s natural beauty. A pair of Silva Scenic 8 binoculars will help you make the most of it.