Kaunispää | Exploring Finland
Kaunispää is a mountain just to the north of Saariselkä in Finnish Lapland. This is the reindeer country of northern Finland, with the possibility to see reindeer herds grazing. The mountain itself reaches an altitude of 438 meters and offers a great view of the surrounding area. The possibility to see unobstructed for kilometers resulted in the mountain being home to one of the region’s triangulation stations. The mountain is today together with the nearby mountain Iisakkipää a part of the Saariselkä Ski Resort
A Short History of Kaunispää
The road to the top of Kaunispää was built already in 1913, when the road between Sodankylä and Ivalo was built. A cabin for the firefighters and a fire lookout tower were constructed at the top pf the mountain. The buildings were, however, destroyed in 1944 during the Lapland War against the retreating German soldiers. It was partly rebuilt first in 1952, marking the start of the current tourism age of the mountain.
The ski slopes at Kaunispää opened in 1971. They have since been one of the attractions for the expanding Saariselkä Resort at the feet of the mountain.
Things to Do and See
Kaunispää is a popular destination both for winter and summer. The mountain might be home to more reindeer than people, but the number of visitors are probably manifolds more.
Winter
Skiing is the main activity here during the winter. The mountain is mostly used for Alpine skiing, but there are also plenty of tracks for cross-country skiing in the area. Kaunispää is together with the nearby mountain Iisakkipää making up the ski center of Saariselkä Resort.
Summer
Driving to the top of Kaunispää to enjoy the view is popular during the summer months. Here you will find a restaurant as well as a watch tower. The area is also popular for hiking and biking, two activities that offer a great possibility to see some of the many reindeer.
How to Get to Kaunispää
- Flights: Ivalo Airport (IVL) lies to the north, it is a regional airport with seasonal flights to other European airports and regular domestic flights to Helsinki.
- Car: Kaunispää is located along Road E75, just to the north of Saariselkä, between Ivalo and Sodankylä.
The driving distance from 5 major Finnish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Helsinki – 1086 kilometers (12 h 20 min)
- Turku – 1097 kilometers (12 h 50 min)
- Vaasa – 798 kilometers (9 h 30 min)
- Oulu – 480 kilometers (5 h 40 min)
- Joensuu – 808 kilometers (9 h 20 min)
Looking to Explore more of Finland and Europe?
