Kielosaari plant and fungus trail

The Kielosaari Plant and Fungus Trail is located in Vikajärvi, 20.8 km from Rovaniemi toward Sodankylä. It is part of the Arctic Circle hiking area, a wilderness destination ideal for year-round outdoor recreation. The signature features of the landscape are rugged hills, open water-logged string bogs, and Raudanjoki with its spectacular rapids and lush shoreline forest. The hiking area’s trail network is diverse and has several resting sites, offering visitors of all ages a variety of hiking destinations. The location is easy to access year round.

 The Plant and Fungus Trail is a small-scale nature trail on Kielosaari, or Kielo Island, one of the Könkäänsaaret Islands. The trail introduces the lush vegetation and variety of fungi on the islands. Duckboards cover the entire trail. The length of the circular trail is about 370 m. The difficulty level is easy. Besides hiking, the trail is also suited for snowshoeing in the winter.

 The conveniences of the Plant and Fungus Trail include the well-equipped rest stops of Könkäänsaari and Karhukumpu. There are benches, a lean-to, a campfire site, a woodshed and accessible outhouse at Könkäänsaari. There is a lean-to, campfire site, woodshed and outhouse at Karhukumpu. The Vaattunkiköngäs parking area is equipped with an outhouse.

 Directions: drive 22.1 km out of Rovaniemi along Sodankyläntie; turn right on Vaattunkikönkääntie; drive 2.1 km to the parking area at the end of the road. Access the trail from the parking area by taking the Könkäiden Trail via Könkäänsaari. After 1 km, the starting point is on the left. The Arctic Circle Hiking Area is also accessible by bus along Sodankyläntie. The distance from Sodankyläntie to the Vaattunkiköngäs parking area is around 2 km along Vaattunkikönkääntie.