Auttiköngäs Nature Trail: An Easy Hike Near Rovaniemi

One place near Rovaniemi that I frequently return to is Auttiköngäs, a famous waterfall and former log flume, located about an hour away. It sits right on Route 81, which takes you toward Kuusamo and I always make it a point to stop on the way for lunch over the fire.

While I usually stop for a quick lunch at the lean-to shelter, I rarely walk the Auttiköngäs Nature Trail. Winter and spring make the trail much harder (and you’ll need spikes and maybe even snowshoes in parts) and I don’t have enough daylight to deal with it if I want to make it to where I’m going from before it gets dark.

But I have hiked it twice in summer… and one of those times was just the other day. I thought I’d share it here for travelers coming to the area who are looking for an easy hike somewhere beautiful, but close to Rovaniemi.

I will detail more about the hike, what to bring, practical information, and more. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments. Thanks!

About Auttiköngäs

Auttiköngäs is a gorgeous canyon teeming with forest that has a 16-meter-high (52-feet-high) waterfall that was historically used for logging.

There is a wooden log chute that is still present (but not used) at the waterfall that was used to send logs down the waterfall that sits on the Auttijoki River.

The flume dates back to 1889 and was used until the 1970s. There is also a small museum on-site that displays some of the items used in the process… but I have yet to visit it.

The Nature Trail at Auttiköngäs (detailed below) and Pirtti Cafe are also in the canyon.

Pirtti Cafe is open daily throughout summer and autumn from 11am until 5pm. They are famous for their soup, so if you are not making a fire, definitely head in for a bowl. The soup is sold daily from 11am until 3pm. They also have a seating area, coffee and cakes, and other small snacks. You’ll also find an array of local goods for sale.

You can find Auttiköngäs about 83 kilometers (about 50 miles) from Rovaniemi. It takes just over an hour to get there.

How to Get to Auttiköngäs

You can easily take Route 81 east from Rovaniemi toward Kuusamo. Do know that there is a right turn at the crossroads by the K-Market at Vanttauskoski. Don’t miss it! But if you do, you can continue on what turns into Route 9447 at the turn onto Route 944 about 21 kilometers (13 miles) ahead.

Until September 30, 2025, there is construction at the Vanttauskoski turn over the dam. This area is closed… so you will need to continue the alternative way I explained above.

The drive from Rovaniemi is just over one hour and the speed limit is around 80/kph most of the way, with sections increasing to 100/kph.

My Experience Hiking the Auttiköngäs Nature Trail

Despite what you see on Wikiloc and Alltrails, this is an easy trail if you go in summer or autumn. It is 3.6 kilometers (2.2 miles) with an elevation gain of 125 meters (413 feet).

The Auttiköngäs Nature Trail is a loop trail that starts at the parking lot and ends around the waterfall. I suggest starting in this direction (and ending with the waterfall section). You can see more on the map below.

It took me 1 hour and 18 minutes to complete this hike, but that is because I climbed the observation tower, took a lot of photos, and stopped to acknowledge a dog. It should take no longer than 1 hour for the average person.

The scenery is pretty standard Finnish old-growth forest. There are a lot of rocks in some parts, a boardwalk trail, and a climb across some worn rocks. On the part that goes over the worn rocks, there is a rope to guide you in the right direction. Just stay alongside it.

Here is a gallery of photos from the hike:

This hike is not heavily trafficked on a typical day. I have been in the late morning into the early afternoon both times and never felt like there were too many people there, despite the small parking lot usually being filled by the time I left.

Some of the things you’ll see throughout the hike are the Könkäänvaara Observation Tower, a suspension bridge over the Auttijoki River, and the famous Auttiköngäs waterfall (with the log flume).

FAQ

What about mosquitoes?

There are mosquitoes on the trail, but both times weren’t that bad. I would avoid early mornings and evenings here, on the other hand. The worst part is around the suspension bridge halfway through the hike.

You will cross a more stagnant section of the Auttijoki River, and the mosquitoes hang out there. The rest of the hike isn’t too bad as long as you keep moving and don’t stand still for too long.

When is the best time to hike the Auttiköngäs Nature Trail?

I would recommend anywhere from 10:30am until 4pm. While this is the warmest part of the day and will be the busiest, it is the least mosquito-y (which matters if you’re going in summer).

I started my last hike at 11:15am and the trail was empty then. By the time I finished an hour later, people had arrived but not too many.

Arriving earlier also ensures parking, as the lot is pretty small.

When is the best season to hike the Auttiköngäs Nature Trail?

I mentioned a few times in here that I believe it is summer and autumn. Snowfall and ice would make this hike far more difficult. Here are a few pics of Auttiköngäs waterfall in other seasons:

Where can I make a fire at Auttiköngäs?

Please note that we usually have fire restrictions in place in summer here, so you can not build fires outside of fire pits. I don’t believe you can do that at any time of the year here, either.

There is a lean-to shelter (with a fire pit) right above the waterfall area that is free to use. Bring your own wood (there is rarely any there and if there is, it is for locals to use).

There are also another lean-to and the Uittopirtti day-use hut along the trail near the suspension bridge.

The Uittopirtti day-use shelter had plenty of wood when I passed it, and locals are free to use this. If you’re not local, please bring your own with you. This area was very mosquito-y in summer, even in the middle of the day… so I would opt for the lean-to at the end of the hike near the parking lot!

Are there toilets on the hike?

There is no toilet on the hike but there is a nice dry toilet located at the parking lot that you can use for free. It is probably the nicest dry toilet I have ever been inside! If you’re visiting in the winter, be sure to bring your own toilet paper. It is well-maintained in summer and autumn.

If you’re not able to use this toilet, the cafe has one that you can use for €2. Please note that the cafe doesn’t accept coins, so you can pay with a card or small bills.

Is the Auttiköngäs Nature Trail dog-friendly?

Yes! Dogs are more than welcome on the Auttiköngäs Nature Trail and there is even a trail designed specifically for them! There are metal, grated bridges throughout the park in various areas and every one of them has a trail beside it or wooden steps for the dog.

There is one section that is not dog-friendly (a lot of these bridges over large rock formations) so the trail reroutes for dogs. You’ll see signs indicating this on both sides of the detour.

What should I bring for a day hike at Auttiköngäs?

Nothing outside the usual. Bring water, good trail shoes (could be muddy if it has recently rained), and some bug spray if you go in the morning or evenings. If there was a fresh rain, it could also be mosquito-y. This is a very easy hike.

Do you have any questions about hiking the Auttiköngäs Nature Trail? Send me a message or let me know in the comments!

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