Cross-Country Ski Trails

Village trail

The cross-country ski trails in Rautavaara village centre offer versatile and easily accessible routes for both fitness skiing and relaxed outings. A floodlit section allows you to ski even during dusk and darkness – whenever it suits you best. Skiing with a dog is also permitted on designated sections in accordance with the current rules. The trails are located close to the centre of Rautavaara.

Village centre trails: View trail map (In finnish)

Routes starting from the Multi-Purpose Building

Address: Urheilutie 1, Rautavaara
(primary start and finish point for the trails)

The Multi-Purpose Building serves as the main starting and finishing point for the village centre ski trails. Skiers can use the building’s toilet facilities.

When starting from the Multi-Purpose Building, you can choose a loop that suits your preferred distance:

1 km – easy, flat and fully floodlit
2 km – fully floodlit, includes one steeper climb
3 km – fully floodlit, includes one steeper climb
5 km – fully floodlit varied loop; one steeper climb halfway along the route
8 km – varied loop with one steeper climb. Around 5 km is floodlit, while approximately 3 km is unlit.

On the village centre trail network it is also possible to ski with a dog. Dog-assisted skiing is permitted on designated sections. Please take other trail users into account, keep your dog under control and follow the rules for dog skiing.

Kunttasuo Trail – start from the Shooting Range (alternative route)

Rautavaaran Erämiehet Hut / Shooting Range
Address: Sonkajärventie 300, Rautavaara
(about 3 km from the village centre towards Iisalmi)

The shooting range area serves as an alternative starting point for the village centre trail network.

The Kunttasuo trail is an approximately 3 km unlit circular route that starts from the Rautavaaran Erämiehet hut and returns to the same point. The terrain is flat and easy, making it well suited for relaxed fitness skiing and for beginners.

Many dog skiers prefer the shooting range starting point because the surroundings are more open and the route forms a circular loop with the start and finish at the same location.

Maintenance of the ski trails

The ski tracks are prepared with a grooming machine at least four times per week and whenever at least 2 cm of new snow has fallen on the trails (this does not include snow drifted by wind).

No maintenance takes place between 22:00 and 07:00. During continuous snowfall, the trails are groomed once per day after the snowfall or drifting snow has ended.

Dog Skiing

On Rautavaara ski trails it is possible to ski with a dog on a lead.

Dog skiing is permitted on all trails on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 19:00 to 21:00. During these time slots, skiing without a dog is also allowed.

In addition, on the shooting range loop (the far section of the 8 km route) skiing with a dog is permitted without time restrictions.

Please take other trail users into consideration:

• dogs must always be kept on a lead

• any dog waste must be removed from the trail

• try to keep the dog away from the classic skiing track

Blue section on the map: route where dog skiing is always permitted.

Map Legend

Purple = snowmobile route
Blue = cross-country ski trail
Red = floodlit trail section

Ylä-Luosta Ski Trail

The Ylä-Luosta Youth Association maintains these trails. View trail map (In finnish)

Starting point: yard of the Youth Association Hall
Yläluostantie 1070

Classic cross-country tracks only – no skating lane. The trails are not floodlit.

During the winter season, a café operates in the Youth Association Hall. Please check the café’s opening hours (in finnish) in advance.

Metsäkartano Ski Trails

The Metsäkartano Youth Centre maintains its own ski trail network in a nature-rich environment surrounded by lakes and forests.

Starting point: Metsäkartanontie 700, Rautavaara
(The trail gateway is located at the corner of the Metsäkartano yard, behind the heating plant on the lakeside.)

Route Options

At Metsäkartano, skiing is done using the classic technique. The available routes are:

3 km lakeside trail
3 km forest loop
8 km forest route

Of the 3 km trail, approximately 700 metres are floodlit.

Dog skiing and dog-sledding are also permitted on the routes, making Metsäkartano a good option for visitors travelling with dogs.

Services

The main building at Metsäkartano has a restaurant and café (open Monday–Sunday). It is recommended to check the opening hours in advance. Check restaurant opening hours (in english)

It is also possible to rent cross-country skis at Metsäkartano, making it easy to access the trails without bringing your own equipment.

Trail Conditions

You can check the current ski trail conditions at Metsäkartano:

• by calling reception: +358 40 839 6350

Tiilikkajärvi National Park Ski Trails

The ski trails in Tiilikkajärvi National Park offer peaceful wilderness skiing surrounded by ridges, wetlands and lake landscapes.

The trails are groomed when weather and snow conditions allow, and maintenance is carried out voluntarily with coordination from the Municipality of Rautavaara.

Up-to-date maintenance information can be found in the Tiilikkajärven latusepät Facebook group (in finnish) and on the Municipality of Rautavaara Facebook page.

Southern Starting Point (recommended): Sammakkotammi

From the Sammakkotammi parking area
Valtimontie 1095, Rautavaara

The parking area provides easy access to the trails and serves as the main starting point.

The ski trail consists of two classic-style loops:

• 7 km
• 17 km

The trails begin at the Sammakkoniemi information point (in practice the Sammakkotammi–Sammakkoniemi area).

A good rest stop along the route is Uitonkämppä hut, where you can comfortably stop for refreshments.

Northern Starting Point (alternative): Pohjoislahti / Pohjoisniemi direction

Pohjoislahti parking area
Kajaanintie 1655, Rautavaara (road 870)

This serves as an alternative starting point from the north.

Please note that the road leading towards Pohjoislahti / Pohjoisniemi is usually not ploughed in winter. Parking is available near the junction, and the park can be accessed on skis along the road.

Trail Conditions and Current Information

Because the trails are groomed depending on conditions, it is advisable to check trail conditions before your trip.

The Municipality of Rautavaara coordinates maintenance, and current updates can be found in the Tiilikkajärven latusepät Facebook group.

Trail maintenance is carried out voluntarily under the coordination of the Municipality of Rautavaara.

Trail map (In Finnish):