Cross-country skiing
You don't need to look any further north for a place to ski after the first snowfall in Lapland.
Posio is a
highland area, which means a long period of snow cover for skiing and other winter activities. The first snow falls on average in October – November and covers the ground through to mid-May, which means that Posio can offer up to 200 days of winter conditions every year!
Opportunities for skiing in Posio are vast and versatile. The skiing tracks in Kotivaara and
Kirintövaara hillsides,
Riisitunturi and
Karitunturi fell areas and lake Posionjärvi provides excellent opportunities for cross-country skiing in Posio. There are different kinds of ski tracks so that people of different levels of skills can find their place for cross-country skiing. You can find updated information about the
ski track situation from the tourist information and
Posion pyrintö skiing association.
Starting from the early winter there are 48 kilometres of mainteined ski tracks in Posio, 23 km of which are lit. In the high season of the mid-winter and early spring, there are altogether about 70 kilometres of well maintained cross-country skiing tracks. The "
sunshine ski tracks" are opened in February and maintained trails circle the frozen lake Posionjärvi. Special
wilderness ski tracks lead you into the frost decorated Karitunturi and Riisitunturi fell regions.
Cross-country skiing tracks to the Karitunturi fell area starts from Kirintövaara and Kotivaara in the town centre of Posio (next to Pentik Mäki). Routes to Riisitunturi fell area starts from Tolva, from the Syrjälahti parking place, or from the Korpihilla Delicacy Shop grounds. You can find all the ski tracks and their starting points in the
ski track map of Posio which is available online and in print in the tourist information.
Cross-country skiing trail possibilities in Posio
1. The Kotivaara cross-country skiing fitness trail (5 km) traverses the populated region of Posio, the departure point of which is the sports field. The route travels via Pentik Mäki to the Kotivaara Hill and returns to the sports field. Some of the illuminated routes are return routes. A skiing ground is located along the trail. Each year, the Posion Pyrintö sports club arranges the national Posion Pentik cross-country skiing competition on this trail. The Kotivaara trail is suitable for demanding fitness cross-country skiers.
2. The illuminated, round route fitness trail to Kirintövaara starts from the Kotivaara trail from the area between Pentik Mäki and the airdome. The distance covered by this route is 13 kilometres round trip. The trail is well suited as a practice ground for fitness skiers.
3. Kirintövaara also has a demanding, illuminated cross-country fitness skiing trail (3 km) as a practice ground for competition skiers. In addition, the trail is connected with the non-lit competition track (2 km).
4. In early spring (February – April) the cross-country skiing trails are the Karitunturi trail and Turjanvaara sunshine trail. The 15-kilometre round route trail of Karitunturi starts from the illuminated village – Kirintövaara trail near Kirintövaara and is suitable for demanding fitness skiers. The Turjanvaara sunshine trail also starts from the village – Kirintövaara trail and travels via Holiday Village Himmerki. The distance covered by this route is just over 10 kilometres round trip.
All the above routes are machine maintained and suitable for traditional and skating styles of cross-country skiing. You can easily start to ski the trail from the parking ground near Pentik Mäki. Other good departure points are Holiday Village Himmerki, Hotel Kirikeskus and the stadium area near the top of the Kirintövaara Hill.
In addition to these trails is the Lake Posiojärvi sunshine trail near the village that is open from the beginning of February. This trail is used for the traditional style of cross-country skiing. The trail is also permitted for dog walking. The length of the Posiojärvi sunshine trail straps is 16 km. It has a connection to other trails at the parking ground near Pentik Mäki.
In early spring there is a maintained trail leading from Tolva to Riisitunturi (7 km), which continues from Riisitunturi to the Syrjälahti parking area (4.5 km). This trail is used for the traditional style of cross-country skiing.
Winter activities
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Downhill skiing
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Cross-country skiing
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Ice climbing
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Snowmobiling
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Horse trekking
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Husky safaris