Lemmenjoki National Park lies in Lapland, in northern Finland, and is the largest national park in the country. It is a place of wide wilderness, where rivers run through forest and fell country and the sense of space is considerable.
What the park is known for
- Gold panning history: the area has a long connection with gold, and the river valleys still carry traces of that past.
- Wilderness rivers: the waterways are the park's main thread, shaping the landscape and the routes through it.
- Traditional Sami culture: the park sits in Sami homeland, and the presence of Sami culture is part of the visit.
What a visit offers
Lemmenjoki suits visitors who want to be outdoors for a good part of their time. Hiking and canoeing are the main ways to explore, and both reward those who plan their route and come prepared for remote country, where facilities are few and the landscape is largely left to itself.
Because the park is so large and so quiet, it works best as a deliberate trip rather than a quick stop. Travellers interested in northern Finland will find it a natural part of a wider journey through Lapland, where the open country and river systems form the setting for the visit.
