Five kilometers of ice, down Korouoma canyon and back
Most Korouoma tours walk about 5 km in total, down into the canyon, along its floor to the frozen falls and back up. The distance is modest; the ice and the final climb make it a workout. This guide covers the route, the gear the tours lend and who should think twice.
The route in three parts
Every tour follows the same basic shape. You leave the van at a car park above the canyon, walk down to the canyon floor, follow it to the ice falls and then climb back up to the car park.
The total is about 5 km (3 miles) on most tours. Arctic GM gives a range of 4–6 km, which probably reflects the falls the guide chooses on the day.
The canyon floor follows the Korojoki river under cliffs over 100 m (330 ft) high. A reviewer who brought two 9-year-olds called the walk easy to moderate, apart from a couple of steep sections.
The steep parts
The way down at the start is icy and steep in places. Reviewers describe ropes fixed along the steepest sections, and you will want a hand free to hold them.
The hardest bit, by most accounts, is the short steep climb at the end, back up to the car park. You reach it after hours in the cold, with legs that have already done the descent and the canyon floor.
Beyond Arctic's listing warns of slippery downhill and uphill parts and says the trail can be demanding. Arctic GM asks for moderate fitness and lists who should not join.
Spikes and snowshoes
You do not need your own crampons. All four tours lend spikes or grips for your boots, though each listing words it differently. Tell the guide straight away if a strap works loose.
- Arctic GM lends equipment for the shoes, in one reviewer's words
- ToTheNorth lists snow grips in the price
- Wild about Lapland reviewers mention spikes, and the tour offers snowshoes as an option
- Beyond Arctic lends winter boots along with its warm clothing
Spikes bite into ice and hard snow, so they work best on boots with stiff soles. Soft trainers let them shift underfoot, which is the last thing you want on the descent.
A Wild about Lapland reviewer also mentions a shorter route option for anyone who struggles. Ask the guide at the start if you are unsure, rather than halfway down.
Pace and breaks
ToTheNorth's hiking tour from ~$146 plans about 2 hours of hiking plus a 30-minute picnic, the clearest breakdown any listing gives. Its groups go up to 16, and some reviewers mention stops to regroup.
Wild about Lapland from ~$163 plans about 4 hours at Korouoma for the hike and photo stops, with a campfire break. Beyond Arctic from ~$163 lists roughly 3.5 hours of guided hiking.
None of this is fast walking. The stops at the falls and the fire are long enough to cool down, which is why layers matter as much as fitness; see what to wear in the canyon.
One reviewer found an outhouse at the car park and a second by the campfire. Plan on nothing else along the trail, and go before the descent.
A six-hour day with a clear hiking plan
ToTheNorth sets aside about 2 hours on the trail and a 30-minute picnic. Snow grips and a Lapland barbecue are in the price, but bring your own warm clothing and boots.
What to carry on the trail
Keep your load light, because you want both hands free on the ropes. A small backpack is enough, and Beyond Arctic lends one; Arctic GM asks guests not to bring large bags.
- A bottle of water, since some Arctic GM reviewers wished for more to drink
- A snack bar or two for the climb back up
- A spare pair of gloves in case the first pair gets wet
- A phone with a power bank, kept in an inside pocket
- Sunglasses on bright days late in winter, when the snow throws the light back
The tours bring hot drinks for the campfire, so a thermos is optional. Hiking poles appear on none of the four listings, so ask the operator first if you rely on them.
Who should skip it
Arctic GM, from ~$89, spells out who should not go. Its list opens with back or heart problems and high blood pressure and goes on to breathing problems and epilepsy. Pregnancy and recent surgery are on it as well, along with low fitness.
Arctic GM and Beyond Arctic take no children under 8, and Arctic GM rules out wheelchairs and baby carriages, which the steep icy path could not take anyway. Families can read Korouoma with kids for what younger hikers manage.
If you can walk a few km on snowy streets and climb several flights of stairs without stopping, the hike should be within reach. The ice slows everyone down, and the guide sets a pace for the whole group.
The cold and the season
In winter the canyon is often between −10 and −20 °C (14 and −4 °F), and colder days happen. You sweat on the climbs and cool fast at the falls, so dress in layers you can open and close.
How much ice you find depends on the weather, since it builds in hard frost and softens once spring arrives. Late in the season reviewers describe wetter paths and patchy snow; when the falls are frozen covers the months.
Thinking of walking it without a guide? Our page on a tour or driving yourself weighs the icy climbs alone against a guided day, and the cost guide compares the four fares.