Aurora Borealis on our night skies!

We've lately seen some incredible Aurora Borealis on our nights skies in Ruka and Kuusamo area. Here are some tips for catching your own show:

• Northern Lights are active mostly during 10 pm and 2 am. 
• Clear skies makes it easier to see the Northern Lights. 
• Surrounding lights (street lights etc) make it difficult to see this phenomenon, so try to move to such location that does not have any extra light. 

If Ruka slopes are illuminated during the night due to snow making, try to go a bit further away from the lights. For instrance Myllykoski along Pieni Karhunkierros trail is a great location with a fireplace. Riisitunturi is another great location, and a bit higher, allowing you to see to all directions.

These pictures are taken right next to Ruka Ski Resort on Monday Jan 30th after 9 pm, no illumination on the slopes.

Videos below will show you the dance of the Northern Lights, too!




24.1.2012 Auroras. from Pekka Kokko on Vimeo.
Whole night video from Finnish sky. Captured by Minolta Dimage Z1, each photo ISO200, f 2.8, 15s. First clue of auroras in video time 00.30 and 01.05 they seems to vanish. 01.52 comes a total boom! Sky full of bright auroras! 02.40 clouds covers the sky, but in 03.00 sky is clear again. And in the end there is morning 25.1. You can see aeroplanes, satellites and shooting stars flying in the video. Totally allmost 3000 photos in timelapse.

Slopes, ski tracks and sledge runs ready for Christmas holiday makers!

A sledge run has been opened at the base of Vuosseli slope next to 6-seater. Also Rosa and Rudolf Adventure Route is open; reindeer Lightning and Rosa will be there as soon as we can catch them from the forest.

More lifts are open: now also Kelo lift (E) and Kelo slope are open. Altogether 12 lifts and 18 slopes! See slope and lift details >>

Ski track information
Part of Ruka area ski tracks are located on top of lakes/ice cover. Right now the ice cover is not strong enough for maintenance machinery. We need minimum 15 cm of strong ice, now there's about 5-12 cm. However, other tracks in Ruka area are open and in good shape.

Water is rising on top of ice cover due to ice fishing holes for instance on lake Talvijärvi. We try to direct ice fishers to other locations but ski tracks.

Cafe services along Vuosseli route: Cafe Lammintupa open daily at 10-15, exept on Christmas Eve 24.12 at 10–13. Korpikahvila open daily at 9-15.

See up-to-date ski track information >>

Virtual Ruka and Kuusamo

Our new virtual panoramas allow you to move easily in between different places and services. You can jump into shops and restaurants as well as to Ruka slopes from Ruka village. You can also use maps for finding places of interest.

Ruka and Kuusamo offer lots to do both for winter and summer. If you've only visited Ruka in winter, take a look at Ruka in summer! We'll add more winter photos in spring 2012.

Jump in and enjoy the ride! Virtual.ruka.fi >>

Happy skiers on Ruka First Snow Track

Ruka First Snow Track (1,3 km; Skating & Nordic styles) was opened on Friday 21.10.2011 and has gained a lot of positive feedback from skiers, especially due to free entrance, clean snow cover and variable profile.
First Snow Track is located in Ruka Ski Stadium area and is available for all skiers for free.

First Snow Track towards Hotel Rukatonttu.

First Snow Track towards Ski-Inn Aurinkorinne. 

isätietoja: www.ruka.fi/firstsnowtrack

Construction work on Pieni Karhukierros Trail

Pieni Karhunkierros Trail under construction - Waterproof boots needed!

The duckboards along Pieni Karhunkierros Trail are being renovated during winter 2011-2012. We are sorry for any inconvenience.

More information:
• Oulanka Visitor Centre, tel. int. +358 205 64 6580
• Facebook.com/oulangankansallispuisto