Korouoma: the frozen waterfalls, as a day tour from Rovaniemi
A canyon 115 km by road south-east of Rovaniemi, a steep winter trail and icefalls on the cliffs. The tours below differ in pickup, hike length, equipment and group size, and the table shows each of them.
Korouoma tours from Rovaniemi
Sorted by number of reviews; tap Price or Reviews to re-sort. Group size, minimum age and food for each tour are on the full comparison page.
| Photo | Tour | Pickup in Rovaniemi | Total duration | Hike | Spikes and winter clothing | Price ↕ | Reviews ↕ | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Korouoma Hike & BBQ Arctic GM | Yes, your accommodation | 7 h | 4–6 km | Thermal overalls; spikes not listed | €70per person | ★ 4.9 (1,665) | Check dates |
 | Small-Group Frozen Waterfalls Tour Wild about Lapland | Outside the centre only; centre: meeting point | 7 h | about 5 km | Winter clothing, boots, equipment | €145per person | ★ 4.8 (1,534) | Check dates |
 | Frozen Waterfall Hiking Tour ToTheNorth | Yes, within 7 km | 6 h | 5 km | Snow grips; clothing not listed | €104per person | ★ 4.8 (339) | Check dates |
 | Frozen Waterfalls & Pro Photos Beyond Arctic | Yes, hotel | 6.5 h | about 5 km | Warm clothing, winter boots; spikes not listed | €123per person | ★ 4.8 (288) | Check dates |
 | Hike & Hot BBQ Lunch, or Coach Only BookLapland | Guided: selected locations · coach: office | 7 h | 4–6 km guided, or on your own | Overalls and boots; spikes not listed | €69per person | ★ 4.9 (136) | Check dates |
 | Canyon & Frozen Waterfalls Lapland Outdoor Adventures | Yes, hotel | 6 h | 2–5 km | Overalls, winter shoes, poles | €75per person | ★ 4.8 (97) | Check dates |
 | Canyon and Frozen Waterfalls Tour AMG Travel | Yes, hotel | 7 h | not stated | Not listed | €99per person | ★ 4.7 (70) | Check dates |
 | Frozen Waterfall Hike with BBQ Arctic Aurora Experience | Yes, within 20 km | 7 h | not stated | Spikes; clothing not listed | €97per person | ★ 5.0 (20) | Check dates |
 | Canyon Winter Hike Authentic Experiences Rovaniemi | Yes, hotel | 6 h | about 5 km | Not listed | €68per person | ★ 4.4 (18) | Check dates |
 | Riisitunturi & Frozen Waterfall Aurora Monkeys | Yes, city area | 8 h | 2–4 km | Not listed | €167per person | ★ 4.5 (14) | Check dates |
 | Frozen Waterfalls Guided Hike RBK Travel | Yes, hotel | 7 h | not stated | Not listed | €99per person | ★ 4.9 (9) | Check dates |
 | Korouoma & Auttiköngäs Waterfall Hike The Treasure of Lapland | Yes, within 10 km | 7 h | 5–6 km at two sites | Not clearly listed | €118per person | ★ 5.0 (2) | Check dates |
 | Korouoma & Northern Lights Arctic Aurora Experience | Yes | 10 h with a break | not stated | Not listed | €249per person | ★ 5.0 (1) | Check dates |
The Korouoma prices in this table are per adult and come from GetYourGuide when the page loads, with taxes and fees included. Some listings sell more than one option, so check which option a price belongs to.
Tour or drive yourself
There is no direct bus to Korouoma. Without a car, the choice is a tour or a long bus ride to Posio followed by a taxi. With a car, the drive is about 115 km each way in winter, the last stretch on a narrow single-lane access road, and the Saukkovaara parking area charges a fee during the 2026/27 trial and fills up around midday on busy days. A tour bundles the transfer, a guide who knows the trail and, depending on the listing, overalls, boots and grips.
Driving yourself works for experienced winter drivers who bring their own ice grips and arrive early. The self-drive or tour page sets out what each option asks of you, including the coach transfer without a guide.
- The path down into the canyon is icy. Visitors slide down it on purpose, which polishes it further, and Metsähallitus recommends ice grips in winter. Several tours do not list grips, so check the gear column before you book.
- Around midday it gets busy. Up to 150–200 people can stand below the icefalls at once, and the parking area at Saukkovaara starts filling around noon on a February weekday. Early departures arrive before that.
- The last part of the hike is a climb out of the canyon, at the end of a cold day. Reviewers who found the tour hard almost always mention this climb.
Korouoma in the reviews
The guides and the campfire get most of the praise. The critical reviews are about missing grips on an icy descent, a guide walking too fast, and children getting cold, which is why the table lists equipment for each tour.
“Had a great time! A very beautiful hike. Our guide was knowledgeable and patient with my slower pace! Leaving early morning is best because it is not crowded and you can enjoy your time there!”
“DO NOT DO THIS HIKE WITHOUT CRAMPONS !!! The downhill paths get extremely icy and slippery (because people go down on their butt and it makes the terrain even icier) and it is crazy to go down these paths without crampons. … I fell and broke my leg! … P.S: the reason I put a 1 out of 5 stars review is so that people see my message and take my advice. The hike itself is beautiful.”
“Great tour! Provided spikes for shoes making it easier to get around on the hike. The hike is like 3 miles long but is relatively easy until the end. You have to hike up a huge hill. But, I would definitely do it again.”
“Mark is the most experienced tourist guide we got, who brought lots of different knowledge of animals track, plants, waterfall, also fun of sliding down. … Only too many tourist groups on the way, which should be limited, it's too crowded in the park.”
“Too expensive for what it offers. We selected it becouse of the scary comments we heard about the road. So it offers the transfer and some sausages and marshmallows in the fire. Very nice place though.”
“We were a group of 4 (3 of us, and 1 other) and we expected Alex to stay with the group on the trek, instead Alex was far ahead of us at a pace much faster than the group which not only discouraged the group but also affected our experience negatively.”
Reviews of Korouoma day trips, quoted from GetYourGuide.
Planning the day
The trail, the season, clothing and children, one page each.
The hike from Saukkovaara
Down into the canyon, along the icefalls and back up: distance, slope and the icy spots.
Read more
When the waterfalls are frozen
The ice season, daylight in December and why early starts help.
Read more
What to wear
What tours hand out, and what to bring yourself for a full day outdoors in winter.
Read more
Korouoma with children
Minimum ages, the final climb and keeping children warm.
Read more
What the price includes
From the coach transfer without a guide to small groups with a photographer.
Read moreA protected area, not a national park
Korouoma is a canyon of about 30 km in the municipality of Posio, part of a bedrock fracture zone, and a protected area managed by Metsähallitus. In winter, streams on its cliffs freeze into icefalls; the best known, Ruskeavirta, is 60 metres high and visible from the trail down from Saukkovaara. Entry is free, and visits have grown quickly: Metsähallitus counted 58,000 in 2023 and 68,000 in 2024.
About the trailWhy this site exists
Korouoma tours are sold under near-identical names, and the useful details sit deep in each listing: does the van stop at your hotel, do you get grips for the icy descent, how many people share the guide. We collect those details in one table and add what Metsähallitus says about the trail and the parking. When you book through a link here, the booking platform pays us a commission out of its margin; your price stays the same.
Questions about Korouoma tours
Answers from the tour listings and from Metsähallitus.
How far is Korouoma from Rovaniemi?
Metsähallitus gives 115 km from Rovaniemi to the Saukkovaara parking area, where the trail to the frozen waterfalls starts, and 100 km to the Koivuköngäs parking area. Both are reached on road 81 towards Posio. Tour operators plan about an hour and a half of driving each way, and a full day trip takes six to seven hours.
Is Korouoma a national park?
No. Korouoma is a protected area managed by Metsähallitus, the Finnish state agency that also runs the national parks. Some tour listings call it a national park anyway. Entry is free; what has changed is parking at Saukkovaara, which is part of a paid parking trial from September 2026 to spring 2027.
Can I get to Korouoma without a car?
Not directly. Metsähallitus states that there is no direct public transport. Regular buses run from Rovaniemi to Posio, and from Posio the only option is a taxi for the remaining distance. For a day from Rovaniemi, the practical choices are a guided tour or the coach transfer without a guide that one listing on this site sells.
How long and how hard is the hike?
Most tours list 4–6 km or about 5 km, a few list less. The trail drops steeply from the parking area into the canyon and climbs back up at the end, and Metsähallitus warns of steep icy sections and worn rope railings in winter. Reviewers describe the walk as easy on the flat parts and hard on the final climb. Our page on the hike has the details.
Do I need spikes or crampons?
Metsähallitus recommends ice grips in winter, and the descent is often polished by people sliding down it. Some tours hand out spikes or snow grips, others list overalls and boots but no grips, and a few list no equipment at all. The comparison table shows what each listing includes; if grips are not listed, ask the operator or bring your own.
When are the waterfalls frozen?
Metsähallitus gives the ice season as December to March. Tours run from about November to April, and one operator notes that the waterfalls are only frozen from December. The size and shape of the icefalls change from year to year with rainfall and frost.
Can children come on a Korouoma tour?
It depends on the tour. One listing accepts children from 5, several set the limit at 8, and the Riisitunturi combination tour starts at 14. Many listings state no age at all. The final climb out of the canyon and the cold are the two things parents mention most; see our page on Korouoma with children.
Is it crowded?
At peak times, yes. Metsähallitus counted up to 150–200 people at once below the icefalls, and Yle reported the parking area filling from around midday on a February weekday. Tours that leave Rovaniemi early in the morning usually arrive before the busiest hours.
Can I go ice climbing in Korouoma?
Ice climbing is allowed on all the frozen waterfalls in the area, and Metsähallitus advises beginners to take a course with a climbing club or a commercial organiser first. None of the hiking tours on this site include climbing.
Can I cancel a Korouoma tour?
All tours on this site can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the start. Some operators also need a minimum of two participants and move or refund the tour if it is not reached.
Pickup, grips and group size before you book
The table lists them for each Korouoma tour from Rovaniemi.
Back to the table