Without a car
Regular buses connect Rovaniemi and Posio. From Posio, Metsähallitus points to a taxi for the remaining distance; the road from Posio to Saukkovaara is 30 km. For a day trip from Rovaniemi this is slow and depends on the bus timetable and on finding a taxi for the way back.
The one option in between is a coach transfer without a guide. On the BookLapland listing, the "Korouoma Frozen Waterfalls Adventure" option takes you from the Book Lapland office on Koskikatu by heated coach, the driver-host briefs you on route, conditions and return time, and you walk the canyon on your own. Overalls and boots are included; a guide, food, drinks and hotel pickup are not.
| Photo | Tour | Pickup in Rovaniemi | Hike | Spikes and winter clothing | Food | Price | Reviews | Book |
|---|
 | Korouoma Hike & BBQ
Arctic GM | Yes, your accommodation | 4–6 km | Thermal overalls; spikes not listed | Sausages by the fire, hot drinks | €70per person | ★ 4.9 (1,665) | Check dates |
 | Frozen Waterfall Hiking Tour
ToTheNorth | Yes, within 7 km | 5 km | Snow grips; clothing not listed | Lappish barbecue, hot drinks | €104per person | ★ 4.8 (339) | Check dates |
 | Hike & Hot BBQ Lunch, or Coach Only
BookLapland | Guided: selected locations · coach: office | 4–6 km guided, or on your own | Overalls and boots; spikes not listed | Guided: BBQ lunch · coach: none | €69per person | ★ 4.9 (136) | Check dates |
 | Frozen Waterfall Hike with BBQ
Arctic Aurora Experience | Yes, within 20 km | not stated | Spikes; clothing not listed | BBQ, snack, hot drink | €97per person | ★ 5.0 (20) | 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.
The road by car
From Rovaniemi it is 115 km to the Saukkovaara parking area and 100 km to the Koivuköngäs parking area, in both cases on road 81 towards Posio. Tour operators plan about an hour and a half each way. For Saukkovaara you turn off in the village of Pernu onto Koppelojärventie, drive 2 km, then turn right at the Korouoma sign for the last 3 km.
That last section is the part to take seriously. Yle described the access road in March 2026 as single-lane and rutted with packed ice. The owner of the café at the parking area told Yle that on bad days several cars a day end up in the ditch, and that many drivers do not realise the road is single-lane. Metsähallitus plans more markings and passing places. Drive slowly, use the passing places and expect minibuses coming the other way.
Parking at Saukkovaara
Saukkovaara is the trailhead for the walk to the frozen waterfalls. From 1 September 2026 until spring 2027 it is part of a paid parking trial by Metsähallitus: 1 euro per hour, at most 5 euros per day, charged between 9:00 and 18:00 with the first 30 minutes free, plus a service fee. Payment is through the EasyPark app; Metsähallitus mentions a text-message option possibly later in the autumn. Parking at Koivuköngäs stays free. Check luontoon.fi for the current rules before you go.
The parking area fills. Yle reported it filling from around midday on a February weekday, with roughly a hundred cars a day, and toilets so overloaded that many visitors turn away at the door. Arriving early helps with all three.
On the trail without a guide
The route most visitors take starts at Saukkovaara and drops steeply into the canyon. Metsähallitus describes steep icy sections and worn rope railings in winter and recommends ice grips; bring your own, because renting a pair on site is not something to count on. Mobile coverage is limited or missing in parts of the area, so Metsähallitus advises a paper map. The page on the hike covers the trail itself.
Daylight
In December the day is short. In Rovaniemi the sun rises at 11:08 and sets at 13:22 on 21 December, with usable twilight from about 9:15 to 15:15. By 1 February it is 9:19 to 15:43, by 1 March 7:33 to 17:28. Korouoma lies a little further south, but the difference is small. With 1.5 hours of driving each way in the dark and a few hours on the trail, a December self-drive leaves little slack; take a head torch for the toilets and the last part of the walk.
A practical checklist for driving yourself
Winter tyres on the rental car and a full tank before leaving Rovaniemi. Ice grips for every walker. Food and a thermos, since the café at the parking area keeps its own hours. A charged phone and a paper map. EasyPark set up before you lose signal. And a start early enough to be on the trail before noon.
