Nivankylä on the Ounasjoki

Nivankylä brings together the river landscape of the Ounasjoki, island routes, independent hiking and traces of older building and burial history. When choosing your travel dates and activities, the seasonal differences in how certain places are accessed are particularly interesting: In summer, the shelter on Iso-Kuusisaari can be reached by boat from the Ounasjoki; in winter, the route across the ice can be travelled on skis or snowshoes.

River Landscape and Island Routes

The Nivankylä archipelago on the Ounasjoki features natural sandbanks and long, shallow stretches alongside areas of current. In summer, the river landscape is suited to rowing, paddling and stand-up paddleboarding. The shelter is on Iso-Kuusisaari, an island in the Ounasjoki. Reaching the island by boat in summer and crossing the ice in winter are different seasonal ways to get there.

Pikkukuusisaari has a ski trail about two kilometres long. It descends in sweeping runs into the island’s flood channels. A longer option is the seven-kilometre ski loop around the archipelago. In spring, when snow conditions are favourable, the ski trails on Pikkukuusisaari may extend all the way to the town.

Hiking and Outdoor Activities in Different Seasons

Nuuksvaara offers opportunities for independent hiking in every season. The area is in Nivankylä, east of the Ounasjoki, about 15 kilometres upstream from the town. From the summit, the view stretches across all of Nivankylä to the town. Those looking to combine a hike with a viewpoint will find a different focus here than on the island ski trails: the emphasis is on hiking independently and taking in the view from the summit. Nivankylä also has a lit ski trail that can be used for walking in summer.

The skating rink is another of the winter activities described here. It has well-maintained ice, evening lighting and a heated building where visitors can change. In winter, families and groups of friends meet there in the evenings and at weekends to play and spend time together.

Building History and Traces of the Past

Hiukanmäki, formerly Mäkihiukka, dates from 1910 and represents a typical Southern Finnish Peräpohjala building type, complete with its associated farmstead. Hiukka in Nivankylä represents a different period: it is the site of a burial ground from the Late Iron Age. The building ensemble and the burial ground differ considerably in their historical periods. Those interested in building history or earlier history, as well as river and nature experiences, can include these places in their trip as distinct cultural highlights.

Getting Around by Bike

Cyclists also have a specific estimate for the journey between the western side of Nivankylä and the town: the ride takes a little over half an hour on quiet minor roads. This information complements the different ways to experience the landscape on foot, on the water or, in winter, on skis and snowshoes.

More destination pages: Pudasjärvi, Närpes, Kalajoki, Karhula, Strandby, Laakkola, Nastola and Kuivaniemi.

For the broader travel overview: North Ostrobothnia.