FINLANDE · Kuusamo
NUTS Karhunkierros 83km — Running Finland’s Largest Trail Race from the Arctic Circle to Ruka
Distance
83 km
Date
Droit d’inscription
195 EUR
€ / km
€2.35
Nouvelle date en attente
Cette course a déjà eu lieu. La date de la prochaine édition est en attente.
Lapland´s flagship: rugged gorges, wooden bridges, and nonstop national park trail through the legendary Bear’s Trail.
Finland’s largest trail running event starts at the Arctic Circle — at Napapiiri, where the 83 km race fires at 22:00 in late May. At 66°N, darkness barely applies: you’ll cover the legendary Karhunkierros (Bear’s Trail) through Oulanka National Park in near-perpetual twilight, past river gorges, suspension bridges, and boreal pine forest from Hautajärvi all the way to the ski village of Ruka. Elevation is gentle by ultra standards — 1,890 m of gain across 83 km (22.77 m/km official) — ranking this among the least vertical courses in the database. The course follows Finland’s most iconic long-distance hiking trail, well-marked and largely runnable, with wave starts and cutoffs at Oulanka (5h, 27.6 km) and Konttainen (15h, 77.1 km) before the 18-hour finish limit. Running since 2013, NUTS Karhunkierros drew 544 starters in the 83 km for 2026, with 436 finishers. ITRA certified. Entry is €194.90 (~2.35 €/km). Kuusamo Airport (KAO) is 28 minutes from Ruka, but international connections are limited — most runners connect via Helsinki. A sauna and hot soup await at the finish.
Élévation et Terrain
Mètres totaux
1,304m
D+/KM
15.7m/km
Pour référence, le Tor des Géants 330 km a 73 D+/km.
Pente montante moyenne
8.1%
Pente descendante moyenne
-7.5%
Distribution du gradient de montée
| 2–5% | 10.7 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 6.9 km | |
| 10–15% | 2.8 km | |
| 15–20% | 1.1 km | |
| 20%+ | 1.9 km |
Profil de parcours
AnalysedDétail du terrain
| 27.7% | Montée |
|---|---|
| 44.2% | Plat |
| 28% | Descente |
Terrain
Ascensions
Principales montées
| 1 | 7.7 km · 148 m gain starts km 61 · avg 1.9% · max 37.8% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 0.9 km · 121 m gain starts km 83 · avg 13.9% · max 36.9% |
| 3 | 4.1 km · 120 m gain starts km 37 · avg 3% · max 18.8% |
Principales descentes
| 1 | 1.2 km · 136 m drop starts km 81 · avg -11.6% · max -44.8% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 3.7 km · 131 m drop starts km 44 · avg -3.6% · max -23.4% |
| 3 | 1.3 km · 111 m drop starts km 76 · avg -9% · max -18.6% |
NUTS Karhunkierros 83km — Running Finland’s Largest Trail Race from the Arctic Circle to Ruka
Route Overview: From Napapiiri (Arctic Circle) to Ruka Through Oulanka National Park▼
What time does the NUTS Karhunkierros 83km start?
Elevation Profile: How Challenging Is the NUTS Karhunkierros 83km?▼
How much elevation gain does the NUTS Karhunkierros 83km have?
Night Start at the Arctic Circle: What to Expect at 22:00 in Late May▼
How do I get to the Hautajärvi start of the NUTS Karhunkierros 83km?
Logistics: Getting to Kuusamo and the Hautajärvi Start Line▼
What are the cutoff times for the NUTS Karhunkierros 83km?
Fichiers de course
Logistique
Aéroport le plus proche
Kuusamo (KAO) / Oulu (OUL)
Notes
Start: ~30–60 min from KAO; ~2.5–3.5 hrs from OUL / Public transport: Limited; car strongly recommended / Accommodation: Limited in peak season; book early
FAR
It’ll possibly take 3+ hours from the closest large airport to arrive. Plan your adventure accordingly, take an extra day for those after-race beers or Curranz.
