Kemijärvi: Lake Scenery, Culture and Winter Trails

Lakes, culture and winter activities define Kemijärvi. The town centre lies amid the lakes of Lapland and is surrounded by waterways. At Lake Pöyliöjärvi, waterside recreation and cultural offerings come together: the cultural centre is located in the town centre on the lakeshore, and the lake beach is within walking distance of the campsite and shops. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can therefore consider whether you would like your trip to focus mainly on the town centre, waterside activities or winter pursuits.

Experience Lake Pöyliöjärvi and the outdoors

Swimming and canoeing are popular recreational activities on Lake Pöyliöjärvi. There is also an ice-swimming spot on the lakeshore, behind the Poukama swimming pool and tennis courts, operated by the Kemijärven Latu association. Indoor sports facilities in the town centre include the Poukama Spa and Swimming Pool, the Wirta Arena ice rink, the sports hall and the Hillatie School gym. So, as well as lakeside experiences, there are several indoor sports facilities to choose from as specific places to visit in town.

If you enjoy cycling, you will find mountain biking trails maintained by the town of Kemijärvi. There is also an 18-hole disc golf course in Pöyliövaara. The hilly forest course has many elevation changes and is not maintained—a useful detail to keep in mind if you are considering this activity during your stay. The Kotavaara observation tower is seven kilometres from the town centre; from there, you can enjoy views of Kemijärvi and the Kemijoki River.

Winter trails and snowmobile routes

The classic Sun Trail loop at Lake Pöyliöjärvi is 10.5 km long. Depending on ice and weather conditions, it is used each year from around mid-January to early April. Access is via car park P next to the Beach Pavilion by the cultural centre. If you are planning a winter trip, bear in mind both the approximate period of use and the conditions stated for this loop. The town also maintains around 200 km of official snowmobile routes. The loop and routes therefore offer different winter activities to consider when planning your trip.

Culture and local history

The Kemijärvi Cultural Centre has a 200-seat hall for music, film, dance and theatre. Exhibitions of visual art in the foyer and hall change monthly. If you are interested in the history of the area, you can visit the local heritage museum near the town centre. It tells the story of rural life in Kemijärvi at the beginning of the 20th century. The main building is a 19th-century Peräpohjola-style farmhouse in its original location. The exhibitions showcase traditional livelihoods such as livestock farming, forestry, fishing, hunting and reindeer herding.

Wood and forestry also feature in other attractions. The Uitto History Experience uses three sites—Uitonniemi, Ämmänvaara and Kulmunginniemi—with information boards and QR-code videos about log floating. The Puustelli Art Centre in Särkikanga includes an exhibition hall for woodcarvings. At the Kemijärvi Snowmobile and Sawmill Museum, the unique collection of snowmobiles spans the past to the present; nearly 400 different chainsaws are also on display.

Another local feature is the Riekkoniemi Fish House: professional fishers are based there, and you can buy fish by arrangement.

Getting there and other destination pages

Kemijärvi is accessible by bus from all over Finland. The bus station is behind the ABC service station in the town centre and has no numbered platforms. Most bus services also pass through Kemijärvi railway station after the trains arrive and before the evening overnight train departs. The railway station is the northernmost on Finland’s eastern rail network.

Other destination pages: Ranua, Äkäslompolo, Tervola, Pelkosenniemi, Sirkka, Sirkkakoski, Kittilä, Kaamanen.

For the main travel overview: Lapland.