Participant Guide - NUTS Karhunkierros -polkujuoksu

Start groups

34 km, 55 km and 83 km distances have start groups of approximately 50 persons each.
⚠️ Start groups are needed as there are bottlenecks like hanging bridges on the route. Mass start would get those bottlenecks very crowded. We want to ensure that you have an open trail ahead of you for an enjoyable running experience!
👉 Select your preliminary 1.5-hour start window (start group) during registration. The start window will be specified more precisely later in the spring, when you will receive your exact start time.
The 166 km and 13 km races will have mass starts, with no separate start groups.

Registering

When registering you choose your initial start time. ⚠️ Later on in the Spring you get updated information on how to specify your choice.
🤝 If you want to start in the same start group as a friend: choose the same start window now and again in the spring. Be quick when making your final selection in the spring, as each start group is limited to approximately 150 runners.

🚌Bus transport to start line

For 34 km, 55 km and 83 km distances it’s possible to reserve a seat on a bus from Ruka to race start line. Reservation can be purchased when registering. You can also arrive at the start line by your own means – ⚠️ but note that the forest roads near the start lines are narrow and parking spots are sparse so we highly recommend the bus.
166 km and 13 km distance do not have bus transport available. The start and finish are both at the event center at Ruka.These distances do not have start groups either.

ℹ️🚌Details about the bus transportation

Transit time is approximately 30 to 45 minutes.
When you arrive at the start area follow the instructions given by the announcers and other persons of the staff.
Join the next start group – or do your preparations like warming up or going to the toilet before joining a start group.

By purchasing the participation right for your chosen distance, you not only get to compete with fantastic competitors but also:
📝 Your race bib with timing chip & safety pins
⛺️Receive drink and energy supplies at the aid stations.
🏁❌If you cannot complete the race, we will transport you from the aid stations to the finish line.
🍽️At the finish line, you can chat with fellow competitors while enjoying a bowl of soup, and day visitors have access to shower facilities.
🚩 Naturally, trail marking for you runners is included!
🥇The entry fee also includes a small keepsake from the race: you’ll receive a medal around your neck when you cross the finish line!

DROP BAG TRANSPORT
🧳For participants in the 166 km distance, we transport a “drop bag” from Ruka to the Oulanka Visitor Centre and the turnaround point at Hautajärvi.
🧳For the 83 km distance, the transport is from Ruka to the Oulanka Visitor Centre.

Participants in other distances can leave their extra warm-up clothes at the starting points to be returned at the finish.

Prices include a 10% VAT.

Race Instructions

💚Pay attention to instructions and rules💚

The event has a minimum safety equipment list that should be carried by the contestant, the event organisers have the right to request that the contestant makes themselves available for random equipment checks.
⚠️The contestant will have a limited time prior to race start to rectify any short falls or be disqualified from the competition.

21.5.2026	Torstai \| Thursday
17.00–21.00	Kaikki matkat \| All Distances: Numeroiden jako \| Bib Pickup	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village
22.5.2026	Perjantai \| Friday
7.00–7.45	166 km: Numeroiden jako \| Bib Pickup	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village
8.00	Lähtö \| Start Of 166 km	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village
12.00–21.00	Kaikki matkat \| All Distances: Numeroiden jako \| Bib Pickup	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village
18.00 alkaen lähtöryhmittäin \| wave start	Lähtö Start Of 55 km	Oulangan luontokeskus, Liikasenvaarantie 132 Kuusamo
22.00 alkaen lähtöryhmittäin \| wave start	Lähtö Start Of 83 km	Napapiiri, Karhunkierroksen luontokeskus, Hautajärventie 414 Salla
23.5.2026	Lauantai \| Saturday
8.00–15.45	34/13 km: Numeroiden jako \| Bib Pickup	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village
10.00 alkaen lähtöryhmittäin \| wave start	Lähtö Start Of 34 km	Juumantie 133, 93900 Kuusamo
16.00 alkaen lähtöryhmittäin \| wave start	Lähtö Start Of 13 km	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village
19.00	Palkintojenjako kaikki matkat Prize ceremony all distances	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village
Maali sulkeutuu \| The finish line will be closed	Aikaraja lähtöhetkestä \| Cut-off Time from Start 166 km: startista maaliin 36 h 83 km: startista maaliin 18 h 55 km: startista maaliin 14 h 34 km: startista maaliin 10 h	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village

Event Centre

Event Centre, Ruka Village
📍Address: Rukankyläntie 6, 93830 Kuusamo

👏 EVENT SERVICES AT THE RACE CENTRE

Bib Pickup
- Thursdayklo 17:00 – 21:00 / All distances
- Friday 7:00 – 7:45 / 166km
- Saturday 8:00 – 15:45 / 34km & 13km
The 166 km start on Friday at 8:00
Finish line
The prize ceremony
Expo

Bib Pickup

You will get bib number and safety pins.
🧳Additionally 83 km and 166 km will also get drop bags and aid station stickers.

➕🧳For runners in the 83 km, 55 km, and 34 km races, an additional bag and a personalized sticker will also be provided. Use this bag if you need extra warm clothing at the start. Clothes left in this bag at the start will be returned to the finish area.

Drop bags of 166 km and 83 km runners are to be left for the organisers;
👉166 km runners Friday before 07.30hrs and 83 km runners before Friday 20.00hrs.
👉Please mark your bags with aid station -specific sticker where you want your drop bag taken to.
👉Drop bags will be returned back to Ruka by 18.00hrs on Saturday evening.

NOTE! Poles must NOT be placed in or left in the drop bags!

ℹ️In case of any questions do not hesitate to contact us at info@nuts.fi or call to +358 40 6605 280 / Eppu.

Trail follows well marked hiking path of the Karhunkierros trail and is marked with “Karhunkierros” and kilometer signs. Race organisation will add some 3000 extra markings on the trail.
The markers are:
🚩 Karhunkierros signs
🚩 Kilometer posts
🚩 Orange or yellow dots on trees

🚩 The route is marked by the organizers using orange flag sticks, blue-and-white instruction signs, and NUTS tape.

More information:

Karhunkierros trail details available at Luontoon.fi
You can find links to downloadable route files for your watch in the description of each race distance under the Distances & Routes section.

Tapahtuman reittimerkit näyttävät tältä. | Course signs by NUTS Ⓒ Niina Matturi

Metsähallituksen merkit reitillä kertovat kilometrit. | Kilometer signs by The official Karhunkierros route Ⓒ Niina Matturi

Mandatory equipment must be carried from start to finish. Event staff may check the mandatory equipment through spot checks at the start or during the run.

Please turn your phone to landscape mode to see the equipment required for each route.

mandatory advisable	166 km	83 km	55 km	34 km	13 km
MOBILE PHONE Protect from getting wet and save the event emergency number: +358 40 6605 281.
ELASTIC ADHESIVE BANDAGE Elastic support bandage – waterproof packed (min. 6 cm x 100 cm).
CUP We do not litter the national park with disposable cups. Aid stations do not provide disposable cups.
SPOON Bring a spoon so you have something to scoop up your soup. Aid stations do not provide disposable spoons.
WATER BOTTLE OR HYDRATION BLADDER Water bottle or hydration bladder.	Min 1 l	Min 1 l	Min 1 l	Min 1 l	Min 0,5 l
SPACE BLANKET For warmth in emergencies.
SIGNAL WHISTLE Included in many backpacks.
EMERGENCY ENERGY Emergency energy for critical situations, minimum 250 kcal.
HEADLAMP OR EMERGENCY LIGHT Enough light to keep moving, but in an emergency, a lamp makes it easier to locate an exhausted runner in the dark forest.
WATERPROOF SHELL JACKET WITH HOOD Water column rating minimum 10,000 mm.
GLOVES Nights are cold.
RUNNING POLES If you use poles, you must carry them for the entire race. Poles cannot be left at aid stations, picked up along the route, or sent to an aid station in a drop bag.
POWER BANK Ensure your phone battery lasts until the finish line.

	Väli seuraavalle Distance to next (km)	166 km	83 km	55 km	34 km
Napapiiri \| Arctic Circle	27,6	↑↓ 84,3	0
Oulangan luontokeskus	31,8	↑ 56,8 ↓ 111,9	27,6	0
Juuman kylä Vain 34 km lähtö \| Only 34 km Start	–	–	–	–	0
Basecamp	17,7	↑ 25,0 ↓ 143,7	59,4	31,8	10,5
Konttainen	7,3	↑ 7,3 ↓161,4	77,1	49,5	28,2
Ruka		↑ 0 ↓ 168,7	84,4	56,8	35,5

🕒Aid Station & finish Cut-Offs

34 km – Start to Finish: 10 h
34 km – Start to Konttainen (Cut-Off): 7 h
55 km – Start to Finish: 14 h
83 km – Start to Finish: 18 h
83 km – Start to Oulanka (Cut-Off): 5 h
83 km – Start to Konttainen (Cut-Off): 15 h
166 km – Start to Finish: 36 h
166 km – Start to Napapiiri (Cut-Off): 16 h
166 km – Start to Oulanka (Cut-Off): 22 h
166 km – Start to Konttainen (Cut-Off): 33 h

ℹ️Services at Start Areas

The gear you leave at the start will be transported back to Ruka. Please remember to label your start-returns bag with the detachable tag found at the bottom of your race bib, which includes your name and race number. Loose jackets and gear may get dirty, so make sure to close the bag properly.
Portable toilets available at the start areas.
The aid station for other distances located in the start area is not available for runners preparing for their start.
Trash belongs in the bin – littering in the national park will result in disqualification.

ℹ️Services at Aid Stations

Water and sports drink available at aid stations.
Potato chips and chocolate are available at aid stations. We have considered at least celiacs, vegans, and those with chocolate allergies at the aid stations.
Water station for refilling bottles.
Portable toilets available at aid stations.
166 km and 83 km runners have the option to leave a personal drop bag at the event center for delivery to Hautajärvi (Napapiiri aid station) and Oulanka Visitor Center. The bags will be returned to the race center by the organizer by early Saturday evening, no later than 18:00.
Trash belongs in the bin – littering in the national park will result in disqualification.

External assistance is allowed only at aid stations.

ℹ️Services at Finish Area

A hot meal is available at the finish area for runners until the finish closes – a vegetarian option is also available.
Portable toilets available at the finish area.
Showers for day visitors are available near the finish area at the Ski Stadium.
Trash belongs in the bin – littering in the national park will result in disqualification.

📱 The race’s emergency duty phone +358 40 6605 281

💚 You must carry a mobile phone in case for any help (for you or for fellow runners).
💚Race organiser can also call you to ask for help for other runners or to check your status. Even tough everything is OK with you when emergency duty number calls – please answer!
💚 In a case of emergency during the run please call to the race’s emergency duty phone.
💚 If you decide to quit, please do so only at the aid stations from where you will be guided to the nearest road for a pick up. Note out that even if you did quit, you may have to walk several kilometres to reach the transportation. If you are not able to move, evacuation will be carried out by a rescue helicopter through National Emergency Services. Prepare for several hours of waiting!

The most common problems are:
🤕 blisters
🤕abrasions
🤕injuries caused after falling
🤕fatigue after running out of energy and dehydration.

🥶There is always a risk of hypothermia after your speed gets slow or you must stop. Prepare yourself so that you can help yourself and get to an aid station or to the nearest shelter.
🤝It is absolutely mandatory to help others in need. If any of the fellow runners seem to have troubles please ask his/her condition.

Participants must take care of their own insurance policy.

Make sure to stay well-hydrated with sports drinks, juice, or water both during the race and at the finish! If you feel nauseous in the sauna, move to a cooler area, lie down, and elevate your legs.

🆘In case of serious accidents call public emergency number 112 first and ask for help.

👉After that, contact the race’s emergency duty phone +358 40 6605 281 – you can find your coordinates from the kilometer signs of the trail!

Important notice:

There is a chance that there’s still some snow at national park and rivers might be flooding! Please pay extra attention when crossing rivers or streams.
Even on May, temperature might go down to zero degrees or below.
Please be extra careful when crossing roads.
If you decide to drink from the streams or rivers it is on your own responsibility!
The route runs through the Oulanka National Park so you must stay on the trail!
Littering is absolutely prohibited!
If you decide to discontinue it is only possible at the Hautajärvi, Oulanka, Juuma and Konttainen -aid stations.
The trail is demanding because of steep ups and downhills, slippery roots, muddy areas and stones.
Crossing suspension bridges should be done one by one at the walking pace.
In a case of sprained ankle remember RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
Remember to drink enough and do not forget electrolytes.
All the runners and their actions will make the race safe for everyone! Be safe and take care of your fellow runners.

Runner can be disqualified if

Littering
Unethical behaviour
Using external aid outside of the aid stations
Not helping fellow runners in need
Missing compulsory gear. Race steward may carry out inspections along the route to check your equipment.
Taking the short cut
Not visiting all of the aid stations
Cut offs: See timetable

Changes

The organiser reserves the right to make changes. Please follow this page for additional information.

21.5.2026	Torstai \| Thursday
17.00–21.00	Kaikki matkat \| All Distances: Numeroiden jako \| Bib Pickup	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village
22.5.2026	Perjantai \| Friday
7.00–7.45	166 km: Numeroiden jako \| Bib Pickup	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village
8.00	Lähtö \| Start Of 166 km	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village
12.00–21.00	Kaikki matkat \| All Distances: Numeroiden jako \| Bib Pickup	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village
18.00 alkaen lähtöryhmittäin \| wave start	Lähtö Start Of 55 km	Oulangan luontokeskus, Liikasenvaarantie 132 Kuusamo
22.00 alkaen lähtöryhmittäin \| wave start	Lähtö Start Of 83 km	Napapiiri, Karhunkierroksen luontokeskus, Hautajärventie 414 Salla
23.5.2026	Lauantai \| Saturday
8.00–15.45	34/13 km: Numeroiden jako \| Bib Pickup	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village
10.00 alkaen lähtöryhmittäin \| wave start	Lähtö Start Of 34 km	Juumantie 133, 93900 Kuusamo
16.00 alkaen lähtöryhmittäin \| wave start	Lähtö Start Of 13 km	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village
19.00	Palkintojenjako kaikki matkat Prize ceremony all distances	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village
Maali sulkeutuu \| The finish line will be closed	Aikaraja lähtöhetkestä \| Cut-off Time from Start 166 km: startista maaliin 36 h 83 km: startista maaliin 18 h 55 km: startista maaliin 14 h 34 km: startista maaliin 10 h	Rukan kävelykylä \| Ruka Village