May Day and the end of the winter season are coming in few weeks. Before the season ends we have fun things planned for the May Day Weekend, including Tobogganing World Championships on Sunday. Have you been training your tobogganing skills?

Saturday 29.4. 

• Slope orienteering the whole day. Get your map from the rental. Right answers will be awarded in the rental!
• Easy Slalom 14-15 slope 4. Go and time your fastest run and challenge your friends too! Price ceremony in front of the rental shop at 15:30.

Sunday 30.4. 

• Tobogganing World Championships 10-18 (the detailed schedule of the day will be published closer to the event). Categories for kids, adults and teams.
• DJ JUWA outside Lieggâ Láávu for the whole day.
• Brunch in Lieggâ Láávu at 10-14. Walk-In style, no pre-booking required. Kids 15€ & adults 25€.
• Burger Stand outside Lieggâ Láávu at 14-18.

Sign up and get more info about the competition: https://skisaariselka.com/events/topical/tobogganing-world-championships-2023/

Monday 1.5. 

• Slush surf session at 14–16.
• Slope orienteering for the whole day, get the map from the rental. Right answers will be rewarded in the rental!
• Mayday brunch at 10–14, Walk-In style, no pre-booking required. Kids 15€ & adults 25€.
• After Ski at 14–16 outside the restaurant (DJ JUWA)

Tobogganing World Championships are returning to the program after couple years corona break! Now it’s good time to start practicing your tobogganing skills as the competition is held on day before May Day. There will be different series for children and adults and also for teams.

The May Day weekend is full of fun events such as banked slalom, live music and May Day brunch. More of these later as we confirm the final program – stay tuned!

Aurora Tobogganing™

Experience the magic of polar night and toboggan down the longest toboggan slope in Finland! The activity starts with a chair lift ride to the top of fell Kaunispää, from where Saariselkä’s city lights open in front of your eyes as a sea of sparkling lights. The toboggan slope is now illuminated with light art, just follow the aurora lights that guide you back down to the valley.

Information regarding Saariselkä sledding hill 

Saariselkä sledding / tobogganing slope is operated and maintained by Saariselkä Ski & Sport Resort, and thus open only during lift opening hours.

Toboggan rental

You can rent toboggans at several rental shops, hotels and Saariselkä Ski & Sport Resort’s rental point next to the valley station of the chairlift. There is a recycling point for broken toboggans at the bottom of the toboggan run next to Saariselkä chapel. Unlike previous years, there are no more free of charge toboggans due to the plastic waste and environmental issues caused by them.   

What is the toboggan slope like and whom is it suitable for? 

The toboggan run starts at its full length at the top of Kaunispää fell. The slope is very fast and there are some challenging turns in the slope. After the start, the toboggan slope has two different routes. If you take right from the bridge, you can reach easier route back to the chairlift (crossing is after approximately 100m on the left side) and all the way down to Saariselkä Chapel. If you take left from the bridge, the route is illuminated with Aurora Experience light art during opening hours, and it is the more challenging route back to the chairlift.

We do not recommend starting from the top if you’re inexperienced with tobogganing in higher speed, or if you’re riding with small children. The tobogganing from top of Kaunispää is not suitable for children under 7 years old. There is a snow tube area in front of Lieggâ Láávu free of charge, and it is suitable for the whole family.

Toboggan slope lighting 

Route from bridge to Saariselkä chapel is not illuminated. Only the route back to the chairlift is illuminated, but only during lift opening hours. You can find our opening hours on our website: www.skisaariselka.com . The light art Aurora Experience illumination is at its best during polar night season from December to February. After this evenings become so light that the illumination is no longer visible during opening hours. The lights are not on after lifts close due to safety reasons, as snowcat and maintenance vehicles are operating in the slope after opening hours.

Can I go tobogganing in the night time? 

Snowcats and maintenance vehicles are operating in the slope after opening hours. Tobogganing outside the opening hours is strongly prohibited due to safety reasons. It is very difficult for the snowcat driver to see skiers or persons tobogganing in the dark due to a “cloud” of snow around the machine. Impacts of a collision between a person and a snowcat or another maintenance vehicle can be fatal.

How much does tobogganing cost?

There is currently no entry fee to the toboggan slope, but if you want to do lift assisted tobogganing, you need a ticket to the chairlift. You can purchase tickets at our Service Centre and restaurant Lieggâ Láávu located next to the valley station of the chairlift. You can buy single ascent tickets, longer tickets starting from 3 hours and 2 hours Aurora Tobogganing-packages.

Please see our tobogganing packages:

You can purchase tobogganing tickets on our website:  https://skisaariselka.com/aurora-tobogganing/