A year-round outdoor oasis in the centre of Rovaniemi  

Ounasvaara Ski Resort is located just a few minutes from the centre of Rovaniemi, right next to the capital of Lapland. Nowhere else in Finland do a ski resort, wilderness nature and the city’s comprehensive range of services meet so seamlessly.   

Ounasvaara offers an excellent setting for skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing – and when there is no snow, the area is ideal for hiking, cycling and enjoying nature all year round.  

Alpine skiing traditions and modern-day experiences 

Alpine skiing made its home in Finland in the mid-1930s and today, the northern slope of Ounasvaara, which is now a small fellscape, hides a modern ski resort where you can ski, board, cross-country ski or simply enjoy the relaxed international winter resort atmosphere.  

The varied slopes are suitable for beginners and more experienced skiers alike. For first-timers, the Rendi Park offers a safe training area, separated by a plush snow fence, where you can learn the basics of skiing. The full-service ski centre also offers equipment hire, a ski school and a restaurant.  

Some of Oukku’s best-known alumni include alpine skier Tanja Poutiainen-Rinne, Kalle Palander and snowboarder Antti Autti. Among the current active skiers, alpine skier Elian Lehto and Eppu Taka of the snowboard team have competed in World Cup races on Rovaniemi’s slopes.  

Slopes and routes to suit all tastes  

Ounasvaara rises to over 200 metres above sea level, with the biggest difference in altitude (140 m) being the FIS competition slope. Most of the slopes are between 500 and 600 metres long and are ideal for both training and more energetic skiing. The versatile Snowpark and the Freeride and Treeride ski areas at Tottorakka are specialised ski areas. 

Ounasvaara’s approximately 100 km of cross-country ski trails are part of the city’s network of over 200 km of trails. The first snow ski trail in Ounasvaara opens every year at the end of October. In addition to the trails, Ounasvaara has marked trails for hikers and mountain bikers alike. The trails also offer great viewpoints that make hiking an experience all year round.  

Summer activities in Ounasvaara  

Since 1984, Ounasvaara Ski Resort has been known for its summer activities, including the Summer Sled Run and the scenic ski lift, which have provided some spectacular experiences. Newer summer activities are represented by the Bike Park, with tracks, trails and training areas at different levels for beginners and experienced cyclists alike.  

Accomodate next to the slopes, tracks and trails  

You can conveniently stay at our ski resort either in Lapland Hotels Ounasvaara Chalets below the slopes or at the top of Ounasvaara in Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara. Both offer a comfortable base for both winter and summer adventures.  

Part of a Lapland Hotels & Safaris 

The Ounasvaara ski resort is part of the family-owned Lapland Hotels & Safaris travel group, which offers authentic Lapland experiences. It consists of Lapland Hotels, Finland’s largest private hotel chain, Lapland Safaris, the largest programme company in the Nordic countries, and Lapland Ski Resorts. In addition to Ounasvaara, our ski resorts include Luosto, Olos, Pallas and Ylläs – which means a total of more than 70 slopes and 30 lifts. 

Sustainability

Protecting the environment, people and the local community

The north is our home, and we nurture it in all our operations. Sustainable operations are close to our heart. We value the fragile nature of Lapland and our local communities. In addition to the environment, it is important to us to look after people – our staff and customers alike. We develop our corporate responsibility continuously and seek new ways to improve our operations.

Ounasvaara Ski Centre has been organising ski school for second graders for more than ten years as part of its long-term work on social responsibility. Every year, 2nd graders in Rovaniemi’s primary schools are invited to a free ski school, which aims to provide children with an equal opportunity to learn about winter sports, exercise safely and get excited about a lifelong hobby. 

 

Looking after our staff

To us, skilled, engaged, motivated, goal-oriented and satisfied personnel are the key. We invest in good management and measures designed to promote commitment to our operating culture. Our HR management is based on compliance with laws and regulations, and we determine our wages on the basis of the applicable collective agreements.

It is important to us that our personnel enjoy a sense of well-being at work and in their free time. We promote our employees’ professional skills through extensive workplace induction and training. We invest in our staff’s well-being by supporting sport and other leisure activities.

 

Looking after our customers

To us, responsibility for the safety of our customers is the cornerstone of our operations. We also believe it is important to enable our customers to act in a responsible manner and to make sustainable choices when they use our services.

We continuously develop safety in our operations and implement new services to improve it.

In terms of slope services, the safety of our customers is safeguarded by our employees, who attend annual safety training. We develop our snow and slope safety continuously. On the slopes, our customers’ safety is ensured by safety instructions and signs.

 

Balanced relationship with nature

We look after our natural surroundings and strive to foster a balanced relationship with nature by protecting the Arctic environment. We continuously develop new, environmentally friendly ways of operating.

As our ski slope services operate in extremely sensitive natural surroundings, the significance of sustainable operations is emphasised. The fuels and lubricants we use are the most environmentally friendly options available. We use oil separation equipment and oil-free air compressors in our snowmaking operations. We optimise the runs using our snow groomers and minimise the use of lights on the slopes. In addition, we participate in the Green DMN and Motiva’s Energy-Efficient ski centre projects.

 

Appreciating local heritage

We have been in operation since 1965 – and have always operated locally. We value the local culture and communities. We are one of many operators in the area. Promoting year-round operations creates the foundations for sustainable development – it enables us to create permanent jobs in the long term, thereby contributing to the region’s tax revenue and well-being.

We show our appreciation for the region by paying our taxes in the area where we operate, by hiring locally and by using local service providers and raw materials. We belong to several local organisations and protect our cultural environment by maintaining and repairing old, existing buildings.

 

Our environmental efforts have been granted the EcoCompass certificate

The EcoCompass certificate awarded to Ounasvaara Ski resort in May 2022 is proof of comprehensive development of environmental responsibility and commitment to it.

Certificate requires a commitment to saving natural resources, increasing positive environmental effects, and their accurate annual monitoring and reporting. The certificate is issued for three years at a time. EcoCompass is an industry-independent environmental organization based on the international ISO 14001 standard. The system is owned by Finland’s oldest and most influential environmental organization, the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.

For example, all of the group’s locations switched to using 100 % green electricity two years ago. The most visible measure for customers has been the improvement of waste management in ski resorts.

Read more about EcoCompass  

Towards responsible travel industry

Sustainable Travel Finland is a sustainable tourism program developed by Visit Finland. Companies that have completed the program and meet the demanding criteria are recognized with the Sustainable Travel Finland label. The label takes into account the economic, ecological, social and cultural sustainability of tourism companies and destinations.

Read more about STF

Examples of our concrete sustainability actions

• We use only emission-free electricity.

• We are replacing lighting with LED lamps as slope area lighting is renewed.

• Snow recycling and storage: snow is produced during optimal conditions and collected in spring to be preserved over summer for the next season.

• Every year, we invite all 2nd grade classes from Rovaniemi’s primary schools to a free ski school.

• Our staff receive regular training on responsible practices and safety in daily operations.

• We are a member of the Keep Lapland Tidy Association and hold both the Sustainable Travel Finland label and the EcoCompass certificate.