Finland
Northern lights in Ruka
7 viewing spots around Ruka, chosen for a dark sky and an open view. For each one: how dark it is, which way it looks, where to park and how to get there. Near the edge of the auroral oval: aurora on most active nights, low in the northern sky on quiet ones.
- Viewing spots
- 7
- Dark or very dark
- 6
- Magnetic latitude
- 63.4°
- Clearest dark month
- March 30 % of hours clear or partly clear
Which of these spots is clear tonight, and when? Aurora Atlas scores every spot hour by hour from the cloud forecast, darkness, the moon and live aurora activity, with live camera stills and road notices.
See tonight's live scores for Ruka in Aurora AtlasViewing spots
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Juhannuskallio viewpoint
Rocky viewpoint at the east end of Ruka, a short walk from a car park; Ruka names it as a northern-lights place you…
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Konttainen fell
Northernmost top of the Ruka fell chain (433 m), about 2 km on foot from its car park, with views over Ruka…
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Valtavaara fell, fire-watch hut
One of the highest fells in Kuusamo; by the old fire-watch hut on top the view opens towards Riisitunturi and Lake…
- Sallatunturi nature-phenomena observation point, Salla A marked observation point for sky phenomena on Sallatunturi fell, in Salla in East Lapland, about 75 km north of Ruka.
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Riisitunturi fell top · Posio
Visit Ruka-Kuusamo's tip for adventurous aurora watchers: hike up Riisitunturi and spend the night in the open…
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Kiutaköngäs car park · Oulanka National Park
National-park car park for the Kiutaköngäs rapids on the Bear's Trail (Karhunkierros), the nearest open river view…
- Ristikallio rest area · Karhunkierros trailhead Paved rest area at the Ristikallio start of the Bear's Trail (Karhunkierros), north of Ruka.
Drive times are estimates from Ruka by straight-line distance, as the app estimates them before it knows your route; ferries and winter closures are not counted.
Good to know in Ruka
- Get away from the street lights Ruka’s advice is to look from open or high ground outside residential areas. Juhannuskallio is the easy option by car; Konttainen and Valtavaara need a short hike. Source
- The season runs from mid-August to mid-April Outside that window the nights are too light here. Autumn nights before the snow can be dark and mild. Source