Korouoma in December: Snow, Frozen Waterfalls and What to Expect

Is Korouoma Worth Visiting in December?

Yes, in the second half of the month. You get a snow-covered forest, the first frozen waterfalls and the low winter light that many visitors come to Lapland for. It is a weaker choice than January to March if seeing the ice at full size is the main reason for your trip, and a poor one in the first week of December, when the falls may not have started to freeze.

Are the Waterfalls Frozen in December?

Partly, and it depends on the date. In the first half of December the falls are usually still building, and tours may not have started. From mid-December the canyon is still forming: some falls are already thick and climbable, while others are still running water behind a thin shell of ice. Ice climbers start using the walls in December, and their season runs to early April.

By late December you can expect to see frozen waterfalls, but not the full, deep columns you would see in February. How cold the weeks before your visit have been sets how much ice has formed, so the date the season opens can move from one winter to the next.

Early December or Late December?

Early December (roughly the 1st to the 15th) is the riskier half. The ice may not be ready, the first departures may not be on sale yet, and you would be travelling for a canyon that has not finished freezing. If your trip falls only in these weeks, Korouoma is a gamble; plan another winter activity in Rovaniemi and treat Korouoma as a bonus if tours are running.

Late December (from about the 15th onwards) is when Korouoma becomes a realistic plan. The tours are running, the canyon has its first ice, and the light is at its lowest, which suits photographers who want the low, blue tones of the polar winter on ice.

Visiting Korouoma Around Christmas

Many travellers who come to Rovaniemi for Christmas want one big day trip during their stay, and Korouoma can be that trip in the week of Christmas or between Christmas and New Year. Two things to check before you book:

• Whether your exact date is in the booking calendar. Operators set their own holiday schedules and start the season when the ice allows, so check the specific day, not just the month.
• Whether you can cancel. With the season start depending on the freeze, a booking with free cancellation is the safer choice if you are booking weeks ahead.

The Rovaniemi: Korouoma Canyon Frozen Waterfalls Hike & BBQ suits a December visit well: pickup from your Rovaniemi accommodation, thermal overalls and winter boots, a campfire barbecue and a group of up to eight. It is rated 4.9/5 from more than 1,600 reviews and starts at $92 per person. Our comparison of Korouoma tours covers the other operators.

How Much Daylight Is There?

Very little. At the December solstice the sun rises close to 11 a.m. and sets before 2 p.m. in Rovaniemi. A tour takes about seven hours, and three to four of those are spent in the vehicle, so you will drive out in the dark and back in the dark, and walk part of the canyon in twilight.

The twilight is part of the appeal. The light on the ice stays low and blue for hours, and it is the reason some photographers choose these weeks. What you will not get is the bright, sunlit ice of a February photo. By the end of January, Rovaniemi has close to five hours of daylight.

What Should You Wear?

Dress for a full day outdoors in deep winter: thermal base layers, a fleece or wool mid-layer, insulated outerwear, proper winter boots, thick gloves, a warm hat and a neck warmer. Many guided tours supply thermal overalls and boots, but you still bring your own base layers, hat and gloves. Our guide to what to wear for the Korouoma hike has the full list.

Bring a spare phone or camera battery too. Cold drains batteries fast, and in December you have little light to waste.

Should You Drive Yourself in December?

Only if you are comfortable driving on snow and ice in the dark. From December to early January you usually drive both legs of the close-to-two-hour trip in darkness, on packed snow and ice for much of the way. The last stretch to the Saukkovaara car park is a forest road. Our page on how far Korouoma is from Rovaniemi has the distance and drive times, and the comparison of a guided tour vs driving yourself sets out when a tour is the easier choice.

Final Thoughts

Korouoma in December is a good choice in the second half of the month, when the falls have started to freeze and the tours are running. Go expecting a canyon still forming, in short twilight days, and check the booking calendar for your exact date, because the season starts when the ice allows.