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Ruska · September – early October

Ruska, the Autumn Colours

September and early October in Lapland: ruska, the autumn colours, with crisp days, dark nights and Northern Lights over open water.

Ruska is the Finnish word for the autumn colours, and in Lapland they are stronger than almost anywhere. The first night frosts set them off: birches turn yellow, aspens orange and red, and the ground itself, the bilberry and bearberry, goes crimson. It starts in the north, in Inari, and reaches Rovaniemi about a week or two later, usually around the middle of September.

The air is clear, the mosquitoes are gone, and the nights are properly dark. For hiking and for photographing the Northern Lights reflected in lakes that have not yet frozen, this is the season.

At a glance

	Ruska, the Autumn Colours
When	September – early October
Daylight in Rovaniemi	About 13 hours in September, about 9 hours in October
In Inari	Colours peak earlier, often in the first half of September
Typical temperatures	+5 to +15 °C in September, first night frosts
Snow	Possible from October
Northern Lights	Yes. Dark nights and open water for reflections

What we do in this season

On foot

Hiking in the colours

Walk the trails of Kuoksa with a local guide, or spend a day in the Korouoma canyon.

Nature tours

Northern Lights

Autumn auroras

No snow, no deep frost, and often the most photogenic displays of the year.

Northern Lights tours

Huskies

Training season begins

From October the dogs are back in harness, pulling wheeled carts through the autumn forest.

Husky tours

Good to know

The peak lasts only two or three weeks and moves a little every year. If the colours are the reason for your trip, aim for the middle of September in Rovaniemi.
Mornings can be frosty. Bring gloves and a hat.
Reindeer are on the move and the rut begins. Keep your distance from the males, and drive carefully.