Hollow Stone and Finland’s Oldest Forests – Don’t Miss This Place in Inari

At Lake Myössäjärvi in Inari, about 25 kilometers north of Ivalo, awaits visitors the Bear’s Den Stone (Karhunpesäkivi) – one of the most unusual natural attractions in Finland. Parking is conveniently available at the café and souvenir shop, and what follows is a long ascent up the stairs. This climb is considerably more comfortable in the summer. Our lot was stairs covered in snow and ice, which the late-arriving spring had only partially cleared.

Karhunpesäkivi on a map

The journey, however, was made and rewarded the traveler. Soon before us stood a massive boulder, the Bear’s Den Stone itself. From the outside, it looked like any other boulder in the area. A large pyroxene gneiss boulder on a rocky slope dotted with pines. What set it apart, however, was the small and rather cramped entrance found at its base.

However, it’s worth overcoming any claustrophobia and crawling inside. At the end, a spacious, standing-height space awaits. It is said that the Bear’s Den Stone is also the largest tafone in Finland.

A tafone is a cavity formed by weathering, which gradually enlarges under the influence of water and temperature fluctuations. Currently, the cavity is 4 meters long, 2 meters wide, and 2-3 meters high.

The stone gets its name from an old story. It is said that a man lost in a snowstorm had gone to seek shelter in the cave of the stone, and having finally arrived, fell asleep there. Upon waking, he realized he was sleeping next to a bear. The man was frightened and scurried away, leaving the bear to continue its slumber. Whether there’s any truth to the story, does not detract from the place’s allure, even if it were not true.

Having seen the stone, we continued our journey upwards, curious. The stairs did not end at the stone, after all. What would await us at the top? We continued to climb.

Along the way, we admired the trees adorned with lichens and mosses. And the absolute silence. Occasionally, I stopped and took a deep breath just to savor the clean air.

Finally, we reached the top of the slope and received a pleasing reward for our curious souls. A far-reaching view over Lake Inari unfolded before us. Between us and the lake lay not just any forest. These areas are home to Finland’s oldest pine forests, estimated to be around 700 years old. Researchers have even speculated that among them, a thousand-year-old ancient tree might be found. Whether found or not, these trees have seen a lot. Much more than any one person could in a lifetime.

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