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Maakuntaura hiking trail — Saarijärvi to Kannonkoski

—•Hiking Trails

36.4 km

Route

Description

Luontoon.fi – Maakuntauran retkeilyreitti (Saarijärvi)+

Description

The Maakuntauran retkeilyreitti (Central Finland Provincial Trail hiking line) catalogued for Saarijärvi is about 36.4 km end to end on our map. It is a point-to-point hike, not a loop, linking the Saarijärvi area with Kannonkoski through Pyhä-Häkki National Park. For Metsähallitus’ trail page for this facility, including the national outdoor map entry, see Luontoon.fi. The City of Saarijärvi publishes PDF maps, rest-stop tables, marking notes, and winter-use context for the wider Saarijärvi–Pyhä-Häkki–Kannonkoski corridor—often quoted at roughly 40 km as a ski and multi-use connection—on its outdoor recreation pages. A regional overview of the same corridor appears on Visit Saarijärvi. Jalkaisin’s long-form hiking report from Vuosjoki toward Pyhä-Häkki describes forest tracks, lean-tos, and how blue markings give way to national-park colour codes near Kotajärvi—worth reading for on-the-ground pacing and junction behaviour. Kannonkoski lies in Central Finland; Saarijärvi is the usual city-centre start for the full line at Lähdekuja 2, while this mapped segment begins at Vuosjoen kota beside Vuosjoki, with firewood storage and a kota for the first break. After pine forest and small roads, Kourajärven laavu sits at about the midpoint of this line, with a lean-to and outdoor fire ring by the shore. Closer to Pyhä-Häkki, the route meets the Poika-aho cluster: Poika-aho vuokratupa, Poika-aho sauna, and Poika-aho käymälä Pyhä-Häkki sit a short branch from the main provincial marking; from here you can drop onto Kotajärven polku or Tulijärven polku inside the park. Along Kotajärvi, Kotajärvi laituri, Kotajärvi keittokatos Pyhä-Häkki, Kotajärvi tulentekopaikka Pyhä-Häkki, and Kotajärvi käymälä support day trips and swimming; Tulijärven laavu adds another lean-to stop nearby. The line finishes near Pyhä-Häkki porakaivo, beside the national-park visitor hub where Riihinevan polku and Mastomäen polku also start. The provincial trail shares ground with Keski-Suomen maakuntaura, overlaps the packed winter line Maakuntauran latu Saarijärvi where grooming follows the same corridor, and meets Tiilikka polkupyöräreitti around the Poika-aho–Tulijärvi junctions. Expect forest roads, duckboards, rocky pinewoods, and occasional harvesting scars; Visit Saarijärvi notes that forestry can make some sections harder to read without a map.

Length & route

The trail is about 36.4 km as one through-hike on our map. It is point-to-point, not a circuit. Official copy for the Saarijärvi–Pyhä-Häkki–Kannonkoski multi-use corridor often rounds the same link to about 40 km with the same rest-stop names along the way; use the measured length here for planning. The City of Saarijärvi lists distances from Saarijärvi centre to Vuosjoki, Kouranjärvi, Tiilikka, and Iso-Kotajärvi for the wider itinerary. Inside Pyhä-Häkki, shorter loops such as Kotajärven polku (about 6.5 km) and Tulijärven polku (about 17 km) branch from shared junctions.

Getting there

Many hikers begin the full Maakuntaura from Lähdekuja 2 in Saarijärvi city centre, with parking and services nearby. This database line starts at Vuosjoen kota beside Vuosjoki; use the City of Saarijärvi PDF map for parking symbols at Saarijärvi centre and Vuosjoki. At the Kannonkoski end, the route approaches Pyhä-Häkki National Park’s visitor area and road parking on the Saarijärvi–Viitasaari road; follow Luontoon.fi access pages for the park when planning car transfer or pick-up.

Good to know

The City of Saarijärvi marks part of the corridor with blue paint on trees plus multi-use and junction signs; inside Pyhä-Häkki, other trails use red, white, green, and orange paint spots on shared junctions. A demanding mountain-biking section between Härkälähde and Vuosjoen laavu is listed separately on Luontoon.fi with a difficulty rating; ride only if you match that skill profile. Summer hiking trails are not machine-maintained in winter; the parallel ski track follows Maakuntauran latu Saarijärvi when snow allows. Check national-park rules for fires, reservations at Poika-aho vuokratupa, and swimming at Kotajärvi on Metsähallitus pages.

Managed by

Saarijärvi

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Either direction; most published stage tables run from Saarijärvi toward Kannonkoski.

Route direction

Recreation Area

Lake

Blue paint on trees along the provincial trail; multi-use and junction signs at crossings. In Pyhä-Häkki National Park, Kotajärven polku uses red paint marks, Tulijärven polku white, Riihineva green, Mastomäki orange on shared junctions.

Route Signs

Activities allowed

Ski

Activity

Hike / Walk

Activity

Bike

Activity

Terrain & conditions

36.4 km

Distance

Typically one long summer day for very fit hikers, or two easier days with an overnight at Poika-aho vuokratupa or elsewhere by arrangement; allow roughly 8–14 hours of moving time if you attempt it in a single push.

Est. Time

Dirt

Surface

Point-to-Point

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Location

62.75893°N, 25.28167°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

Central FinlandRegion

KannonkoskiCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

Explore nearby

Poika-aho connector trail, Pyhä-Häkki National Park

423 m

Free

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Saarijärvi, and other trusted sources, in March 2026. Our route / place GPX data comes from Metsähallitus / Lipas, last updated March 2026. Always check their official website for safety-critical updates.

Finland Central Finland Kannonkoski Hiking TrailsMaakuntaura hiking trail — Saarijärvi to Kannonkoski