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Heinäjoki nature trail

—•Hiking Trails

1.8 km

Route

Heinäjoen läntinen lintutorni

0.0 km|Free

Scenic Lookout TowersKiipeäminen omalla vastuulla.

Heinäjoen itäinen lintutorni

1.2 km|Free

Scenic Lookout TowersKiipeäminen omalla vastuulla.

Description

Visit Pihtipudas – Heinäjoki nature route+

Description

For the latest visitor notes on shelters, camp rules, and how to reach the Heinäjoki boardwalks from Karjasillantie or Rasinahontie, start with Visit Pihtipudas’s Heinäjoki nature route page. Pihtipudas municipality groups the same outing under Heinäjoen luontoreitti on its outdoor nature destinations overview. Heinäjoki nature trail is about 1.8 km on our map as a flat, easy walk through the old Heinäjoki channel north of Pihtipudas village centre in Central Finland. From the Karjasillantie approach you soon reach Heinäjoen läntinen lintutorni above the reed-lined channel—Keski-Suomen lintutieteellinen yhdistys describes the western tower after roughly 500 m of duckboards from the “Heinäjoen luonto” gate, with a second, lower tower farther along the same walkway. About 1 km into the route you pass Eräpolun leikkipuisto, a local playground pocket that breaks up the outing for families. Near the eastern end, Heinäjoen itäinen lintutorni gives another vantage over the shallow, vegetation-rich streambed that links the Alvajärvi–Saanijärvi–Kolima lake chain. The path rides duckboards and short stairs through mire and riverside fringe, so it suits children on foot but not prams or wheels. Keski-Suomen lintutieteellinen yhdistys flags the area for waterfowl, matching blog reports that mention swans, mergansers, divers, ducks, and even eagles when migration timing is right. Out in the Nature’s spring visit still had deep snow on the platforms and notes heavy mosquitoes by early summer—binoculars and repellent are sensible. That write-up also explains how historic embankment works slowed Heinäjoki until repairs restored flow, which helps read the lush, grassy banks you see today. Independent sources describe longer foot loops using Rasinahontie, Reisjärventie, and Ruukintie past Saaninkoski and a 1924 Heinäjoki bridge for hikers who want a half-day valley tour beyond the signed boardwalk section; those road links are optional extensions, not required for the core 1.8 km bird-tower walk. Respect stay-on-platform guidance in wet sections. Open-fire rules differ by season: Visit Pihtipudas states there is no permission for an open fire at the lean-to during snow-free months, while still pointing to a covered rest spot and dry toilets along the official description. Out in the Nature directs summer cooking to the fireplace beside the wooden bridge and reminds readers to check Ilmatieteenlaitos warnings before lighting any fire. Dry toilets are attributed to the official stop layout rather than named individually in the narrative.

Length & route

The trail is about 1.8 km end to end on our map, linking Heinäjoen läntinen lintutorni, Eräpolun leikkipuisto, and Heinäjoen itäinen lintutorni without forming a loop. Out in the Nature describes roughly 3 km round trips when walkers include the riverside fireplace on Karjasillantie, and about 6.5 km road loops through Saaninkoski for those who stitch forest paths to local roads.

Getting there

Visit Pihtipudas lists the trail contact corridor at Karjasillantie 20–22, 44800 Pihtipudas, and notes you can also start from Rasinahontie. Keski-Suomen lintutieteellinen yhdistys gives a driving line: west on Asematie, right onto Pohjanpolku before the railway, left on Liitontie, then a narrow approach to the bridge—park on the left verge and enter through the wooden Heinäjoen luonto gate without crossing the bridge. Out in the Nature repeats Karjasillantie parking just before the bridge when arriving by car from the town centre via Pohjanpolku and Liitontie, and notes coaches stop on highway 4 with Matkahuolto timetables for Pihtipudas. Our mapped start coordinates align with the boardwalk entrance pocket beside Liitontie/Karjasillantie.

Good to know

YouTube-specific searches did not surface a trail-overview clip clearly dedicated to Heinäjoen luontopolku; plan with maps and on-site signage instead. The same Heinäjoki boardwalk shares endpoints with the long Melontareitti Muurasjärvi-Pihtipudas-Viitasaari (Pihtipudas) paddling line in our database for birdwatchers who also boat the lakes. Geocachers report premium and multi caches around the valley per Out in the Nature.

Managed by

Pihtipudas

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Walk west to east toward Heinäjoen itäinen lintutorni and return the same way, or reverse—the prepared line is not a loop.

Route direction

Recreation Area

Lake

River

Open / Good Condition

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

1.8 km

Distance

Allow roughly 35–50 minutes at an easy pace with short stops at both towers and the playground; birdwatching or photography can stretch the visit.

Est. Time

Duckboards / Grass

Surface

Point-to-Point, Single Track

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

Location

63.38482°N, 25.55580°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

Central FinlandRegion

PihtipudasCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

Explore nearby

Eräpolun leikkipuisto

368 m

Free

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Pihtipudas, 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 Pihtipudas Hiking TrailsHeinäjoki nature trail