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Lohtaja–Pirunvaara–Kirkkokallio trail

—•Hiking Trails

9.7 km

Route

P 1

Parking 1

0.0 km|Free

Lohtajan parkkipaikka

7.9 km|Free

Free Parking

Description

Visit Kajaani – Pirunvaara hiking trail+

Description

The Lohtaja–Pirunvaara–Kirkkokallio trail is about 9.7 km of point-to-point hiking in Lohtaja, Kajaani, in the Kainuu region. For firewood at the summit fireplace, winter maintenance notes, and the shorter Pirunvaara-only option, Visit Kajaani’s Pirunvaara page is the best starting point. The City of Kajaani’s hiking trails overview describes the same Lohtaja network: an about 3 km one-way climb through spruce forest to Pirunvaara with views over Lake Sokajärvi, optional links toward Parkinniemi and Kirkkokallio for roughly 10 km of combined walking, and a winter hiking corridor from Kaupunginlampi via Huuhkajanvaara and Pirunvaara toward the centre, with black arrow markers and weekly grooming when snow allows. Retkipaikka’s on-the-ground article highlights the summit campfire and wood shed, clear waymarking on the approach, and natural cliff caves a short scramble from the fireplace—worth reading for photos and cave-finding tips, and a reminder to check fire warnings before lighting a fire. The trail is mostly easy forest footpaths but also uses ski-track and snowmobile corridor surfaces in places, so expect shared lines and occasional roots and stones. The Kirkkokallio end is rockier and steeper in short sections; mountain bikers often walk bikes there on the longer Pirunvaara - Kirkkokallio tours that operators publish at about 12 km. On this page we treat the full line as about 9.7 km end to end: you climb through Pirunvaara’s fir woods and viewpoints, then continue toward Lohtaja’s sports edge where the line meets Lohtajan parkkipaikka. Lohtajan valaistu latu, Lohtajan valaistu kuntorata, and Kajaanin retkeilyreittien yhdysreitti all pass close to that parking area if you want a longer loop day. The walk finishes near Kotipolun pallokenttä and Kotipolun luistelukenttä off Kotipolku. Dry toilets are not a headline feature along this segment; rely on facilities at connected recreation sites where you pass them. Kajaani sits close to the trailhead: the Sokajärventie and Satumaantie junction is only a few minutes’ drive from the centre for the classic Pirunvaara start. The same district links Pirunvaara - Kirkkokallio and Kajaanin retkeilyreittien yhdysreitti for longer days.

Length & route

The trail is about 9.7 km point to point. Official descriptions often give about 3 km one way to Pirunvaara summit and about 10 km when Parkinniemi and Kirkkokallio links are included, or about 12 km for the mountain-bike-oriented Pirunvaara–Kirkkokallio tour; use the 9.7 km figure here as the mapped hiking line. Allow roughly 3–4 hours on foot with breaks and cave scouting. In winter, follow the City of Kajaani guidance: the maintained winter hiking network uses black arrow markers; do not use freshly groomed routes while the snow is still soft, and expect usable surface a few hours after grooming.

Getting there

The usual Pirunvaara trailhead is beside the parking area at the Sokajärventie and Satumaantie junction in Lohtaja, a short drive from Kajaani centre. Our line continues through Lohtaja and passes Lohtajan parkkipaikka before finishing near Kotipolku 3 by Kotipolun pallokenttä and Kotipolun luistelukenttä—use these names when navigating the sports-field end. For winter route conditions on the maintained winter hiking network, the City of Kajaani links to Fluent progress tracking.

Good to know

Campfires only at designated fireplaces when no forest-fire warning is in force; the summit site is stocked with firewood in normal conditions. Dogs are not highlighted on these pages—keep pets under control and avoid disturbing wildlife near caves. Mountain bikers share parts of the corridor; yield to slower users on winter-maintained sections per local etiquette.

Managed by

Kajaani

Official Maintenance

08 6155 2555

Trail info

Usually walked from the Sokajärventie / Satumaantie trailhead toward Kirkkokallio and Lohtaja sports area, or the reverse; either works.

Route direction

https://kajaani.fluentprogress.fi/outdoors/?type=WinterOutdoorRoute&venue=a4ba834e-68ae-4788-bcec-5393d157e1fb

Winter Maintenance

Marked Route

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Activities allowed

Bike

Activity

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

9.7 km

Distance

3–4 hours

Est. Time

Forest soil and needle carpet on footpaths; short overlaps with ski and snowmobile corridors; rockier ground toward Kirkkokallio.

Surface

Point-to-Point, Single Track

Route Type

Partial Shade

Shade

Light Traffic

Traffic

Location

64.22383°N, 27.67633°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

KainuuRegion

KajaaniCity

LohtajaVillage

Hiking TrailsCategory

Explore nearby

Kotipolun luistelukenttä

333 m

Free

Kotipolun pallokenttä

335 m

Free

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Answers to your questions

CC BY-NDKamk Students, Outdoors Kainuu

Our data was researched from Kajaani, 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 Kainuu Kajaani Hiking TrailsLohtaja–Pirunvaara–Kirkkokallio trail

Photo: 2026