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Petola Nature Trail

—•Hiking Trails

1.5 km

Route

P 1

Description

Luontoon.fi – Kuhmon luontokeskus Petola+

Description

Petola Nature Trail is about 1.5 km and is not a loop. It links Kuhmon luontokeskus Petola on Lentiirantie with the Kalevala outdoor area, Talvisotamuseo Kuhmo and Kalevankankaan vierasvenelaituri on the eastern edge of Kuhmo in Kainuu. Metsähallitus describes services and background for the visitor centre on Luontoon.fi. The same authority has announced it is selling the Petola property together with related office and research buildings as part of a wider review of surplus real estate; timelines for public access can change with ownership, so check Luontoon.fi and Metsähallitus notices before you travel. Starting near Kuhmon luontokeskus Petola, the walk threads through a compact outdoor area where large-carnivore education, sport fields and lake access sit side by side. Tönölän Frisbeegolrata lies just off the line, and about half a kilometre from the Petola end you reach Kalevalan Laavu beside Kalevan liikuntakeskuksen kuntosali, Kalevan liikuntakeskuksen beachvolleykentät and Ampumahiihtoalue Kalevalan liikuntakeskus. From there the path continues toward Väinämöinen parkkiapaikka and Talvisotamuseo parkkiapaikka; Talvisotamuseo Kuhmo is a short distance away for anyone combining a walk with museum visiting. The route ends at Kalevankankaan vierasvenelaituri, where small craft can tie up and swimmers sometimes gather in summer. Petolan esteetön luontopolku shares the same cluster as a shorter, mobility-focused option if you want a gentler circuit around Petola and Kalevala. Harakkasaaren SUP-lautailu-ja melontareitti 3,5 km overlaps the shoreline network for paddlers who launch near the same guest dock. In winter, Kuhmon jääladut and Kalevalan ladut pass through the broader sports yards north and west of Petola for skiers looking to extend the day. The Yle Kainuu story on the property sale reminds readers that the complex was built for the former Friendship Park cooperation launched in 1991 and that legislative changes in 2025 removed Metsähallitus’s statutory duty to run the centre, which is why the buildings are now on the market even though the carnivore exhibitions have been a signature draw for decades.

Length & route

The trail is about 1.5 km end to end and is not a loop. It strings together Kuhmon luontokeskus Petola, Kalevalan Laavu, Kalevala sports facilities, museum parking clusters and Kalevankankaan vierasvenelaituri rather than circling a single small yard. Allow easy-walking shoes; short sections may be gravel or worn earth beside sports fields.

Getting there

Kuhmon luontokeskus Petola uses address Lentiirantie 342, 88900 Kuhmo as the anchor for the Petola side of the walk. Car travellers often stage from Väinämöinen parkkiapaikka or Talvisotamuseo parkkiapaikka along Väinämöinen when visiting the museum or shoreline. On foot or by bike you can join anywhere the path crosses the Kalevala–Petola–museum block.

Good to know

Public access to buildings, exhibitions and toilets may be reduced while Metsähallitus negotiates a sale of the property; rely on Luontoon.fi and Metsähallitus releases rather than third-party aggregators for the latest status. Pets, cycling and winter uses may be restricted on adjacent sport fields even when the walking line remains open—follow local facility rules. Campfires belong only at designated structures such as Kalevalan Laavu under the host municipality’s instructions.

History

Yle Kainuu notes that the Petola buildings were originally built for the Friendship Park initiative launched in 1991 to support Finnish–Soviet environmental cooperation, that state cooperation effectively ended after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and that an amendment removing Metsähallitus’s obligation to operate the nature centre took legal force in June 2025, clearing the way for a sale even though the site had showcased large carnivores for decades.

Managed by

Kuhmo

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Most people walk from Kuhmon luontokeskus Petola toward Kalevankankaan vierasvenelaituri or reverse depending on parking; either direction is practical on this short line.

Route direction

Recreation Area

Lake

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

1.5 km

Distance

About 25–45 minutes at a relaxed pace with short stops at Kalevalan Laavu or photo breaks near Talvisotamuseo Kuhmo.

Est. Time

Dirt / Gravel

Surface

Point-to-Point, Single Track

Route Type

Partial Shade

Shade

Moderate Traffic

Traffic

Location

64.11629°N, 29.58618°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

KainuuRegion

KuhmoCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

Explore nearby

Tönölän Frisbeegolrata

241 m

Free

Harakkasaaren lenkki

272 m

Free

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Kuhmo, 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 Kuhmo Hiking TrailsPetola Nature Trail

Petola Nature Trail1.5 km

Route

P 1

Parking 1

0.0 km|Free

Kuhmon luontokeskus Petola

0.3 km|Free

Kalevalan Laavu

0.5 km|Free

Wilderness Huts

Kalevan liikuntakeskuksen kuntosali

0.5 km|Free

GymsAvainten vuokraus Kuhmon kaupungin neuvonnasta tai uimahallilta.

Ampumahiihtoalue Kalevalan liikuntakeskus

0.7 km|Free

Biathlon CentersValaistut ampumataulut 26 kpl, valaistu ampumapenkka. Pienoiskivääri- ja pienoispistooliammunta.

Kalevan liikuntakeskuksen beachvolleykentät (2)

0.7 km|Free

Volleyball Courts

Description

Luontoon.fi – Kuhmon luontokeskus Petola+

Description

Length & route

Getting there

Good to know

History

Managed by

Kuhmo

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Location

Most people walk from Kuhmon luontokeskus Petola toward Kalevankankaan vierasvenelaituri or reverse depending on parking; either direction is practical on this short line.

Route direction

Recreation Area

Lake