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Hakasuo nature and heritage trail

—•Hiking Trails

5.5 km

Route

P 1

Description

Municipality of Paltamo – Hakasuon nature and heritage trail+

Description

Hakasuo nature and heritage trail is a loop of about 5.5 km through Paltamo in Kainuu, mostly following Varisjoki between the historic Hakasuo mill area and the shore of Lake Kivesjärvi. For markings, trailhead conditions, the downloadable PDF brochure, and services at Hakasuon mylly, the Municipality of Paltamo’s Hakasuon luonto- ja kotiseutupolku pages are the first place to check. Metsähallitus publishes the same walk as Hakasuon luontopolku on Luontoon.fi. The walk starts from Hakasuon mylly - Paltamo, where Hakasuon parkkipaikka gives room to leave a car beside the mill yard. The mill yard has a campfire spot and a dry toilet; in summer there is often a café and the site is tied to local heritage events. From the mill the route uses footpaths and forest roads past Ruukin rauniot along Varisjoki, with Ruukinmyllykoski and Hotellinkoski as the main rapids and a table and benches near Hotellinkoski. A short side path climbs to a lookout knoll above Lake Kivesjärvi; the lake shore section then closes the ring back toward the mill. Retkipaikka describes light-pink paint rings on trees plus wooden posts and boards that explain nature and history; the Municipality of Paltamo emphasizes orange markings and recommends waterproof footwear because the first section can be rooty and wet. Duckboards have been added on the wettest stretches. The overall grade is easy to moderate with a few rougher pulls toward Mannilanmäki. You can hike the ring in either direction. The route is one of the Oulujärvi Leader area “low-threshold” hiking lines aimed at families and older walkers, with more ideas linked from regional outdoor pages. The long signed cycling route Kirkonkylä-Melalahti-Hakasuo-Kivesjärvi-Kivesvaara pyöräilyreitti overlaps the Hakasuo mill parking and mill stop, so cyclists and hikers share that corner of the network. Paltamo is the home municipality, and Kainuu is the wider region for trip planning.

Length & route

The trail is about 5.5 km as one loop on the map. Several municipal and tourism pages round the circuit to about 5.8–6 km depending on how they measure the ring. The Municipality of Paltamo describes mostly easy to moderately difficult going but warns of roots and wet ground near the start and recommends waterproof footwear. The middle section mixes riverside forest, short climbs toward Mannilanmäki, duckboards over wet ground, and a stretch of forest road toward Lake Kivesjärvi. A brief spur leaves the shore path for the Kivesjärvi viewpoint.

Getting there

The Municipality of Paltamo points to Hakasuon mylly as the normal start; the mill lies beside regional road 8820 near the Varisjoki crossing, with signage from the Paltamo–Oulu highway toward the mill. Visit Kajaani lists the address Manamansalontie, 88300 Paltamo. Leave the car at Hakasuon parkkipaikka next to the mill yard; coordinates are easy to confirm on the mill map link from the municipal page. Retkipaikka notes that you can also approach from near Hakasuon koulu if that suits your local plan.

Good to know

The Hakasuon area lies on a private nature reserve; information boards describe ecology and history. Anglers use Varisjoki; regulations still apply on restricted reaches. American beaver have colonised the lower river since the 1990s, and careful observers may spot gnaw marks on riverside trees. The Municipality of Paltamo links a promotional walk-through video produced by Luonto- ja kulttuuripalvelu Angervo. Visit Kajaani notes the trail is not an easy-access or barrier-free stroll. The cycling route Kirkonkylä-Melalahti-Hakasuo-Kivesjärvi-Kivesvaara pyöräilyreitti is for bikes; stay on the foot loop when hiking.

History

Hakasuon mylly is described as a nationally significant cultural-historical site: main buildings date from 1899, grain was ground for nearly a century, and only the frame remains of the former saw-planer hall. Varisjoki formed when an 1812 ship canal dig between Lake Kivesjärvi and Lake Oulujärvi failed, dropping Kivesjärvi and cutting a rocky rapid chain toward Oulujärvi. Along the river, the stone ruins recall Kiveksen ruukki; nineteenth-century press stories tie the closure of that ironworks to local hardship and the lake “pirates” later known as Kiveksen rosvot. Maintenance of the nature and heritage trail is handled by Hakasuon kyläyhdistys, with contact details linked from the municipal page.

Managed by

Paltamo

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Walkable in either direction around the loop.

Route direction

orange paint markings (municipal description); light-pink rings on trees also noted by walkers

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Retkipaikka – Hakasuon kotiseutupolku (Pepe Forsberg)

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

5.5 km

Distance

About 2–3 hours at an easy pace; allow up to roughly four hours if you read every board and linger at the rapids or viewpoint.

Est. Time

Dirt / Gravel

Surface

Loop, Wide Track

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

1899

Construction year

Retkipaikka – Hakasuon kotiseutupolku (Pepe Forsberg)

Location

64.40483°N, 27.51153°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

KainuuRegion

PaltamoCity

HakasuoVillage

Hiking TrailsCategory

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Answers to your questions

CC BY-NDPaltamo Municipality, Outdoors Kainuu

Our data was researched from Paltamo, 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 Paltamo Hiking TrailsHakasuo nature and heritage trail

Photo: Anni Heikkinen, CC BY-ND, Kainuun LIikunta, Hakasuo nature trail, Paltamo, 2026

Hakasuo nature and heritage trail5.5 km

Route

P 1

Parking 1

0.0 km|Free

Hakasuon parkkipaikka

5.3 km|Free

Free Parking

Hakasuon mylly - Paltamo

5.3 km|Free

Description

Municipality of Paltamo – Hakasuon nature and heritage trail+

Description

Length & route

Getting there

Good to know

History

Managed by

Paltamo

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Location

Walkable in either direction around the loop.

Route direction

orange paint markings (municipal description); light-pink rings on trees also noted by walkers

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Retkipaikka – Hakasuon kotiseutupolku (Pepe Forsberg)

Location

64.40483°N, 27.51153°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

KainuuRegion

PaltamoCity

HakasuoVillage

Hiking TrailsCategory

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

5.5 km

Distance

About 2–3 hours at an easy pace; allow up to roughly four hours if you read every board and linger at the rapids or viewpoint.

Est. Time

Dirt / Gravel

Surface

Loop, Wide Track

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

1899

Construction year

Retkipaikka – Hakasuon kotiseutupolku (Pepe Forsberg)

Rate & Review

Be the first to write a review for "Hakasuo nature and heritage trail"

Share a photo from a recent trip

Answers to your questions

CC BY-NDPaltamo Municipality, Outdoors Kainuu

Finland Kainuu Paltamo Hiking TrailsHakasuo nature and heritage trail