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Yölinnunkuru Gorge Trail

—•Hiking Trails

0.8 km

Description

City of Paltamo – Kivesvaara hiking routes+

Description

Yölinnunkuru Gorge Trail is a short, point-to-point hiking segment of about 0.8 km through the Yölinnunkuru forest reserve in western Paltamo, Kainuu. It is the marked path through the 51-hectare METSO nature reserve on Keräsenvaara’s north-west slopes, where an ancient fault movement left a dramatic gorge (kurku) in the bedrock. The City of Paltamo documents how the blue-marked Kuru Trail reaches this area from Kivesvaara and where to pause at Valkeisenlampi before entering the reserve. Luontoon.fi lists Kuru Trail as the longer blue hiking route that serves as the main approach to Yölinnunkuru for visitors using Metsähallitus trail information. Metsonpolku explains that UPM-Kymmene owns the site, that the name “Yölintu” likely refers to eagle owl that once nested on the cliff, and that the forest holds old-growth values from hoar-moss spring fens to species such as flying squirrel and red-flanked bluetail. Retkipaikka’s article on Kivesvaara in winter describes turning off Kantolan loop onto Kurun polku toward the Yölinnunkuru spur, the covered rest spot at the junction, and how a few hundred metres in the gorge feels like near-natural spruce forest above a stream bed—useful colour for what the short trail feels like underfoot. The trail is not a loop. Most people combine it with Kuru Trail or other Kivesvaara loops for a half-day or full day. Paltamo is the municipality that maintains the wider signed network, café, and kota at the fell top. Kainuu spreads eastward into forested hill country from here. For reserve-specific rules—no campfires, no camping, no motor vehicles in the protected area—rely on Metsonpolku and local signs.

Length & route

The segment is about 0.8 km and runs point-to-point through the Yölinnunkuru reserve. It is only the core path in the gorge: the full Kuru Trail is roughly 9.9–14 km depending on return options, and other Kivesvaara loops add distance if you start from the fell-top kota.

Getting there

The usual approach is along Kuru Trail from Kivesvaara: leave the kota on the fell road, follow City of Paltamo’s signposted sequence past Kantolan parkkiapaikka and down toward Annilantie, then forest roads to the Valkeisenlampi parking and information boards at the reserve edge. In summer there is a second parking area at the junction where the spur to Yölinnunkuru and Valkeisenkalliot branches off Kuru Trail. The start point for this segment is roughly 64.4603 N, 27.5803 E in the gorge area. For driving-only access toward the western side, Metsonpolku notes forest-road options from highway 22 via Raappananmäki or Annilantie toward Keräsenvaara.

Good to know

The Yölinnunkuru reserve is private METSO protection on UPM land: open hiking is allowed on approved routes, but open fires, camping, and motor vehicles are prohibited inside the reserve; berry and mushroom picking follow everyman’s rights as described on Metsonpolku. Combine with services at Kivesvaara kota when planning longer days. Walking is free.

History

Metsonpolku states that the name Yölintu probably refers to the eagle owl (huuhkaja), which has nested on the gorge cliff in the past. The reserve was established as voluntary METSO protection with Kainuu ELY Centre decision; UPM has kept the forest as an education and research site.

Managed by

Paltamo

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Typically walked as an out-and-back from the Kuru Trail junction or linked north–south with the longer blue route; follow blue markings from Kivesvaara and reserve markers in the forest.

Route direction

Blue paint on Kuru Trail toward the gorge; white reserve boundary or route marks on trees inside Yölinnunkuru.

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

City of Paltamo – Kivesvaara hiking routes

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

0.8 km

Distance

About 15–30 minutes for the 0.8 km segment alone; allow several hours if combined with Kuru Trail.

Est. Time

Narrow forest path with roots and rock; short duckboard sections across the wet gorge floor where the City of Paltamo describes planks for crossing.

Surface

Point-to-Point, Single Track

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

City of Paltamo – Kivesvaara hiking routes

Location

64.46026°N, 27.58026°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

KainuuRegion

PaltamoCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

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Answers to your questions

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 TrailsYölinnunkuru Gorge Trail

Yölinnunkuru Gorge Trail0.8 km

Description

City of Paltamo – Kivesvaara hiking routes+

Description

Length & route

Getting there

Good to know

History

Managed by

Paltamo

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Location

Typically walked as an out-and-back from the Kuru Trail junction or linked north–south with the longer blue route; follow blue markings from Kivesvaara and reserve markers in the forest.

Route direction

Blue paint on Kuru Trail toward the gorge; white reserve boundary or route marks on trees inside Yölinnunkuru.

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

City of Paltamo – Kivesvaara hiking routes