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Kometon circuit trail

—•Hiking Trails

6.7 km

Route

P 1

Description

City of Puolanka – Exercise in nature+

Description

The trail is about 6.7 km in Puolanka, on the north side of Siikavaara strict nature reserve. It tours the cliff and boulder slopes of Kometon kalliojyrkänne and returns you to the Siikajärvi trailhead. The City of Puolanka outdoor hub lists this circuit beside the wider Paljakka–Puolanka trail network and links the printable Kometon sheet for maps and access notes. Retkipaikka’s 2025 hiking report by Luontopolkumies spells out how the red markers behave on steep first kilometres, how Paula storm windthrow looked in the forest before summer 2022 maintenance, and how boardwalks behaved after renewal. The Kainuun Liikunta PDF repeats the shelter list for Pöksänkorpi and often rounds the same loop to about 8 km. Most people park at Siikajärvi pysäköintialue on Siikajärventie 63, step past the Siikavaara and Sienipolku notice boards, and pick either direction around the ring; Luontopolkumies chose counter-clockwise to climb the biggest pinch early. About 0.7 km into the walk you reach the Pöksänkorpi laavu cluster beside the UKK-reitti Puolanka / Sienipolku lines: municipality copy lists a lean-to, fire place, table group, woodshed, and dry toilet there, so it is the natural lunch stop even though it sits just off the tight Kometon line. Dry toilets are also available at Pöksänkorpi kuivakäymälä next to the shelter area. Climbing stays uneven on the wall-top traverse: sources call the grade moderate to fairly demanding because of short steep pulls, roots, stones, and trunks you may need to step over after weather events. Marking is hard to miss—wooden arrow posts and red-orange paint on tree trunks—with a clear split where UKK-reitti Puolanka continues toward the long-distance corridor and Kometon kierros stays on the cliff loop. Higher birch and spruce bands open filtered views down toward Siikajärvi and the forest lake mosaic typical of Kainuu hill country rather than one big panorama. The protected forest leaves wind-felled wood in place off the maintained tread, which is why mushroom pickers praise Siikavaara’s habitats; keep dogs and noise low around birds such as eagle owls that Luontopolkumies disturbed beside the path. Winter travellers should confirm road access to Siikajärventie 63 before committing, because the trailhead sits well north of the village.

Length & route

The trail is about 6.7 km following the maintained line between Siikajärvi pysäköintialue and the Kometon cliff circuit. Official PDF material and municipal copy describe the same hike at about 8 km around the rim. The difference is mostly rounding and how side steps are counted.

Getting there

Drive to the small car park at Siikajärvi pysäköintialue, Siikajärventie 63, Puolanka. There is no public transport listed for the trailhead. After wet weather expect slippery roots and duckboards on short wet hollow sections.

Good to know

Carry water: there is no dependable spring along the loop. Respect strict nature reserve rules about staying on marked treads. Mushroom picking is popular in Siikavaara; pack out what you carry in. For a longer trip, UKK-reitti Puolanka, Sienipolku, and Ukk-ulkoilureitti share lean-tos near Pöksänkorpi.

Managed by

Puolanka

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Walkers commonly go either way around the circuit; one blog preferred counter-clockwise to finish steep climbing early.

Route direction

Fell / Mountain

Area

Red wooden arrow posts and red-orange paint blazes on trees.

Route Signs

Retkipaikka – Kometon kierros, Puolanka+

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

6.7 km

Distance

About 3 hours for most adults at a steady hiking pace.

Est. Time

Dirt / Duckboards / Stone Dust

Surface

Loop, Single Track

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Retkipaikka – Kometon kierros, Puolanka+

Location

65.16878°N, 27.95800°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

KainuuRegion

PuolankaCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Puolanka, 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 Puolanka Hiking TrailsKometon circuit trail