Suomussalmi Biking Trails

The Kiantaa Touring route, a self-guided cycling journey through Suomussalmi, offers a unique perspective on the local history and landscapes of Lake Kiantajärvi.

This is a biking / walking (also a ski trail, snowshoe trail in the winter) that circles around Jatkonvaara in Hossa National Park. Which is known for its high pine covered rock ridges & clear water lakes. There are several huts on the trail to stop and rest. It is fairly easy trail, although half way through there is a large climb to the top of Jatkonvaara.

This is a 18 km winter fatbiking trail that goes around Honkavaara in Hossa National Park. It can also be done on snowshoes, snowshoes or skis.

Hallan pyöräreitti

Kokalmuksen kierros is a shared mountain-biking and hiking trail in Hossa National Park that spends most of its distance beside clear, small lakes and forested shores in Suomussalmi. Metsähallitus describes it as mostly easy, level tread where hikers and cyclists use the same marked line, passing Muikkupuro, reindeer handling yards, and Kokalmus before returning along the shore of Pitkä-Hoilua(1). For parking directions, the list of rest structures, and connector trail names, Visit Suomussalmi’s Kokalmuksen kierros page is a practical companion(2). Marika and Mikko’s Matkalla Missä Milloinkin trip write-up captures how the barrier-free section feels out to Muikkupuro and why many people follow the loop counterclockwise(3). From the Hossalaislammit access hub you are immediately among launch points and fireplaces on the Hossalaislampi lakes: the route rolls onward to Pitkä-Hoilua, where an additional car park and jetties make it easy to shorten the day or start mid-route. The middle chapters follow forest tracks toward Lipposensalmi and its laavu cluster, then cross toward Kokalmus laavu, Porotalli, and Kokalmus tulentekopaikka—natural lunch stops in pine country. Rytikangas pysäköintipaikka offers another access angle deeper in the loop. Heading back toward Ala-Valkeinen autiotupa and its fireplace, you cross the dam area before climbing toward Muikkupuro laavu, which sits at the narrow, sandy-bottom stream many visitors treat as Hossa’s brightest gem—a passage Luontoon.fi highlights alongside the shared cycling and walking use(1). The Muikkupuro accessible trail branches from the same shore world if you want a short, fully barrier-free sampler without committing to the full ring. Metsähallitus publishes a printable esite ja kartta for pocket planning as well(4). If you are planning a longer hiking day from the same car park, Laukkujärvi circuit shares the Hossalaislammit trailhead and follows a different blue-marked ring toward Laukkujärvi wilderness hut terrain on the same bloggers’ Hossa tour(3). Visit Suomussalmi’s Hossa mountain-biking overview lists four official MTB routes and places Kokalmuksen kierros between the beginner-friendly Jatkon valkea loop and the 50 km Sininen saavutus challenge(7).

For national park rules, route descriptions, and current conditions for mountain biking in Hossa, the Luontoon.fi activity page for Hossa is the best place to start(1). Visit Suomussalmi’s Harjujen huikonen archive entry adds a short route brief and highlights rest structures along the way(2). Harjujen huikonen is an about 11.9 km marked mountain-bike loop in Hossa National Park. It starts and finishes at the Hossa visitor area near Hossan luontokeskus, with large parking at the nature centre. The line runs in ridge-and-lake scenery typical of Hossa: first you drop into the Huosilampi–Keihäslampi shore cluster with jetties, an accessible lean-to, campfire points, and optional parking at Huosilampi and Keihäslampi if you want a shorter approach to the water. From there the loop swings west past Mykräsalmi toward Pikku-Hossa, where a rental cabin, outdoor fire place, jetty, dry toilet, and Huosivirta parking and campfire spots sit a few kilometres from the centre—convenient if you stage from the river bridge side. The path continues toward Hakokoski, where Hakokosken laavu offers a sheltered break in forest before the trail climbs onto more open ridge around Torkonluikea’s campfire spot. The eastern leg drops toward Iikoski: Iikoski tulentekopaikat, a cooking shelter and beach facilities, and Iikoski parkkipaikka serve swimmers and picnickers, while HUOSIUSJÄRVI wilderness rental hut stands slightly off the main shore. The return passes Huosilampi jetties and links back toward Öllöri; at the nature centre the route meets the long Sininen saavutus bike loop and other Hossa MTB options if you want a longer day(3). The same hub also touches the short marked ski trail Hossa, Nallen latu for winter skiers—keep bikes off ski tracks when snow is groomed. Official guidance and local write-ups describe the riding as moderately demanding but technically approachable—mostly fast forest singletrack with manageable ridge rollers, and an asphalt return option on Jatkonsalmentie when you want an easier finish(2)(3). Mountain biking in Hossa is only allowed on routes marked for the activity; stay on marked lines and carry the free park map from the visitor centre when open(1)(3).

Jatkonvalkea is the shortest of the four marked mountain-bike routes in Hossa National Park, rolling through lake-and-ridge scenery between the Pikku-Hossa services area and Hossa Nature Centre in Suomussalmi. The trail is about 7.1 km long as one continuous ride on our map, a point-to-point line rather than a closed loop, and it is pitched in regional tourism copy as the easiest option for newcomers who want to sample Hossa by bike. For national-park cycling rules, maps, GPX downloads, and the wider MTB network, Metsähallitus publishes the Hossa mountain-biking hub on Luontoon.fi(1). Visit Suomussalmi’s Jatkon valkea page stresses gentle gradients, white trail markings, and views along Huosivirta, Jatkonsalmi, and Jatkonjärvi(2). MTBreitti.fi’s Hossa overview reminds riders that mountain biking is only allowed on routes posted for cycling—staying on those marked corridors keeps the rest of the park habitat protected(3). You begin near the Pikku-Hossa cluster, where Pikku-Hossa ulkotulipaikka, the small Laituri Pikku-Hossa, reservable Pikku-Hossa vuokratupa, and dry toilets make it easy to sort gear before pedalling toward the straits. At Jatkonsalmi the route passes a campfire spot, reservable Jatkonsalmi, Teräväpää vuokratupa and Jatkonsalmi, pääpirtti vuokratupa, the JATKONSALMI laituri paddling dock, and Jatkonsalmen esteetön melontalaituri—useful if you are combining biking with a chat about the adjacent Nurmiselkä–Jatkonjärvi paddling corridor or Sininen saavutus, which shares this end of the park. Along Jatkonjärvi you soon reach several Jatkonjärvi tulentekopaikka stops, Jatkonjärven esteetön laituri, and Jatkonjärven telttailualueelle parkkipaikka for anyone staging a tent night beside the water; dry toilets sit nearby at Jatkonjärvi käymälä nro 1, Jatkonjärvi käymälä nro 2, and Jatkonjärven esteetön käymälä. About 4 km in, Mykräsalmi hete marks a short spring line before the trail works toward Huosivirta tulentekopaikka and Huosivirta pysäköintipaikka—an outing hub with its own Huosivirta p-paikka käymälä. The northern arc touches Torkonluikea tulentekopaikka on a quieter forest bench before you curve back toward the Keihäslampi and Huosilampi shoreline playgrounds: Keihäslampi pysäköintipaikka, Keihäslampi tulentekopaikka, Keihäslampi laituri, Huosilampi invalaavu, Huosilammen invakatos, multiple Huosilampi laituri landings, and Huosilampi tulentekopaikka with a nearby Huosilampi tulentekopaikka käymälä. Hossan luontokeskus and Luontokeskus pysäköintipaikka finish the line, putting you beside Öllöri laituri and the interpretive desks where fatbike hire is coordinated in season. A Ylä-Kainuu piece with Metsähallitus field staff notes routine maintenance and modest wear on the bike trails going into summer 2023—worth checking before you pack tools(4). Kainuu is known for clear-water lake country; Suomussalmi anchors the western approach to Hossa. If you want a short detour by car, Visit Suomussalmi suggests the Lounatkoski mill area off Tolosenvirrantie as an extra cultural stop near the same holiday belt(2).