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Kuikankoski Trail

—•Hiking Trails

0.6 km

Route

P 1

Description

Visit Suomussalmi – Hossanjoki+

Description

Kuikankoski Trail is a short point-to-point hiking segment along the Kuikankoski rapid on the Hossanjoki river in Suomussalmi. The trail is about 0.6 km: it connects Kuikankoski pysäköintipaikka with Kuikankosken laavu and Kuikankoski laavu käymälä beside the lean-to, following the forested bank above the water. Suomussalmi sits in Kainuu, at the edge of the Hossa national park area. Visit Suomussalmi’s Hossanjoki river pages describe Kuikankoski and Alakoski as the last two rapids on Hossanjoki in the upper permit section (after Pystynkoski divides the river), with marked paths to the banks and several campfire sites and lean-tos along the river. That matches what you find here: parking, a lean-to, and a toilet within a few steps of the path. If you want a longer walk on foot, Alakosken polku continues the same river environment as a separate marked hiking route. The Hossa - Juntusranta vesiretkeilyreitti passes through the same river system for canoeists. For the wider Hossa protected area—trails, services, and the visitor centre—Luontoon.fi’s Hossa National Park overview is the place to start. If you fish the rapids, the upper Hossanjoki falls under the Hossa angling permit until after Alakoski at Vallesmanni; minimum sizes, protection periods, and permit purchase are set out on ERäluvat.

Length & route

The trail is about 0.6 km point-to-point on forest path beside the Kuikankoski rapid. It is not a loop. The same parking and lean-to serve as the main access cluster for this short segment; Alakosken polku is a separate 1.5 km hiking route that shares the Kuikankoski parking and laavu area and continues downstream along Hossanjoki.

Getting there

Use Kuikankoski pysäköintipaikka by the Hossanjoki river in Suomussalmi; the trail starts from this cluster with Kuikankosken laavu and Kuikankoski laavu käymälä a short walk from the cars. The Hossa Visitor Centre on Jatkonsalmentie is the main information point for the wider Hossa area if you combine this stop with other routes.

Good to know

Fishing in the upper Hossanjoki—including the rapids near this trail—requires the Hossa angling permit until after Alakoski; the permit area ends at Vallesmanni, and the river below is private water managed by joint property associations. Check ERäluvat for current fees, rules, and catch limits. The Hossanjoki page also notes natural grayling, stocked trout, and the possibility of trout from Kiantajärvi for anglers. Hossa National Park rules and seasonal restrictions apply when you move from this river strip into park lands.

Managed by

Suomussalmi

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Walk either direction between parking and the lean-to along the river; the route is a short linear segment.

Route direction

Part of the marked Hossanjoki river path network to the rapids.

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Visit Suomussalmi – Hossanjoki

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

0.6 km

Distance

About 15–25 minutes one way or as a short return stroll beside the rapid, depending on pace and stops at the lean-to.

Est. Time

Forest path and riverbank tread beside the rapid; roots and uneven ground possible; not surfaced like an urban park.

Surface

Point-to-Point, Single Track

Route Type

Partial Shade

Shade

Light Traffic

Traffic

Visit Suomussalmi – Hossanjoki

Location

65.38917°N, 29.54722°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

KainuuRegion

SuomussalmiCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Suomussalmi, 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 Suomussalmi Hiking TrailsKuikankoski Trail