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Aulanko outdoor lodge to Karhuluola (Bear Cave)

—•Hiking Trails

1.9 km

Route

P 1

Description

Luontoon.fi – Aulangon luonnonsuojelualue, retkeily ja ulkoilu+

Description

Aulanko outdoor lodge to Karhuluola is a short, easy point-to-point walk of about 1,9 km in Hämeenlinna, Kanta-Häme, inside Finland’s much-loved Aulanko park forest and nature reserve. It starts from the services around Aulangon ulkoilumaja on Linnanen 77 and threads through woods and lake shores toward the Karhuluola (“Bear Cave”) area below Aulangonvuori, where generations of visitors have stopped for photos and a look at the rock chamber and sculptures. For maps, other marked trails and reserve-wide rules, Metsähallitus publishes the Retkeily ja ulkoilu hub for Aulangon luonnonsuojelualue on Luontoon.fi. The first few hundred metres cluster the main reasons people begin here: Aulangonjärven uimaranta and the winter swimming spot sit by Aulangonjärvi, Aulangon ulkokuntosali offers body-weight exercise poles beside the paths, and Aulangon ulkoilumaja and Aulangonjärven kota give a fireplace circle, benches and dry toilets for day hikers—details on the kota also appear on Luontoon.fi and Visit Häme. About mid-route, parking areas at Joutsenlampi and Metsälampi make alternative entry points if you prefer a shorter leg into the forest. Nearer Aulangonvuori, the trail passes the Aulanko lookout tower parking and the Aulanko Näkötorni kahvilarakennus terrace area; from the slope above Aulangonjärvi, a long stone staircase (often quoted at about 322 steps) links the tower vicinity with the lakeshore and Karhuluola. Even if you stay on the gently rolling walking line, you are in the same cultural landscape that inspired painters and photographers; Aulangon Tornikahvila recounts how sculptor Robert Stigell’s bear group was unveiled in the cave in 1906 on the initiative of industrialist Hugo Standertskjöld. Metsäpolkuja describes pictorial waymarks—among them a bear symbol for Karhuluola—and the mix of mire experiments, deadwood and specimen trees that make Aulanko rewarding for slow walking. You can extend the day on foot: the longer Aulanko Aulangonjärven polku makes a fuller tour of the lake, while Aulanko Karhuluolan yläreitti offers another short variant higher on the slope. All connect at shared nodes such as kota and parking by Joutsenlampi and Metsälampi.

Length & route

The mapped hiking connection is about 1,9 km one way and is not a loop. It links the outdoor-lodge shore cluster with the forested slope and Karhuluola area below Aulangonvuori, passing several parking areas along Joutsenlampi and Metsälampi on the way.

Getting there

The start sits at Aulangon ulkoilumaja, Linnanen 77, Hämeenlinna—about five kilometres from the city centre with local buses 2U and 2A often quoted for the area. Car travellers can use the free parking pockets along the route, including Aulanko Joutsenlampi pysäköintialue pohjoinen and etelä, Aulanko Metsälampi pysäköintialue pohjoinen and läntinen, and Aulanko näkötorni pysäköintialue closer to the tower. Metsähallitus lists reserve-wide access and companion trails from the Luontoon.fi hiking section for Aulangon luonnonsuojelualue. Parking coordinates and names in our database follow the Lipas-aligned stops beside this line.

Good to know

Karhuluola and the long staircase are exposed rock and steel; footwear with grip helps, and small children need supervision on the stairs. Metsäpolkuja notes pictorial trail symbols rather than a single paint colour for every fork—carry a screenshot of Luontoon.fi’s map or a paper reserve map when stitching this segment onto longer walks. Seasonal cafe and rental services near the tower and lodge change with operators—confirm current opening on Luontoon.fi or Visit Häme before planning around meals or rentals.

History

According to Aulangon Tornikahvila, sculptor Robert Stigell created the Karhuluola bear group in 1906 under commission from Hugo Standertskjöld, who shaped Aulanko’s park landscape. The anecdote circulated that Stigell first tried to use a live bear cub from Korkeasaari as a model but switched to a stuffed animal when the cub would not stay still.

Managed by

Hämeenlinna

Official Maintenance

03 621 3370

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Recreation Area

Lake

Marked Route

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Run

Activity

Terrain & conditions

1.9 km

Distance

about 30–45 minutes one way

Est. Time

Dirt / Gravel

Surface

Point-to-Point, Single Track, Wide Track

Route Type

Partial Shade

Shade

Moderate Traffic

Traffic

1906

Construction year

Location

61.02380°N, 24.45731°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

Kanta-HämeRegion

HämeenlinnaCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Hämeenlinna, 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 Kanta-Häme Hämeenlinna Hiking TrailsAulanko outdoor lodge to Karhuluola (Bear Cave)