The Häme Lynx Trail (Hämeen Ilvesreitti) is a large marked network across the Häme Lake Uplands; for the full route system, start with Metsähallitus on Luontoon.fi and the trail hub from Hämeen Virkistysalueyhdistys. Visit Häme overview adds section character, multi-day framing, and notes on hiking, mountain biki...
Luontoon.fi — Häme Lynx Trail 250 km+
Description
The Häme Lynx Trail (Hämeen Ilvesreitti) is a large marked network across the Häme Lake Uplands; for the full route system, start with Metsähallitus on Luontoon.fi and the trail hub from Hämeen Virkistysalueyhdistys. Visit Häme overview adds section character, multi-day framing, and notes on hiking, mountain biking, and trail running on the wider network.
This mapped hiking segment is about 91 km point-to-point in Tammela and Kanta-Häme. It ties together lake shores, forested ridges, and parts of the Liesjärvi national park context before trending northeast toward the northern end of the line on our map. Early on you pass Ruostejärvi recreation: Ruostejärven uimaranta, Ruostejärven laavu, Ruostejärven Grill Hut, and swimming and sauna infrastructure near the shore, plus a short local link on Meidän metsäpolku through the same area. Hämeen Virkistysalueyhdistys describes a rope ferry across a narrow bay at Ruostejärvi in the ice-free season and parking access from Härkätie—details worth confirming on their Ruostejärvi pages. Eerikkilä Sport and Outdoor resort sits beside the trail; the line touches many of its outdoor pitches and halls, but for hiking planning the shoreline lean-tos, Myllylahden laavu about 14.5 km into the segment, and onward forest connections matter more than the individual courts.
Beyond Ruostejärvi the route reaches Tittilammin laavu and the reservable cook shelter at Tittilammi, then Siltalahti valkama with Siltalahti tulipaikka and harbour facilities, Hyypiö vuokratupa with Hyypiö tulipaikka and Hyypiö kämppä savusauna, and Harjunpirtti sauna beside Harjunpirtti kaivo—practical clusters for a long day into the Liesjärvi landscape. Pirttilahti parkkipaikka offers parking roughly 24 km from the start; further on, Metsäkouluntie parkkipaikka Liesjärvi and Peukalolamminkangas pysäköintialue 1 linja-autot support access into the national park from the Hyypiö and Peukaloinen trail area, with Peukaloinen vuokratupa and Peukalolammi laavu nearby. Onkimaan kaivo and the ONKIMAA wilderness hut mark a stretch with backcountry services before the line turns toward Iso-Melkutin: Kaitajärvi pyräköintialue, Kaitajärven laavu, and Kaitajärven tulipaikka sit near the lake end, then Iso-Melkutin Lepakkolaavu and the Iso-Melkuttimen laavu pair frame the popular clear-water lake shore. The route shares alignment with the shorter Iso-Melkutin lake circuit and the Iso-Melkutin–Kaitajärvi bike connector. Räyskälän talviuintipaikka appears as you leave the tight lake terrain. The segment ends near Heinisuon laavu ja nuotiopaikka and Heinisuo P-alue close to a winter ski loop connection.
Trail users describe yellow Ilves markers and lynx-themed signs that are easy to follow in the field. A weekend trip report from south of Räyskälä highlights lakeside paths, duckboard crossings that demand care when wet, and busy lean-tos at Iso-Melkutin—useful colour on pacing and crowds in peak season. Independent field guides summarize camping rules by land category, berry and mushroom picking, where cycling is restricted in national parks, and the importance of using official fireplaces when fire warnings allow. Maintenance of the wider network has relied on limited volunteer capacity; check official pages for temporary re-routes or construction.
Length & route
The trail on our map is about 91.1 km as one continuous hiking line, point-to-point. It is one segment inside a larger Häme Lynx Trail network that Visit Häme describes at roughly 273 km including many optional loops and connectors. Luontoon.fi lists shorter Metsähallitus-described sections such as the 24 km Ruostejärvi–Liesjärvi national park link for orientation within the same network.
Getting there
Ruostejärvi access is documented by Hämeen Virkistysalueyhdistys: parking at Härkätie 810 in Tammela and roughly 1.7 km from the Eerikkilä th bus stop along the trail or Härkätie. Pirttilahti parkkipaikka, Metsäkouluntie parkkipaikka Liesjärvi, Peukalolamminkangas pysäköintialue 1 linja-autot, Sikomäki pysäköintialue, Tervalamminsuon pysäköintialue, Kaitajärvi pyräköintialue, and Heinisuo P-alue give additional entry points spaced along the line. Visit Häme notes several trailheads and parking plots mapped on Luontoon.fi for the wider network.
Good to know
Respect national-park and nature-reserve rules where the line enters protected areas; Out in the Nature summarizes camping bans at Torronsuo versus permitted campsites at Liesjärvi and general everyman's-rights limits. Carry poles on duckboard sections in wet weather; Retkipaikka notes steeply slippery planks after rain. For live detours (logging, bridge works) follow Luontoon.fi and Hämeen Virkistysalueyhdistys announcements.
History
According to Hämeen Virkistysalueyhdistys, planning for Hämeen Ilvesreitti began in the 1990s as part of a regional recreation network, route construction took place in 2007–2010 under regional planner Hannu Raittinen with the association, and a further section between Hattula and Hämeenlinna was finished in late 2023—completing continuous connections in the wider system. Routine upkeep is described as very small-scale volunteer work, so users should expect variation by season.
Itinerary
Day 1 (about 23 km): Start through Ruostejärvi—Ruostejärven uimaranta, laavu, grill kota, Lapinniemenmäen laavu, then pass Eerikkilä outdoor cluster to Myllylahden laavu and Tittilammin laavu with the Tittilammi reservable cook shelter. Day 2 (about 25 km): Siltalahti valkama and fireplaces, Hyypiö rental cabin, sauna, and fire ring, Harjunpirtti, Kaksvetinen kota, Korteniemi wells, Peukaloinen vuokratupa with Peukalolammi laavu, and reach Metsäkouluntie parkkipaikka Liesjärvi or Peukalolamminkangas bus parking. Day 3 (about 20 km): Liesjärvi trails toward Liesjärven ampumarata and Tervalamminsuon pysäköintialue, Onkimaan kaivo and ONKIMAA hut, then climb toward Kaitajärvi parking, Kaitajärven laavu and campfire. Day 4 (about 18 km): Iso-Melkutin Lepakkolaavu including Iso-Melkuttimen laavu pair, optional 5.9 km lake circuit if you linger at beaches, pass Räyskälän talviuintipaikka. Day 5 (about 12 km): Heinisuon laavu ja nuotiopaikka and finish at Heinisuo P-alue near the ski-loop crossing—adjust daily distances to your pace and daylight.
Point-to-point along the mapped line; the broader network offers many entry points and loop options.
Route direction
Yellow Ilves markers with lynx pictograms on the wider trail.
Route Signs
Dogs (On Leash)
Dogs
Open / Good Condition
Open / Good Condition
Visit Häme — Hämeen Ilvesreitti 250 km+
Activities allowed
Run
Activity
Hike / Walk
Activity
Bike
Activity
Terrain & conditions
91.1 km
Distance
About 4–6 days of walking for this 91 km segment at a moderate multi-day pace; the wider network is presented as multi-day trekking overall.
Est. Time
Mixed forest trail, duckboards over wetlands in places, lake shores, and occasional forest roads; some sections may be grassy or lightly brushed in summer on the wider network.
Be the first to write a review for "Häme Lynx Trail"
Share a photo from a recent trip
Answers to your questions
Our data was researched from Tammela, 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.
The Häme Lynx Trail (Hämeen Ilvesreitti) is a large marked network across the Häme Lake Uplands; for the full route system, start with Metsähallitus on Luontoon.fi and the trail hub from Hämeen Virkistysalueyhdistys. Visit Häme overview adds section character, multi-day framing, and notes on hiking, mountain biki...
Luontoon.fi — Häme Lynx Trail 250 km+
Description
The Häme Lynx Trail (Hämeen Ilvesreitti) is a large marked network across the Häme Lake Uplands; for the full route system, start with Metsähallitus on Luontoon.fi and the trail hub from Hämeen Virkistysalueyhdistys. Visit Häme overview adds section character, multi-day framing, and notes on hiking, mountain biking, and trail running on the wider network.
This mapped hiking segment is about 91 km point-to-point in Tammela and Kanta-Häme. It ties together lake shores, forested ridges, and parts of the Liesjärvi national park context before trending northeast toward the northern end of the line on our map. Early on you pass Ruostejärvi recreation: Ruostejärven uimaranta, Ruostejärven laavu, Ruostejärven Grill Hut, and swimming and sauna infrastructure near the shore, plus a short local link on Meidän metsäpolku through the same area. Hämeen Virkistysalueyhdistys describes a rope ferry across a narrow bay at Ruostejärvi in the ice-free season and parking access from Härkätie—details worth confirming on their Ruostejärvi pages. Eerikkilä Sport and Outdoor resort sits beside the trail; the line touches many of its outdoor pitches and halls, but for hiking planning the shoreline lean-tos, Myllylahden laavu about 14.5 km into the segment, and onward forest connections matter more than the individual courts.
Beyond Ruostejärvi the route reaches Tittilammin laavu and the reservable cook shelter at Tittilammi, then Siltalahti valkama with Siltalahti tulipaikka and harbour facilities, Hyypiö vuokratupa with Hyypiö tulipaikka and Hyypiö kämppä savusauna, and Harjunpirtti sauna beside Harjunpirtti kaivo—practical clusters for a long day into the Liesjärvi landscape. Pirttilahti parkkipaikka offers parking roughly 24 km from the start; further on, Metsäkouluntie parkkipaikka Liesjärvi and Peukalolamminkangas pysäköintialue 1 linja-autot support access into the national park from the Hyypiö and Peukaloinen trail area, with Peukaloinen vuokratupa and Peukalolammi laavu nearby. Onkimaan kaivo and the ONKIMAA wilderness hut mark a stretch with backcountry services before the line turns toward Iso-Melkutin: Kaitajärvi pyräköintialue, Kaitajärven laavu, and Kaitajärven tulipaikka sit near the lake end, then Iso-Melkutin Lepakkolaavu and the Iso-Melkuttimen laavu pair frame the popular clear-water lake shore. The route shares alignment with the shorter Iso-Melkutin lake circuit and the Iso-Melkutin–Kaitajärvi bike connector. Räyskälän talviuintipaikka appears as you leave the tight lake terrain. The segment ends near Heinisuon laavu ja nuotiopaikka and Heinisuo P-alue close to a winter ski loop connection.
Trail users describe yellow Ilves markers and lynx-themed signs that are easy to follow in the field. A weekend trip report from south of Räyskälä highlights lakeside paths, duckboard crossings that demand care when wet, and busy lean-tos at Iso-Melkutin—useful colour on pacing and crowds in peak season. Independent field guides summarize camping rules by land category, berry and mushroom picking, where cycling is restricted in national parks, and the importance of using official fireplaces when fire warnings allow. Maintenance of the wider network has relied on limited volunteer capacity; check official pages for temporary re-routes or construction.
Length & route
The trail on our map is about 91.1 km as one continuous hiking line, point-to-point. It is one segment inside a larger Häme Lynx Trail network that Visit Häme describes at roughly 273 km including many optional loops and connectors. Luontoon.fi lists shorter Metsähallitus-described sections such as the 24 km Ruostejärvi–Liesjärvi national park link for orientation within the same network.
Getting there
Ruostejärvi access is documented by Hämeen Virkistysalueyhdistys: parking at Härkätie 810 in Tammela and roughly 1.7 km from the Eerikkilä th bus stop along the trail or Härkätie. Pirttilahti parkkipaikka, Metsäkouluntie parkkipaikka Liesjärvi, Peukalolamminkangas pysäköintialue 1 linja-autot, Sikomäki pysäköintialue, Tervalamminsuon pysäköintialue, Kaitajärvi pyräköintialue, and Heinisuo P-alue give additional entry points spaced along the line. Visit Häme notes several trailheads and parking plots mapped on Luontoon.fi for the wider network.
Good to know
Respect national-park and nature-reserve rules where the line enters protected areas; Out in the Nature summarizes camping bans at Torronsuo versus permitted campsites at Liesjärvi and general everyman's-rights limits. Carry poles on duckboard sections in wet weather; Retkipaikka notes steeply slippery planks after rain. For live detours (logging, bridge works) follow Luontoon.fi and Hämeen Virkistysalueyhdistys announcements.
History
According to Hämeen Virkistysalueyhdistys, planning for Hämeen Ilvesreitti began in the 1990s as part of a regional recreation network, route construction took place in 2007–2010 under regional planner Hannu Raittinen with the association, and a further section between Hattula and Hämeenlinna was finished in late 2023—completing continuous connections in the wider system. Routine upkeep is described as very small-scale volunteer work, so users should expect variation by season.
Itinerary
Day 1 (about 23 km): Start through Ruostejärvi—Ruostejärven uimaranta, laavu, grill kota, Lapinniemenmäen laavu, then pass Eerikkilä outdoor cluster to Myllylahden laavu and Tittilammin laavu with the Tittilammi reservable cook shelter. Day 2 (about 25 km): Siltalahti valkama and fireplaces, Hyypiö rental cabin, sauna, and fire ring, Harjunpirtti, Kaksvetinen kota, Korteniemi wells, Peukaloinen vuokratupa with Peukalolammi laavu, and reach Metsäkouluntie parkkipaikka Liesjärvi or Peukalolamminkangas bus parking. Day 3 (about 20 km): Liesjärvi trails toward Liesjärven ampumarata and Tervalamminsuon pysäköintialue, Onkimaan kaivo and ONKIMAA hut, then climb toward Kaitajärvi parking, Kaitajärven laavu and campfire. Day 4 (about 18 km): Iso-Melkutin Lepakkolaavu including Iso-Melkuttimen laavu pair, optional 5.9 km lake circuit if you linger at beaches, pass Räyskälän talviuintipaikka. Day 5 (about 12 km): Heinisuon laavu ja nuotiopaikka and finish at Heinisuo P-alue near the ski-loop crossing—adjust daily distances to your pace and daylight.
About 4–6 days of walking for this 91 km segment at a moderate multi-day pace; the wider network is presented as multi-day trekking overall.
Est. Time
Mixed forest trail, duckboards over wetlands in places, lake shores, and occasional forest roads; some sections may be grassy or lightly brushed in summer on the wider network.
Be the first to write a review for "Häme Lynx Trail"
Share a photo from a recent trip
Answers to your questions
Our data was researched from Tammela, 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.
