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Kaihuanvaara nature trail

—•Hiking Trails

3.7 km

Route

P 1

Description

Luontoon.fi – Kaihuanvaara luontopolku+

Description

Kaihuanvaara nature trail is about 3.7 km as a one-way walk through forested hills east of Rovaniemi, in the Kaihuanvaara–Kivalot recreation countryside beside the Kemijoki valley in Lapland. For route facts, services, and operational notices, start from the Kaihuanvaara luontopolku page on Luontoon.fi. Most people start from Kaihuanvaara pysäköintialue 2 and follow the marked path toward Sireni. The tread winds through mixed slope forest, small brooks on duckboards, patches of protected deciduous woodland, and light-filled birch hillsides where route-side boards talk about local nature and spending time outdoors. The trail is classed as moderately demanding; listings are not winter maintained and there is no public transport to the trailhead area. Marking is by posts carrying a capercaillie symbol, so the route is easy to follow between junctions. About 3.6 km from the parking you reach Sirenin päivätupa, a former Forest Research Institute field cabin now kept as a day hut, with Sirenin kämppä ulkotulipaikka for campfires in the same yard cluster and Sirenin kämppä pysäköintialue a short distance away for drivers who prefer to stage a car at the far end. Dry toilets are available with the day-hut buildings; carry out your own waste where bins are not provided. From this corner the wider Kaihuanvaara network opens up: Kaihuanvaara retkeilypolku continues as a longer day hike toward Porkkalampi laavu and Hopianulkin näkötorni, while Kaihuanvaara Rengasreitti is a forest-road loop often used on a bike. Those extras are separate outings, but they share the same hills and many of the same shelters. M. Lehteinen’s long Kaihuanvaara photo walk on Retkipaikka captures how clear junction marking feels on the ground, why old-growth character around the reserve can still feel surprisingly wild so close to Rovaniemi, and why many visitors budget half a day even when the kilometre figures look modest.

Length & route

The trail is about 3.7 km one way and is not a loop. Official-style summaries often quote roughly 3.8 km, which is only a rounding difference from the same line. Difficulty is moderate; typical listings allow about three hours for the outing, which fits a leisurely one-way walk plus return on the same path or time spent at Sirenin päivätupa. Marking is by posts with a capercaillie symbol rather than colour bands. Bridges and duckboards carry the line over the smallest streams in wet spots.

Getting there

The trail starts from the Kaihuanvaaran rengastie forest-road system southeast of Rovaniemi. By car from the city centre follow Sodankyläntie about 2.6 km, turn right onto Kuusamontie toward Vanttauskoski for roughly 49 km, then Pirttikoskentie about 6.3 km, left onto Kaarnijärventie about 2.1 km, right onto Kaihuanvaaran rengastie about 3.3 km, and right again to reach Kaihuanvaara pysäköintialue 2 at the signed parking along the ring road. There is no public transport; winter maintenance is not provided on the walking route itself. Drivers who want a northern exit point can alternatively use Sirenin kämppä pysäköintialue after walking through.

Good to know

The route was formerly known as the Forest Research Institute’s Kaihuanvaara “mushroom trail” before the present nature-trail concept. Fires are only appropriate when forest-fire warnings and local rules allow; use prepared fireplaces and bring your own small wood if none is stacked.

History

Public-facing copies name the Finnish Forest Research Institute (Metsäntutkimuslaitos) as the body that first developed the route as the Kaihuanvaara mushroom path before it became today’s signed nature trail.

Managed by

Rovaniemi

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

one way from Kaihuanvaara pysäköintialue 2 toward Sireni; return on the same path or use two cars

Route direction

Marked Route

Route Signs

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

3.7 km

Distance

about 3 hours

Est. Time

Duckboards / Dirt

Surface

Location

66.37585°N, 26.83740°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

LaplandRegion

RovaniemiCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Rovaniemi, 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 Lapland Rovaniemi Hiking TrailsKaihuanvaara nature trail