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Martimoaapa Nature Trail

—•Hiking Trails

3.8 km

Route

P 1

Description

Luontoon.fi – Martimoaapa Nature Trail+

Description

Martimoaapa Nature Trail is about 3.8 km as one easy, marked hike through the Martimoaapa mire reserve in southern Lapland. The reserve spans Simo and Keminmaa near the coast; Simo sits on the Gulf of Bothnia side of the landscape, and Lapland gives the wider regional context. Metsähallitus publishes maps, visitor rules, and trail-specific guidance for this route on Luontoon.fi. The Municipality of Keminmaa describes the wider Martimoaapa hiking network—long boardwalk spans, red paint marks on the main hiking trail, and overnight huts on the long crossing—as part of the same protected mire system many day visitors combine with shorter loops. On the ground the outing is a peatland and forest mix typical of north Finnish aapa mires. The route on our page begins beside Martimoaavan luontopolun lintutorni, a birdwatching tower good for scanning wetland birds in nesting season. About 1.4 km along you reach Hangassalmenaho P-alue, the main car park that most people use. Hangassalmenaho varasto/invakäymälä sits near that hub with an accessible dry toilet described in local material. Farther on, Järviaapa kotalaavu and Järviaapa liiteri-käymälä form the Järviaapa rest cluster: a kota-style lean-to, woodshed, and toilet building at the edge of the open mire. Dry toilets are part of that cluster rather than separate named destinations in the walking flow. The line finishes near Hangassalmenahon laavu, another lean-to and campfire resting point before you return toward parking or connect to longer routes. Volunteer-maintained Martimoaapa.com presents this trail as a short, family-oriented nature walk with a fairy-tale theme and mostly duckboard walking, while warning that duckboards are in poor condition on the southern part of the circuit they describe from Hangassalmenaho parking. Your walk is linear on our map rather than their described loop, but the same boardwalk character and insect etiquette apply in summer. Retkipaikka’s detailed account of Järviaavan reitti by Mika Markkanen shows how Hangassalmenaho works as a gateway to wide mire vistas, how the accessible spur reaches a viewing platform, and how the Martimoaapa nature trail branches relative to the longer nine-kilometre circuit—useful orientation if you plan to add Järviaavan reitti or Martimoaavan vaelluspolku on another day. Together with Järviaavan reitti and Martimoaavan vaelluspolku, this nature trail is an accessible introduction to one of northern Finland’s largest protected mire complexes. Bring protection against mosquitoes on warm summer days, footwear you are happy to get damp, and check Luontoon.fi for the latest structural notices near Hangassalmenaho before you travel.

Length & route

The trail is about 3.8 km end to end and is not a loop. Most of the distance uses duckboards or firm peat paths; Martimoaapa.com notes restored historic boards in places but also poor condition on a southern leg of the route layout they describe. Expect gentle gradients—Retkipaikka’s Järviaavan reitti write-up emphasises how little height change there is even on the longer nine-kilometre circuit, which helps set expectations for this shorter segment.

Getting there

Most drivers aim for Hangassalmenaho P-alue, Sompujärventie 31, Simo—Retkipaikka and Martimoaapa.com both treat this as the practical gateway for Järviaapa circuits and the nature trail. An information board and forest tracks lead from the parking area toward the mire fringes. If you treat Martimoaavan luontopolun lintutorni as your reference point, follow marked connections from that trailhead area in the reserve. There is no public transport to the trailhead; plan a private car or taxi.

Good to know

Keep dogs leashed and follow Metsähallitus reserve rules on fires, camping, and watercraft—Martimoaapa.com’s visitor guidance repeats leash requirements and bans on off-road motor traffic. Metsähallitus has published news about dismantling or renewing Hangassalmenaho recreation structures on the Martimoaapa vaelluspolku pages; check Luontoon.fi for the current situation before relying on a specific shelter or toilet building. Midges can be intense in calm summer weather along open fens.

Managed by

Simo

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Walk either from the bird tower or from Hangassalmenaho parking; most visitors stage the outing from the car park.

Route direction

Orange paint marks on many open-mire legs (local trip accounts); connecting forest legs share signage with the wider Martimoaapa route network.

Route Signs

Dogs (On Leash)

Dogs

Open / Good Condition

Retkipaikka – Järviaavan reitti Simossa (Mika Markkanen)+

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

3.8 km

Distance

About 1–2 hours

Est. Time

Point-to-Point, Single Track

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

Location

65.83838°N, 25.24716°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

LaplandRegion

SimoCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Simo, 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 Simo Hiking TrailsMartimoaapa Nature Trail