North Karelia Map

Otroskoski autiotupa or Otroskosken kämppä. is a large wilderness hut with an oven and bunk beds for over 10 people. The wilderness hut also has a fireplace, toilet, sauna and a landing place for kayakers.

Valamajoki wilderness hut is

Along the path of the shepherd. There is a small threshold at the entrance of the Koda. The Koda has an unobstructed shout and about 10 m long accessible boardwalks up to the tip of the peninsula.

For Metsähallitus’ official description, difficulty class, and the latest trail-specific guidance, start with the Kuusipolku luontopolku page on Luontoon.fi(1). Visit Karelia sets the scene: the path threads through old slash-and-burn forest beside a fell slope, with vegetation that feels distinct from other nearby walks in the Patvinsuo area(2). Kuusipolku is about 2.6 km as one nature trail in Lieksa in North Karelia, beginning from the Autiovaara parking area on the western side of Patvinsuo National Park. The route is classified as demanding: expect roots, short climbs and descents, and about an hour on the move for most walkers(1)(2). Along the forest path, information boards cover both ecology and local history; duckboards help in wet stretches, and the trail is marked with blue paint(1)(2). A picnic table group sits at Autiovaara pysäköintialue so you can eat before or after the walk; there are no separate benches along the path itself(2). Jari Hanhela’s Patvinsuo trip write-up on Kotona ikimetsässä notes how the spruce-forest introduction can feel brief and how nearby road noise reaches the trail in places—worth weighing if you want a very quiet forest experience(3). The Kävelystä ja elämästä blog from Autiovaara highlights counterclockwise walking, lively autumn fungi and moss, and the absence of formal rest stops along the walk—matching the idea of a compact, self-sufficient stroll(4). On the ground you use Autiovaara pysäköintialue as the hub: Autiovaara pysäköintialue kuivakäymälä is right next to the parking area for a dry toilet before you set off. The same Autiovaara start appears in national data as the related Kuusipolku luontopolku listing; both describe the same spruce-path experience from the same trailhead. The City of Lieksa publishes wider hiking information and municipal trail contacts on its retkeily pages if you need a local phone after your visit(5).

The Kirkonkylä Nature and Culture Trail is a moderate loop of about 4.8 km around Kontiolahti village centre between Lake Höytiäinen and the Kirkonkylä built-up area in North Karelia. For the municipality’s own narrative on Höytiäisen drawdown landforms, Honkavaara, the Vierevänniemi shore, and how the route ties to Kotiseutukeskus, start with the City of Kontiolahti’s Luonto- ja ulkoilureitit pages(1). Visit Karelia’s trail page, with text credited to the municipality, adds practical detail on parking, local bus access, and the recommended walking direction(2). Via Karelia’s route card summarises the mix of forest path, duckboards, small roads, and a short stretch of main street, and names the old cemetery and the lane toward the parish house(3). The loop is a nature-and-culture circuit: roughly fifteen information boards along the way describe local nature and Kirkonkylä history. From the sports and ice-rink side near Kontiohalli, the route soon reaches Kirkonkylän ulkokuntoilualue and other village sports facilities, then threads toward Höytiäisen shores. About two kilometres into the walk you reach Vierevänniemen uimaranta on a fine sand beach, with Vierevänniemen nuotiopaikka and Vierevänniemen rantalentopallokenttä 4 kpl nearby; Vierevänniemen frisbeegolfrata sits a little farther along the shore section. Honkavaara rises above the lake—sources describe a climb through older spruce forest and wide views over Höytiäinen—then the path drops through rocky old-shore terrain that can feel almost coastal, with wind-sculpted pines and glacial shore features. A steeper stretch with stairs has an easier bypass variant marked in the terrain for those who prefer a gentler line(2). In the same Kirkonkylä area, the marked winter ski loop Kirkonkylän valaistu latu and the lit fitness loop Kirkonkylän valaistu kuntorata Kontiolahti share the sports-centre section of the shoreline network; the wider Kontiolahden hiihtoreitit network links into regional ski routes. Jakkilanvaaran luontopolku is a short separate hiking loop nearby if you want to add another walk on the same visit.

For forest-fire rules, winter access, step-by-step driving directions to both parking areas, and the full safety checklist, start with Visit Karelia’s Kolvananuuron luontopolku page(1). Play Kontiolahti’s long-form story from Matovaara and Uuronvaara adds on-the-ground notes on birdlife, the streamside character of the gorge floor, and how long to budget when the bottom is still wet or snowy(3). Retkipaikka hosts Luontopolkumies’s walk report from the Eno-side parking, with practical detail on steep rope sections, fallen trees along the tread, and how the Uuron reitti ring fits together(2). The trail is about 4.8 km as one continuous path on our map. Regional guides often describe the marked Kolvananuuro circuit at roughly 5–5.4 km and about two hours for fit hikers, while Play Kontiolahti suggests reserving about 4–6 hours if you move slowly on slippery cobbles in the gorge bottom(1)(3). The route is classed as demanding: very steep, rocky descents and climbs, narrow tread in places, and stones that stay treacherously slippery when wet or frost-slick(1)(2). Marking is orange and yellow paint symbols on trees and posts(1)(2). Many walkers follow the ring clockwise from the Koirilampi area(2). Kolvananuuro is a deep fault-line gorge on the Kontiolahti–Eno (Joensuu) boundary. Bedrock shifted here about 1.8 billion years ago; ice and water then carved the ravine that today drops between forested walls, with a small stream along much of the floor(1)(3). Sheltered microclimates let northern and southern plants grow side by side, and the bird community includes scarcer species such as Boreal owl and collared flycatcher(1). From the trailhead toward Pieni Koirilampi, about 1.6–1.8 km along the route, you reach Pieni Koirilampi kuivakäymälä uusi, Koirilampi tulentekopaikka uusi, and Pienen Koirilammen nuotiopaikka—dry toilet, fire ring, and a second campfire spot clustered at the small lake where Visit Karelia notes a lean-to shelter and easy approach from the Kontiolahti-side parking(1). Toward the end of the trail, Uuronvaara pysäköintialue offers parking on the Eno side; Visit Karelia gives separate turn-by-turn directions from Kontiolahti (Matovaarantie) and from Joensuu’s Eno via Kuusijärventie(1). The same junction area links into Kolvananuuro uuronreitti and onward to the long Kolinpolku Trail toward Koli National Park and Hautajärvi—useful if you are stitching together a longer North Karelia hike.

Karhunpolku – Jongunjoen eräkeskus yhdyspolku is a short point-to-point hiking link on the Karhunpolku network in Lieksa, North Karelia. The trail is about 5.3 km and connects the main Karhunpolku hiking route with the Jongunjoki / Nurmijärvi area, where Jongunjoen Matkailu and the Jongunjoki wilderness-centre services sit beside the long-distance trail. For the wider Karhunpolku story—border country, lakes, ridges, shelters, and how the full route is marked—start with Visit Karelia’s Karhunpolku hiking trail article(1). The City of Lieksa maintains Karhunpolku through its sports department and publishes contacts for reporting windthrow or shelter issues on the route network(2). Jongunjoen Matkailu describes road and rail access to the Nurmijärvi–Jongunjoki area and notes the property lies close to Karhunpolku for walkers and cyclists arriving under their own power(3). This segment is a practical connector: it lets you reach services, accommodation, and canoe hire near the Jongunjoki river without walking the entire 140 km Bear Trail. Where it meets the long hiking route, you can continue on Karhunpolku (retkeilyreitti) toward shelters and campfire places such as Jongunjoen laavu, or branch onto the parallel Karhunpolku mountain-bike line and shorter loops like Maastopyöräreitti Rukajärventien kierros. Older Lieksa route notes summarised on Visit Karelia have warned that yhdyspolku sections toward Nurmijärvi village could be unevenly maintained and spottily marked in places, with a real risk of losing the line without a proper map—treat marking as something to verify on the ground and confirm current status with the City of Lieksa before a standalone trip(1)(2). Terrain on Karhunpolku overall mixes forest, mires, and lake shores, with duckboards on wet ground and orange paint marking on the main line(1). Expect similar forest tread here, with roots, stones, and short steep pitches possible where the route crosses moraine and river banks. Mobile coverage is generally usable on Karhunpolku but pockets without signal remain possible in hollows(1).

The Kaavi section of the Koillis-Savon retkeilyreitti is a long-distance leg through forest and lake country between North Karelia and North Savo: on our map it is about 66.6 km as one continuous hiking path, point-to-point rather than a loop, starting from the Juuka area and running toward Kaavi. For the latest PDF maps and pointers to the wider Pohjois-Savon retkeilyreitistö, Kaavin kunta publishes outdoor route information and links to Retkikartta.fi for browsing regional trails(1)(5). The Kaavi Vaikkojoki pages on the same site describe Vaikkojoen luontomatkailualue—forests, lakes, and marked walking and cycling threads from Rakkinekoski and Makkarasärkkä, with a kota and laavut and the Vaikkojoen uiton muistomerkki—useful context for the same river corridor this regional hiking line follows(2). Telkkämäen luonnonsuojelualue sits right on the trace near Kaavi kirkonkylä: Luontoon.fi presents Metsähallitus-managed Telkkämäen perinnetila slash-and-burn heritage, year-round access to the yard and nature paths, summer opening hours for the buildings, and the Rietulan kierto interpretive loop around kask landscapes(3). Yle reported in 2020 how North Savo’s four sub-regional networks—including Koillis-Savo—were built with major public investment roughly two decades earlier as part of a province-wide trail programme, then partly neglected; the story matters for expectations: some stretches rely on forest roads and local maintenance, and signage can be patchy between municipalities(4). Treat Kaavin kunta and Retkikartta.fi as the practical anchors for closures and local notes(1)(5). Along the line, Luotosen uimapaikka offers a swimming spot a little off the main trace early on. Entering Kaavi, the route passes services such as Nuorisotalon liikuntasali Kaavi, Ulkoliikuntapuisto Kaavi, and school sports yards—handy if you stage a town resupply. The same block links Kaavin valaistu kuntorata and Paanalan latu where our geometry overlaps lit running and ski infrastructure. Near kilometre 10, Telkkämäki pysäköintialue is the natural access for Rietulan kierto, Telkkämäki kärrytie, and the short Retkeilypolku beside Telkkämäki lähde; dry toilets sit near Telkkämäki kuivakäymälä and Telkkämäki ulkohuussi. Further along the Vaikkojoki shore toward Kortteis, Kortteiskylän/Säynevirran uimapaikka marks another swimming pause. The same regional spine continues on our map as Koillis-Savon retkeilyreitti – Juankoski toward Pisa and Juankoski; plan joins and exits with both Kaavi and Kuopio-area pages when you stitch multi-day trips.

For trail facts and map context, Metsähallitus lists this route on Luontoon.fi as Joukonpolku ja Hyvän mielen polku in Nurmes(1). Visit Bomba describes the shore walk from Vajatie to the Vinkerlahti bird tower, parking shared with the small-boat harbour and Tyttöjen puisto, and views over Puu-Nurmes and the harbour—aimed at all walkers including families(2). An autumn trip account on Maailman äärellä praises the short walk for big shoreline scenery after the drive to Bomba country(3). The trail is about 0.5 km on our map along Vinkerlahti to the bird tower; walking back along the same line is a gentle outing on the order of a kilometre round trip(2). The tower is a natural turnaround: bring a warm drink or a picnic to pause upstairs while you scan the bay—binoculars help if you want a closer look at waterbirds(2)(3). Winter trail layers nearby include Kevätjääladut spring ice ski tracks and the Nurmeksen taajamaan moottorikelkkaura snowmobile corridor, which meet the Vajatie shoreline zone close to where this walk begins, so expect occasional winter motor and ski traffic in the wider harbour area even though this short footpath stays a calm stroll. Toward the route end, the line passes close to Nurmeskodin seniorikuntosali on Esantie—handy landmark if you are linking a town errand with the tower outing.

The trail is about 2 km in Joensuu, North Karelia, climbing through a small heritage forest on Hiidenvaara before a short return along road. For route copy, heritage-forest rules, and the Keskijärvi trailhead address, the City of Joensuu’s nature-trail pages are the place to start(1). Retkipaikka’s walk-through adds practical pacing, blue blaze detail, and how the climb lays out toward the viewpoint(2). Tervastulia’s spring 2016 day trip names the bird community, the small fen in the summit notch, and where laavus sit around Lake Ylinen if you want a fire after the walk(3). From the car park the path rises straight onto Hiidenvaara; the suggested circuit runs counter-clockwise with blue paint marks on trees and clearer signs at junctions(2)(3). The going is steep in the first few hundred metres but the footbed stays straightforward underforest without long rock or root stretches(2). Six boards along the forest leg interpret the heritage-forest idea, Metso-related protection, and local plants and wildlife per the on-trail text(2). The high point offers a bench-like viewpoint over ridge-and-lake country to the northeast and east with a landscape board and visitor books in a mailbox(2). After the descent you finish along Hiidenvaarantie beside lakeside cottages for the remaining distance back to parking(2). The city lists no maintained campfire on this loop; nearby laavus are separate short drives or walks(1)(3).

Lehmonharju Trail is a short ridge hike in Kontiolahti, on the boundary with Joensuu in North Karelia. The trail is about 1.6 km and follows a forested esker beside the Lehmo sports area, where the City of Kontiolahti groups it with the wider Harjupolut network on Lehmonharju and Utranharju(1). Yle reported Harjupolut as a new marked route for mountain biking and running on those ridges, tying into the larger Joensuu-region path network(3). Visit North Karelia’s Lehmonharju page focuses on the pink-marked mountain-bike profile, connections to Onkilampi Trail and Jaama Trail, and practical access from the sports field and Hotel Julien(2). Play Kontiolahti hosts a QR-code nature adventure game along Lehmonharju Trail and Onkilampi Trail for families and school-age visitors(4). From the trail you are right next to everyday sports facilities that appear on our map: Lehmon liikuntahalli and Lehmon liikuntahallin kuntosali, Lehmon tekonurmikenttä and Lehmon nurmikenttä, Lehmon ulkokuntosali, Julien pallokenttä, and Lehmon treeniportaat—useful if you want to combine a ridge walk with stairs training or ball sports. The same ridge links to other Harjupolut hiking trails such as Onkilampi Trail and Monttu Trail, to the lit Lehmonharjun valaistu kuntorata and Lehmonharjun ladut in winter, and onward to Jaama Trail and the regional ski and bike networks(1)(2)(3). Utranharjun laavu appears on neighbouring routes for longer day loops. Terrain on the ridge is short but punchy: official copy for the wider Harjupolut set stresses varied ups and downs on forest trails; spring thaw can leave paths soft until they dry(2)(3). For helmets and bike-specific safety notes on the shared network, see the same regional page(2).

For grading, violet markings on the ground and on signboards, natural tread, winter maintenance policy, and what awaits you in Uuro, start from the Kontionpolut / Yhdysreitti Kolinpolulle trail page on Luontoon.fi(1). That page describes the leg as an easy connector between the Jaama Trail ring toward Joensuu and the Uuro village end, where the longer Kolinpolku trailhead amenities sit(1). The mountain biking route is about 3.4 km point-to-point. It is not a loop. North Karelia is the regional frame, and the trail sits on Jaamankangas in Kontiolahti, stitching the orange-marked Jaama Trail network into the Kolinpolku Trail staging area at Uuro—useful if you are building a day that combines Kontionpolut loops with the national-scenery trekking corridor toward Koli. The Municipality of Kontiolahti promotes Kontionpolut as its main marked network for mountain biking, trail running, and walking, with four linked loops plus onward links to the Jaama Trail ring and the roughly 60-plus-kilometre Kolinpolku corridor that reaches the famous Koli viewshed when you continue north(2). Visit Karelia packages the same Kontionpolut loops with harbour and biathlon-stadium services, campfire sites, and showers that make multi-hour rides comfortable while flagging the onward hook to Kolinpolku as a separate long trail entity(3). Once you roll or walk into Uuro, services listed for the connector include a shop, restaurant, and indoor toilets—practical before committing to the longer Kolinpolku Trail, which the dedicated Kolinpolku trail page characterises as blue-marked trekking with sustained vertical work over tens of kilometres once you leave the village roads behind(4). Play Kontiolahti’s long read from Jaamankangas adds colour on how esker forests keep many Kontionpolut segments fast and flowy while the Kontioniemi arm carries the steepest technical punches—helpful background if you are chaining short connectors into a full network day(5). Ride in whichever direction matches your loop; reconcile junction colours with the downloadable Kontionpolut PDF map the city publishes(2).

For grading, tread types, red markings in the forest, and winter maintenance policy, take the Kontionpolut / Kontioniemi Trail page on Luontoon.fi(1) as your first stop. Municipality of Kontiolahti describes Kontionpolut on Jaamankangas as the municipality’s main marked network for mountain biking, trail running, and walking, linked to Joensuu’s Jaama Trail ring, Liperi’s Kinttupolut, and the Kolinpolku corridor that reaches Koli national scenery(2). The trail is about 9 km as one continuous line. On the map it is stored as an open line rather than a closed loop, but in the field you normally follow the signed circuit around the Kontioniemi peninsula in either direction and watch for junction posts. Official materials still class it as demanding terrain (1). Near the Kontioniemi school cluster, about a kilometre into the ride from the geometry’s first kilometre marks, you pass Kontioniemen ulkokuntoilualue and Kontioniemen koulun liikuntasali—handy if you want calisthenics or a short indoor detour before heading deeper into forest tracks. The same hub crosses Kontioniemen kuntorata, the local fitness loop marked in the Kontionpolut family. Around the mid-route shore zone you are close to Lohiluodon pallokenttä and Kontiolahden Avantouimarien talviuintipaikka (winter swimmers’ spot on the shore), so Höytiäinen is never far when the trees open up. Further along, toward the later kilometres on the line, Satamalahden lintutorni sits where the route swings closest to the marina shore: a logical pause for lake views and bird watching before you follow Kontionpolut harbour connector toward the marina side of the network. North Karelia outdoor pages highlight a grill shelter above Höytiäinen with a dry toilet nearby, plus an outdoor gym beside Kontioniemi’s newer school, as public-use stops worth planning around. They also give bus notes from Joensuu via JOJO line 202 and Kontiolahti line 214 if you want to arrive without a car(3). An independent ride write-up on MTBreitti.fi adds practical warnings about narrow boardwalk segments from the marina approach and a very steep, rocky push that many riders meet near the 2,7 km mark along their Kontioniemi lap(4). Play Kontiolahti’s longer network story explains how esker forest makes some stretches fast while the Kontioniemi arm keeps the sharper gradients in the system—useful background if you are stitching day rides(5). The municipality also publishes an overview video titled Kontionpolut for a visual introduction to the whole trail family(2).

The cycling route is about 1.3 km as one point-to-point part of Kontionpolut: it links Kontiolahti harbour on Lake Höytiäinen to the main Jaamankangas trail network towards Kontionpolut / Kontioniemi Trail. For contacts, PDF maps, and winter options for the wider Kontionpolut system, start from the City of Kontiolahti’s Kontionpolut pages(3). Visit Karelia’s dedicated write-up for this leg notes marked duckboard sections, a bird tower, and classifies the segment as demanding riding with modest but punchy elevation change for the distance(2). The same connector is listed on Luontoon.fi with downloadable geodata alongside other Kontionpolut legs(1). Visit Karelia’s regional mountain-biking overview adds useful network context—colour-marked routes, services around the stadium and harbour, and how Kontionpolut connects into the larger Joensuu-area path map(5). North Karelia and Kontiolahti sit a short drive north-east of Joensuu and are an easy base for the wider Kontionpolut loops (Kontionpolut / Kontioniemi Trail, Stadium Trail, Salpalinja Trail, Välilampi Trail), Jaama Trail links, and long-distance connectors such as Kolinpolku towards Koli National Park(3)(5). From the harbour end you are on Satamatie facilities that locals and visitors already use for swimming and lake access. After roughly one kilometre you pass near Satamalahden lintutorni—a good excuse to pause for lake and reed-bed views. A little further along sits Sataman pieni pallokenttä before the route reaches Kontiolahden sataman uimaranta at the shore. Expect mixed forest path with boardwalk where the ground is wet; sources emphasise the short climb profile rather than distance(2). Plan about 15–25 minutes on a mountain bike depending on pace, photos, and how often you stop at the tower and beach. PlayKontiolahti’s 2019 Kontionpolut article captures how the stadium-side legs feel on a fatbike and reminds readers that the wider network is clearly marked with guidance boards—useful background even when starting from the harbour link instead of the biathlon stadium(4).

The mountain biking route is about 9 km around the Kontioniemi peninsula in Kontiolahti, North Karelia, with long views over Lake Höytiäinen. It is the most demanding of the four main Kontionpolut circuits and suits riders who are comfortable with short, sharp climbs and mixed forest tread. For downloadable geodata and the national trail listing, see Luontoon.fi(1). Visit Karelia describes forest sections, short steep grades, short stretches near houses, red ground marking, and either-direction riding on this ring(2). The City of Kontiolahti’s Kontionpolut pages are the practical hub for PDF maps, contacts, links into the wider Jaamankangas network, and a short overview video(3). Route character strings together three useful clusters from the trail itself. Near the Kontioniemi school area, Kontioniemen ulkokuntoilualue and Kontioniemen koulun liikuntasali sit close to the path—handy if you want calisthenics or indoor sports access before or after a lap. About 3.4 km into the ride you pass Lohiluodon pallokenttä and soon after Kontiolahden Avantouimarien talviuintipaikka on the Höytiäinen shore—useful mental markers if you link in from the harbour side. Further along, about 6.3 km from the start of our trace, Satamalahden lintutorni makes a natural photo stop over reeds and open water before you close the loop. You can reach the ring from the main Kontioniemi trailhead beside the former village school (about 900 m from the Asematie–Kontioniementie junction per Visit Karelia) or ride in via the Kontionpolut harbour connector from Lake Höytiäinen marina(2). An obvious next extension is Kontionpolut / Stadium Trail, marked in blue where the networks meet(2). PlayKontiolahti’s 2019 Kontionpolut article notes that Kontioniemi Trail carries the most height change among the rings and that the Jaamankangas esker landscape is mostly easy rolling forest but still throws noticeable drops and climbs when you move from ridge to ridge(4). Treat spring thaw carefully: Visit Karelia warns that trails can be soft and awkward while snow is melting and states there is no winter maintenance for grip on this leg—reserved winter riding and walking on Kontionpolut uses the maintained Stadium and Salpalinja winter variants instead(2)(3). Off the bike, Visit Karelia points to a grill shelter with a lake outlook near Karelia Golf and dry toilets beside it; KontioLomat also offers lodging and café service in the old school building(2). Plan roughly 1.5 hours on the bike if you pause for views and junction checks(2).

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Ulkokuntosalilta löydät monipuolisen laitteiston lihaskunnon, tasapainon ja koordinaation harjoittamiseen.

Jonkin verran korkeuseroja.

Paljon korkeuseroja.

Paljon korkeuseroja.

Tasainen maasto.

Jonkin verran korkeuseroja.

Aloitus ja lopetus liikuntahallin takana tenniskentän vieressä. Rata kulkee osin pururataa pitkin ja nousee välillä Parppeinvaaralle.

Tasainen maasto.

Tasainen maasto.

Kuntoportaissa 123 porrasta, korkeusero 12 m. Ei talvikunnossapitoa.

153 askelmaa ja lepotasot. Ei talvikunnossapitoa.

Portaiden pituus 36 m, korkeusero 11 m.

Kahdet portaat, 42 ja 57 porrasta.

245 askelmaa. Ei talvikunnossapitoa.

Kahdeksan erilaista allasta ja kolme saunaa.

Kuntouintiallas, ulkoallas, viihdeallas, poreallas, lastenallas.