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Kulkijanpolku (Traveller's Trail)

—•Hiking Trails

24 km

Route

Description

Visit North Karelia – Pogostan kierros, Ilomantsi+

Description

Kulkijanpolku is a 24 km point-to-point hiking trail in Ilomantsi, North Karelia. It forms the link in the 90–91 km Pogostan kierros circuit between the southern Susitaipale section of Susitaival and Taitajan Taival kesäretkeilyreitti toward Petkeljärvi. Visit North Karelia’s Pogostan kierros guide describes this segment as mostly forest roads and easier paths, with orange paint blazes and signposts along the whole Pogostan kierros network. The City of Ilomantsi maintains municipal hiking trails and trail-side rest spots during the main hiking season from late May through late October, when ferry assists on Susitaipale sections are also operated where applicable. Visit Ilomantsi notes that Kulkijan polku was completed in 2015 and was designed with mountain bikers in mind, unlike the older Susitaival, Taitajan taival, and Rajan polku sections that were planned primarily for hiking. The trail is about 24 km end to end. Along the line you pass Kallioniemi, Koitajoki veneenlaskupaikka a little over a kilometre from one end—handy if you combine hiking with paddling on Koitajoki. About nine kilometres along, Kiieskankaan laavu sits beside the forest road section described in regional turn-by-turn notes. Roughly seventeen kilometres in, Ölkönlampi laavu offers another sheltered stop before the route reaches Särkkäjärven uimapaikka Ilomantsi and Särkkäjärven autiotupa at the Susitaival junction. From there you can continue on Susitaival toward longer stages, or join Taitajan Taival kesäretkeilyreitti from the Hatuntie / Kallioniemi end toward Petkeljärvi National Park services. The Putkela–Harkkojärvi snowmobile route shares short links with the same landscape in places; Susitaival is the main summer hiking connection at Särkkäjärvi. Terrain on this segment is mostly moderate, mixing wide forest tracks and narrower forest paths; occasional short boardwalks cross wet lines, and some stretches follow gravel roads. The wider Pogostan kierros is rated demanding overall because of steep esker climbs and rocky steps elsewhere on the loop, but this connecting section is written up as comparatively straightforward riding and walking. Mobile phone coverage can be patchy in the forests—carry a map or GPX and plan for self-sufficiency.

Length & route

The trail is about 24 km as one continuous hiking line. It connects the Susitaival network at Särkkäjärven autiotupa with the Hatuntie / Kallioniemi end where Taitajan Taival kesäretkeilyreitti continues toward Petkeljärvi. You can hike or ride it in either direction depending on how you combine parking, ferries on Susitaipale, and shuttle plans; Visit North Karelia’s stage text runs the segment from the wilderness hut toward Hatuntie.

Getting there

Pogostan kierros can be started from Petkeljärvi, Möhkö, or Ilomantsi with link routes; for this segment, typical access is either from the Särkkäjärvi end where Susitaival meets Kulkijanpolku, or from the Hatuntie / Ilolinnantie area where the line meets Taitajan Taival. The City of Ilomantsi links to the municipal map service for parking and junction names. Public transport to Ilomantsi is available from Joensuu by bus. Kallioniemi, Koitajoki veneenlaskupaikka lies along Haapalanahontie for boat access; Särkkäjärven uimapaikka and Särkkäjärven autiotupa sit at the southern junction with Susitaival.

Good to know

For wildfire conditions and everyman’s rights, follow national guidance and local bulletins. Report problems with lean-tos, fireplaces, or trail damage to the City of Ilomantsi sports facilities contact published on the municipal outdoor pages. The municipal pages also note seasonal changes to Susitaipale ferries—check current notices before planning water crossings.

History

Visit Ilomantsi states that Kulkijan polku was completed in 2015 as a new link in the Pogostan kierros ring, built so that mountain bikers could use the same line as hikers on this section.

Managed by

Ilomantsi

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Either direction; published turn-by-turn on Visit North Karelia describes Särkkäjärven autiotupa toward Hatuntie

Route direction

Recreation Area

Lake

River

Orange paint blazes and signposts (Pogostan kierros network)

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Visit North Karelia – Pogostan kierros, Ilomantsi

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Bike

Activity

Terrain & conditions

24 km

Distance

About 6–8 hours on foot for fit hikers; less on a mountain bike in dry conditions

Est. Time

Mixed forest roads, moderate-width forest paths, short boardwalks over wet spots, occasional gravel road links

Surface

Point-to-Point, Single Track, Wide Track

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

2015

Construction year

Location

62.75588°N, 31.00501°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

North KareliaRegion

IlomantsiCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

Explore nearby

Kallioniemi, Koitajoki veneenlaskupaikka

242 m

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Ilomantsi, 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 North Karelia Ilomantsi Hiking TrailsKulkijanpolku (Traveller's Trail)

Kulkijanpolku (Traveller's Trail)24 km

Route

Kiieskankaan laavu

8.9 km|Free

Ölkönlampi laavu

16.6 km|Free

Särkkäjärven uimapaikka Ilomantsi

24.1 km|Free

Beaches

Särkkäjärven autiotupa

24.1 km|Free

Description

Visit North Karelia – Pogostan kierros, Ilomantsi+

Description

Length & route

Getting there

Good to know

History

Visit Ilomantsi states that Kulkijan polku was completed in 2015 as a new link in the Pogostan kierros ring, built so that mountain bikers could use the same line as hikers on this section.

Managed by

Ilomantsi

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Location

Either direction; published turn-by-turn on Visit North Karelia describes Särkkäjärven autiotupa toward Hatuntie

Route direction

Recreation Area

Lake

River

Orange paint blazes and signposts (Pogostan kierros network)

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Visit North Karelia – Pogostan kierros, Ilomantsi

Location

62.75588°N, 31.00501°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

North KareliaRegion

IlomantsiCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Bike

Activity

Terrain & conditions

24 km

Distance

About 6–8 hours on foot for fit hikers; less on a mountain bike in dry conditions

Est. Time

Mixed forest roads, moderate-width forest paths, short boardwalks over wet spots, occasional gravel road links

Surface

Point-to-Point, Single Track, Wide Track

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

2015

Construction year

Explore nearby

Kallioniemi, Koitajoki veneenlaskupaikka

242 m

Rate & Review

Be the first to write a review for "Kulkijanpolku (Traveller's Trail)"

Share a photo from a recent trip

Answers to your questions

Finland North Karelia Ilomantsi Hiking TrailsKulkijanpolku (Traveller's Trail)