Rajanpolku Petkeljärvi–Möhkö is about 14 km as one point-to-point hiking leg between Petkeljärvi and Möhkö in Ilomantsi, North Karelia. It forms the Petkeljärvi–Möhkö section of the 90 km Pogostan kierros ring, which stitches together Taitajan taival, Rajan polku, Susitaival, and Kulkijan polku around the church villag...
Visit Karelia – Pogostan kierros, Ilomantsi+
Description
Rajanpolku Petkeljärvi–Möhkö is about 14 km as one point-to-point hiking leg between Petkeljärvi and Möhkö in Ilomantsi, North Karelia. It forms the Petkeljärvi–Möhkö section of the 90 km Pogostan kierros ring, which stitches together Taitajan taival, Rajan polku, Susitaival, and Kulkijan polku around the church village. The City of Ilomantsi maintains municipal hiking trails and rest spots during the hiking season from late May through the end of October, with natural conditions in mind. For step-by-step terrain notes on this segment—where the route briefly follows Kuikan kierros, where a rocky ridge section can feel more demanding, and how the route approaches roads and the Koitajoki bridge toward Möhkö—Visit Karelia’s Pogostan kierros guide is the most detailed published walk-through.
From Petraniemi at Petkeljärvi, the start sits in the national park service cluster: Petkeljärvi Center, the Petkeljärvi rantasauna and kota kitchen, a grill shelter, guest boat docks, and Petraniemi telttailualue for tenting. Petraniemi pysäköintialue and Petkeljärventie pysäköintialue 1 give practical parking a short distance from the start. About 2 km in you reach Petkeljärvi metsänvartijan maja with its sauna and the Metsänvartijan maja laituri—good landmarks if you are pacing a half-day. Around 5 km, Oinassalmi veneenlaskupaikka offers lake access off Möhköntie. The route finishes at Möhkön satama on Koulurannantie and passes near Möhkön laavu; Möhkö has cafés, the ironworks museum area, and other village services.
The trail is marked with orange paint marks and guide posts as part of the wider Pogostan kierros system. It connects on the Petkeljärvi end to Harjupolku Ilomantsi, Korkeasärkän polku, Taitajan Taival kesäretkeilyreitti, and Kuikan Kierros luontopolku, and toward Möhkö it meets the Susitaival long trail—useful if you are planning a longer east-border itinerary. Möhkön Matkailuyhdistys lists practical Möhkö-side parking at the ironworks museum or Savottakahvila Möhkön Manta, asks visitors to note start and return times when leaving a car, and gives phone contacts for boat transport if you want to walk one way and return by water. Petkeljärvi Center reminds visitors that Petkeljärvi National Park rules apply along the park stretch: move respectfully, follow the posted rules, and keep dogs on leash only.
Length & route
The trail is about 14 km point-to-point from Petkeljärvi to Möhkö. Some local descriptions round the distance slightly shorter; the figure here matches the trail geometry on this page. Visit Karelia describes this segment as the Rajan polku 14 km (Petkeljärvi–Möhkö) leg within the wider 90 km Pogostan kierros.
Getting there
You can start from Petkeljärvi (Petraniemi and Petkeljärvi Center) or from Möhkö. From Möhkö, Möhkön Matkailuyhdistys suggests parking at the ironworks museum or Savottakahvila Möhkön Manta and leaving your planned return time with staff or a note on the windscreen. The City of Ilomantsi links trail details and the Infogis map—select the route on the map for precise approach roads and parking. For national park rules and services at Petkeljärvi, Petkeljärvi Center and Metsähallitus pages summarise access and etiquette.
Good to know
Mobile coverage can be patchy on longer Ilomantsi trails; carry the 112 Suomi app and basic first aid. Open fire is banned during wildfire warnings and in strong wind. In Petkeljärvi National Park, follow Metsähallitus rules for camping, fires, and pets.
History
Pogostan kierros is a long ring around Ilomantsi church village that combines older marked trails with the Kulkijan polku section completed in 2015 to close the loop between Susitaipale and Taitajan taipale. Rajan polku is the Petkeljärvi–Möhkö connector within that system.
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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.
Rajanpolku Petkeljärvi–Möhkö is about 14 km as one point-to-point hiking leg between Petkeljärvi and Möhkö in Ilomantsi, North Karelia. It forms the Petkeljärvi–Möhkö section of the 90 km Pogostan kierros ring, which stitches together Taitajan taival, Rajan polku, Susitaival, and Kulkijan polku around the church villag...
Visit Karelia – Pogostan kierros, Ilomantsi+
Description
Rajanpolku Petkeljärvi–Möhkö is about 14 km as one point-to-point hiking leg between Petkeljärvi and Möhkö in Ilomantsi, North Karelia. It forms the Petkeljärvi–Möhkö section of the 90 km Pogostan kierros ring, which stitches together Taitajan taival, Rajan polku, Susitaival, and Kulkijan polku around the church village. The City of Ilomantsi maintains municipal hiking trails and rest spots during the hiking season from late May through the end of October, with natural conditions in mind. For step-by-step terrain notes on this segment—where the route briefly follows Kuikan kierros, where a rocky ridge section can feel more demanding, and how the route approaches roads and the Koitajoki bridge toward Möhkö—Visit Karelia’s Pogostan kierros guide is the most detailed published walk-through.
From Petraniemi at Petkeljärvi, the start sits in the national park service cluster: Petkeljärvi Center, the Petkeljärvi rantasauna and kota kitchen, a grill shelter, guest boat docks, and Petraniemi telttailualue for tenting. Petraniemi pysäköintialue and Petkeljärventie pysäköintialue 1 give practical parking a short distance from the start. About 2 km in you reach Petkeljärvi metsänvartijan maja with its sauna and the Metsänvartijan maja laituri—good landmarks if you are pacing a half-day. Around 5 km, Oinassalmi veneenlaskupaikka offers lake access off Möhköntie. The route finishes at Möhkön satama on Koulurannantie and passes near Möhkön laavu; Möhkö has cafés, the ironworks museum area, and other village services.
The trail is marked with orange paint marks and guide posts as part of the wider Pogostan kierros system. It connects on the Petkeljärvi end to Harjupolku Ilomantsi, Korkeasärkän polku, Taitajan Taival kesäretkeilyreitti, and Kuikan Kierros luontopolku, and toward Möhkö it meets the Susitaival long trail—useful if you are planning a longer east-border itinerary. Möhkön Matkailuyhdistys lists practical Möhkö-side parking at the ironworks museum or Savottakahvila Möhkön Manta, asks visitors to note start and return times when leaving a car, and gives phone contacts for boat transport if you want to walk one way and return by water. Petkeljärvi Center reminds visitors that Petkeljärvi National Park rules apply along the park stretch: move respectfully, follow the posted rules, and keep dogs on leash only.
Length & route
The trail is about 14 km point-to-point from Petkeljärvi to Möhkö. Some local descriptions round the distance slightly shorter; the figure here matches the trail geometry on this page. Visit Karelia describes this segment as the Rajan polku 14 km (Petkeljärvi–Möhkö) leg within the wider 90 km Pogostan kierros.
Getting there
You can start from Petkeljärvi (Petraniemi and Petkeljärvi Center) or from Möhkö. From Möhkö, Möhkön Matkailuyhdistys suggests parking at the ironworks museum or Savottakahvila Möhkön Manta and leaving your planned return time with staff or a note on the windscreen. The City of Ilomantsi links trail details and the Infogis map—select the route on the map for precise approach roads and parking. For national park rules and services at Petkeljärvi, Petkeljärvi Center and Metsähallitus pages summarise access and etiquette.
Good to know
Mobile coverage can be patchy on longer Ilomantsi trails; carry the 112 Suomi app and basic first aid. Open fire is banned during wildfire warnings and in strong wind. In Petkeljärvi National Park, follow Metsähallitus rules for camping, fires, and pets.
History
Pogostan kierros is a long ring around Ilomantsi church village that combines older marked trails with the Kulkijan polku section completed in 2015 to close the loop between Susitaipale and Taitajan taipale. Rajan polku is the Petkeljärvi–Möhkö connector within that system.
Be the first to write a review for "Rajanpolku Petkeljärvi–Möhkö"
Share a photo from a recent trip
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.