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Kiehinen Trail

—•Hiking Trails

14.3 km

Route

P 1

Description

Luontoon.fi – Kiehisen kierros (Joensuu)+

Description

Kiehinen Trail is about 14.3 km as one path through the southern side of Koli National Park, linking Ylä-Murhi, lakeshore forest, Honkapirtti, Lakkala, Seppälä, Soikkeli, Rykiniemi, and the Herajoki wading cable at the south end. Joensuu is the nearest city in our data, and North Karelia is the home region, though trailheads also serve visitors arriving from Kontiolahti and Lieksa for day trips and weekend circuits. Metsähallitus launched the branded Kiehisen kierros network in 2022 as a skills-building hike before committing to longer pack routes. For lengths, the three main car parks, winter camping rules at Ylä-Murhi, and how white circle junction signs work, Luontoon.fi is the right planning anchor. The Kiehisen kierros trail information boards go deeper on campfires, Pitkälampi drinking water, tent zones beside the Ylä-Murhi heritage yard, rental-hut etiquette, the Herajoki ford with the fixed wading cable, and why dogs must stay leashed in the national park. Early on from the Ylä-Murhi cluster you have Ylä-Murhi telttailualue, Ylä-Murhi vuokratupa, Ylä-Murhi kuivakäymälä, and Ylä-Murhi tulentekopaikka together—dry toilets sit with the rental cabin and fireplace without turning them into a waypoint list. Retkipaikka’s Luontopolkumies notes describe steep openings, duckboard stairs on green slopes, Jauholanvaara views toward Herajärvi, and how the roughly 3.5 km Pirunkirkko day loop shares markings before longer arms peel south. About 1.7 km along from a Ylä-Murhi-style start you reach Pirunkirkko pysäköintialue; Devil's Church Trail connects here for a short side visit to the fractured Pirunkirkko boulder cave that local coverage links with an Eero Järnefelt poem on the wall. Pitkälampi kuivakäymälä marks the pond rest pocket Retkipaikka used before dropping toward the meadow. Roughly 6.7 km in, Honkapirtti varaustupa, Honkapirtti sauna, Metsäpirtti vuokratupa, Honkapirtti käymälä, and Metsäpirtti kuivakäymälä cluster around Honkapirtti—Path to Metsäpirtti is the direct spur if you want the smaller rental cabin without walking the whole saddle. Lakkala tulentekopaikka, Lakkala telttailualue, and Lakkala vuokratupa follow on the Lakkala rise. Seppälän tie pysäköintialue gives another staging point; Seppälä tulentekopaikka, Seppälä vuokratupa, and Seppälä sauna sit slightly above the road bay. Soikkeli tulentekopaikka and Soikkeli vuokratupa continue the cottage-and-fireplace rhythm toward Rykiniemi tulentekopaikka, Rykiniemi telttailualue, and Rykiniemi pysäköintialue on Pielinen’s sandy shore. The line finishes at Herajoki kahluuvaijeri; you can bypass the ford via the Herajoentie bridge if you add about 1.7 km instead of using the cable. Lake Herajärvi Circuit shares many of the same shelters and often frames multi-day plans; Soikkeli - Ylä-Murhi polku, Devil's Church Trail, Lakkala–Seppälä–Vesivaara trail, and Path to Metsäpirtti are the short spokes that stitch into this backbone when you want a variant day.

Length & route

The trail is about 14.3 km as a single path on our map, open-ended rather than a closed ring. Metsähallitus describes Kiehisen kierros as a tour where you choose distance: about 3 km for the shortest walking options up to roughly 19 km when you add out-and-back spurs and southern bays. The Kiehisen kierros trail information boards repeat that you can skip the long south leg past Rykiniemi and Vesivaara or detour around the Herajoki wading cable using the Herajoentie bridge. Use their figures to plan variants; the 14.3 km value stays the length for this continuous line.

Getting there

Luontoon.fi lists three drive-up trailheads: Pirunkirkko pysäköintialue, Seppälän tie pysäköintialue, and Rykiniemi pysäköintialue. Retkipaikka approached from Rantatie with a signed bay at Pirunkirkko pysäköintialue and notes roughly ten car spaces in the compact lot before the numbered day loop. Honkapirtti varaustupa sits at Herajärven rantatie 37c if you need the official yard address for navigation apps. Public transport is essentially absent; plan a private shuttle or taxi for linear finishes at Herajoki kahluuvaijeri unless you walk back. The boards warn of mobile dead zones in steep southern hollows, improving once you climb ridges.

Good to know

Book rental beds through Eräluvat.fi; Koli Nature Centre Ukko (phone 020 639 5654) helps with maps and etiquette. Campfires belong only to maintained fireplaces when Finnish Meteorological Institute wildfire warnings allow. Split supplied logs at sheds rather than expecting pre-cut bundles. Mountain biking stays on roads inside Koli National Park, not on hiking trails.

History

Metsähallitus announced Kiehisen kierros in 2022 as part of Koli National Park’s renewed hiking communication, bundling older spurs into a branded training circuit with the “retki-Rauha” trail character and refreshed maps that use white circle junction markers. Independent coverage at the time highlighted Pirunkirkko cave and the goal of easing crowding on central Koli viewpoints by spreading traffic south.

Managed by

Kontiolahti

Official Maintenance

013 7341

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Metsähallitus markets the loop as distance-flexible. Retkipaikka followed arrow posts counter-clockwise from Pirunkirkko pysäköintialue on the short day ring; on the full line, orient by white circle junction signs and your chosen entry parking.

Route direction

Marked Route

Route Signs

Dogs (On Leash)

Dogs

Open / Good Condition

Luontoon.fi – Kiehisen kierros (Joensuu)+

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

14.3 km

Distance

Plan most of a day for the full 14.3 km line because climbs, roots, and short duckboard flights slow pace; the shortest Pirunkirkko-focused loop needs roughly an hour plus cave time in easy conditions.

Est. Time

Duckboards / Dirt / Sand

Surface

Point-to-Point, Single Track

Route Type

Moderate Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

2022

Construction year

Retkipaikka – Luontopolkumies (Kiehisen kierros)

Location

63.04313°N, 29.91780°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

North KareliaRegion

JoensuuCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Kontiolahti, 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 Joensuu Hiking TrailsKiehinen Trail