For maps, national-park rules, and seasonal route listings around Koli, Metsähallitus publishes the destination materials on Luontoon.fi. Herajärven kierros route description follows the marked path down from Mäkränaho toward Ikolanaho, past Tarhapuro’s upper streambed, and explains how the open meadow drumlin suppo...
Luontoon.fi – Koli National Park+
Description
For maps, national-park rules, and seasonal route listings around Koli, Metsähallitus publishes the destination materials on Luontoon.fi. Herajärven kierros route description follows the marked path down from Mäkränaho toward Ikolanaho, past Tarhapuro’s upper streambed, and explains how the open meadow drumlin supports rare meadow plants such as fairy flax, with a busy campfire corner, lean-to fuel storage, and water near the historic farmstead clearing. Retkipaikka staffs visitors at Koli Nature Centre Ukko and keeps practical Koli access and summer–winter route collections in one place. Koli.fi summarises the national park’s geology, wildlife, and year-round outdoor options in the Lieksa area.
Lieksa holds the Koli national landscape on the west shore of Lake Pielinen. The Ikolanaho–Purolanaho yhdyspolku is about 0.6 km point-to-point through forest between the Ikolanaho heritage meadow cluster and the Purolanaho side of Ukko-Kolin slope loops. It fills a short gap inside a dense trail network: you can reach it from Mäkrän Kierto, Ukko-Koli eastern slope trails, larger stages of Herajärven kierros, or winter ski routing on Ukko-Kolin ladut where those lines share the same hillside.
Walking west into Ikolanaho, about half a kilometre along the connector, Ikolanaho vuokratupa sits beside Kotaniementie with booking managed like other Koli rental huts; read fee and key rules on our Ikolanaho vuokratupa page. Ikolanahon tulentekopaikka is a natural pause right next to the hut. Dry toilets sit beside the buildings so you need not return to the main road. Drivers often stage longer circuits from Peiponpelto pysäköintialue, where Kotaniemi–Herajärvi forest roads meet a small signed parking pocket near the meadow descent.
Terrain is typical Koli forest path: compact soil, roots, and short climbs rather than exposed cliffs on this segment. Allow roughly fifteen minutes one way at an easy pace. Combine the link with a Mäkrän Kierto lap or the eastern Ukko-Koli slope trails if you want vistas and elevation after crossing the meadow.
Length & route
The trail is about 0.6 km point-to-point between the Ikolanaho shelter meadow area and the Purolanaho approach on Ukko-Koli’s eastern slope network. It is a link trail, not a stand-alone day hike; pair it with Mäkrän Kierto, Ukko-Koli eastern slope trails, or stages of Herajärven kierros for distance. Most hikers budget roughly a quarter-hour one way on forest footing.
Getting there
By car, aim for the Peiponpelto junction where Kotaniementie meets the road toward the north end of Lake Herajärvi; the Herajärven kierros route description notes a small parking pocket and information board beside the crossroads. Ikolanaho vuokratupa’s street address is Kotaniementie 28, 83960 Koli for navigation apps. Luontoon.fi carries the national park’s official access and etiquette updates. Retkipaikka lists bus distances to Koliportti and park shuttle hints if you travel without a car. From Ukko-Koli’s main parking lots you can also connect via Mäkrän Kierto or Ukko-Koli eastern slope trails and walk this link as part of a longer loop.
Good to know
Carry the national park’s general etiquette on campfires, waste, and wildlife from Luontoon.fi materials; conditions can change with snowmelt on Tarhapuro’s upper reaches, when runoff from Koli and Mäkrävaara slopes turns the stream into a louder cascade nearer Lake Pielinen. The connector sits inside the same permit and service framework as other Koli hiking routes, so check Metsähallitus pages if you extend onto Herajärven kierros huts farther west.
History
The Herajärven kierros route description states that Ikolanaho was a tenant farm from the 1800s until the 1930s and that the red-painted study cabin replaces the original torppa after Forestry Research Institute use. Koli state land became a national park in 1991 after decades of research and timber use. The drumlin beside the meadow carries nationally significant meadow flora, including dense stands of fairy flax and abundant lady’s-slipper orchids flowering around July, subject to annual variation.
Either direction along the connector works; context on surrounding loops is usually clockwise or counter-clockwise on Mäkrän Kierto and Herajärven kierros rather than this short segment alone.
Route direction
National Park
Area
Recreation Area
Recreation Area
Marked Route
Route Signs
Open / Good Condition
Open / Good Condition
Activities allowed
Run
Activity
Hike / Walk
Activity
Terrain & conditions
0.6 km
Distance
About 10–15 minutes one way at an easy walking pace.
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Answers to your questions
Our data was researched from Lieksa, 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.
For maps, national-park rules, and seasonal route listings around Koli, Metsähallitus publishes the destination materials on Luontoon.fi. Herajärven kierros route description follows the marked path down from Mäkränaho toward Ikolanaho, past Tarhapuro’s upper streambed, and explains how the open meadow drumlin suppo...
Luontoon.fi – Koli National Park+
Description
For maps, national-park rules, and seasonal route listings around Koli, Metsähallitus publishes the destination materials on Luontoon.fi. Herajärven kierros route description follows the marked path down from Mäkränaho toward Ikolanaho, past Tarhapuro’s upper streambed, and explains how the open meadow drumlin supports rare meadow plants such as fairy flax, with a busy campfire corner, lean-to fuel storage, and water near the historic farmstead clearing. Retkipaikka staffs visitors at Koli Nature Centre Ukko and keeps practical Koli access and summer–winter route collections in one place. Koli.fi summarises the national park’s geology, wildlife, and year-round outdoor options in the Lieksa area.
Lieksa holds the Koli national landscape on the west shore of Lake Pielinen. The Ikolanaho–Purolanaho yhdyspolku is about 0.6 km point-to-point through forest between the Ikolanaho heritage meadow cluster and the Purolanaho side of Ukko-Kolin slope loops. It fills a short gap inside a dense trail network: you can reach it from Mäkrän Kierto, Ukko-Koli eastern slope trails, larger stages of Herajärven kierros, or winter ski routing on Ukko-Kolin ladut where those lines share the same hillside.
Walking west into Ikolanaho, about half a kilometre along the connector, Ikolanaho vuokratupa sits beside Kotaniementie with booking managed like other Koli rental huts; read fee and key rules on our Ikolanaho vuokratupa page. Ikolanahon tulentekopaikka is a natural pause right next to the hut. Dry toilets sit beside the buildings so you need not return to the main road. Drivers often stage longer circuits from Peiponpelto pysäköintialue, where Kotaniemi–Herajärvi forest roads meet a small signed parking pocket near the meadow descent.
Terrain is typical Koli forest path: compact soil, roots, and short climbs rather than exposed cliffs on this segment. Allow roughly fifteen minutes one way at an easy pace. Combine the link with a Mäkrän Kierto lap or the eastern Ukko-Koli slope trails if you want vistas and elevation after crossing the meadow.
Length & route
The trail is about 0.6 km point-to-point between the Ikolanaho shelter meadow area and the Purolanaho approach on Ukko-Koli’s eastern slope network. It is a link trail, not a stand-alone day hike; pair it with Mäkrän Kierto, Ukko-Koli eastern slope trails, or stages of Herajärven kierros for distance. Most hikers budget roughly a quarter-hour one way on forest footing.
Getting there
By car, aim for the Peiponpelto junction where Kotaniementie meets the road toward the north end of Lake Herajärvi; the Herajärven kierros route description notes a small parking pocket and information board beside the crossroads. Ikolanaho vuokratupa’s street address is Kotaniementie 28, 83960 Koli for navigation apps. Luontoon.fi carries the national park’s official access and etiquette updates. Retkipaikka lists bus distances to Koliportti and park shuttle hints if you travel without a car. From Ukko-Koli’s main parking lots you can also connect via Mäkrän Kierto or Ukko-Koli eastern slope trails and walk this link as part of a longer loop.
Good to know
Carry the national park’s general etiquette on campfires, waste, and wildlife from Luontoon.fi materials; conditions can change with snowmelt on Tarhapuro’s upper reaches, when runoff from Koli and Mäkrävaara slopes turns the stream into a louder cascade nearer Lake Pielinen. The connector sits inside the same permit and service framework as other Koli hiking routes, so check Metsähallitus pages if you extend onto Herajärven kierros huts farther west.
History
The Herajärven kierros route description states that Ikolanaho was a tenant farm from the 1800s until the 1930s and that the red-painted study cabin replaces the original torppa after Forestry Research Institute use. Koli state land became a national park in 1991 after decades of research and timber use. The drumlin beside the meadow carries nationally significant meadow flora, including dense stands of fairy flax and abundant lady’s-slipper orchids flowering around July, subject to annual variation.
Either direction along the connector works; context on surrounding loops is usually clockwise or counter-clockwise on Mäkrän Kierto and Herajärven kierros rather than this short segment alone.
About 10–15 minutes one way at an easy walking pace.
Est. Time
Dirt
Surface
Point-to-Point, Single Track
Route Type
Light Traffic
Traffic
Partial Shade
Shade
Rate & Review
Be the first to write a review for "Ikolanaho–Purolanaho connector trail"
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Answers to your questions
Our data was researched from Lieksa, 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.