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Koli Village Path

—•Hiking Trails

2.9 km

Route

P 1

Description

Luontoon.fi – Kylän polku (Koli summer hiking)+

Description

Lieksa anchors the Koli visitor area in North Karelia. Koli Village Path is about 2.9 km one-way between Koli village and the Ukko-Koli visitor area inside Koli National Park. For route descriptions, photos, difficulty notes and national park rules, start from the Kylän polku section on Luontoon.fi. Metsähallitus also publishes a printable map and route brochure for this nature trail. The walk begins in the village recreational cluster around Kolintie, where you pass Kolin kylän frisbeegolfrata, Ryynänen sauna, Kolin virkistysalueen ulkokuntosali and Kolin virkistysalueen laavu—handy if you want a warm-up, a lean-to break or a look at the outdoor gym before climbing toward the fells. About 0.6 km in, Ollila pysäköintialue offers a roadside parking option if you are joining the route partway. Farther on, Mattila kaivo marks an old well in the Mattila heritage landscape described in park publicity, and the Turula meadow area groups Turula telttailualue with Turula tulentekopaikka, Turulan tulentekopaikka and Turula kuivakäymälä together—useful for tenting or a campfire stop with dry toilets nearby. Vaaralanaho tulentekopaikka and Vaaralanaho kuivakäymälä sit a little higher in the Vaarala heritage setting before the path eases into the busier Ylä-Koli service yard: Koli pysäköintialue 1, Koli pysäköintialue 2 ja 3, Koli Relax Spa, Ukko-Kolin laskettelukeskus and Kolin luontokeskus Ukko, ending near Pääministerin tulentekopaikka below the lookout cliff. Metsähallitus markets the renovated trail as a themed nature path: interpretive panels recount stories of hill-settlement folklore, village growth, early tourism and how the national park came to be, crossing Mattila and Vaarala heritage land, Ipatinvaara slope forest and the upper-yard services such as the hotel-restaurant and Kolin luontokeskus Ukko. The climb is advertized as demanding overall but mostly on wide, relatively easy foot tread despite large height gain—a fit visitor can still enjoy the ascent if you allow time. Cocoa etsimässä describes hiking the same connector from Break Sokos Hotel Koli Kylä toward Ukko-Koli and finding the steady uphill manageable at ordinary fitness levels. At the top you are in the same busy summit realm as Huippujen Kierros, Sataman polku and Kolin kesäkahvilakierros; many people combine Kylän polku upward with Huippujen Kierros or link down later via Kasken kierros or UKK-reitti (Lieksa) depending on the day plan. Near Mattila kaivo you also brush the short Mattila–Vaaralanaho polku and Vanhan metsän polku connectors that local maps show around the harbour side of the village network.

Length & route

The trail is about 2.9 km one-way on our map and is not a loop. Official publicity often rounds the distance to about 3 km for the themed nature path from Koli village to the Ukko-Koli visitor yard. Allow roughly 1–2 hours upward if you read the interpretive panels and pause for photos; the brochures and Luontoon.fi are the best references for the advertised demanding grade and tread width.

Getting there

Metsähallitus highlights an expanded Koli church parking area at the lower end of the themed path (around 28 car spaces in recent publicity) as the intended village start. Our geometry also begins beside the Kolintie recreation facilities, so drivers can look for the village frisbee course address Kolintie 94 as a navigation cue before following the marked trail toward Ukko-Koli. Farther uphill, Ollila pysäköintialue, Koli pysäköintialue 1 and Koli pysäköintialue 2 ja 3 give additional access points if you stitch this segment into Kolin kesäkahvilakierros or Huippujen Kierros. Koli.fi summarizes lifts, harbour walks and upper-yard parking for visitors who mix driving with hiking between village and fell top.

Good to know

Treat firewood and open fires at Turula, Vaaralanaho and Pääministerin tulentekopaikka under national park rules; check current wildfire warnings and any fire bans on Luontoon.fi. The nature centre sells services, exhibitions and often firewood for regulated sites—confirm locally before relying on it. Dogs follow the park instructions published for Koli. In winter, other Koli routes may be maintained for skiing while steep walking connectors can stay icy—verify seasonal guidance before planning.

History

During 2022 Metsähallitus reopened Kylän polku with a new set of interpretive panels as part of a broader refresh of hiking-route communication in the national park; the renewal followed work on Huippujen kierros earlier that product cycle. Panels lean on local heritage—the Mattila and Vaarala cultural landscapes and Ipatinvaara forests—together with stories about early tourism and park establishment.

Managed by

Lieksa

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

One-way uphill from Koli village toward Ukko-Koli; many visitors return via other summit or village loops rather than repeating the ascent.

Route direction

National Park

Area

Recreation Area

Marked Route

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Cocoa etsimässä – Ensikertalaisen Koli

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

2.9 km

Distance

About 1–2 hours one way with normal photo and reading stops.

Est. Time

Dirt / Gravel

Surface

Point-to-Point, Wide Track

Route Type

Moderate Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

2022

Renovation years

Metsähallitus – Kylän polku brochure (PDF)+

Location

63.10463°N, 29.78334°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

North KareliaRegion

LieksaCity

KoliVillage

Hiking TrailsCategory

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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.

Finland North Karelia Lieksa Hiking TrailsKoli Village Path