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Ukko-Koli eastern slope trails

—•Hiking Trails

8.2 km

Route

P 1

Description

Luontoon.fi – Hiking and outdoor recreation, Koli National Park+

Description

For closures, trail conditions, and the wider marked network in the national park, Luontoon.fi is the place to start. The Koli.fi hiking overview notes on the order of 80 km of marked paths around the park with individual trails from about 1.5 km up to roughly 61 km, plus fireplaces, lean-tos, and wilderness huts along many lines; it also reminds visitors that the highest cliffs are open bedrock without guard rails and can be slippery. Lieksa hosts the Koli visitor area, and North Karelia is the region most visitors associate with these fells and Pielinen views. Ukko-Koli eastern slope trails are about 8.2 km as one hiking line and are not a loop. The line threads the busy Ukko-Koli side of the park: you are never far from the ski hill, the nature centre, or Lake Pielinen at the harbour. Near the start, Koli pysäköintialue 1 and Koli pysäköintialue 2 ja 3 bracket the main visitor cluster together with Ukko-Kolin laskettelukeskus and Koli Relax Spa. From the same neighbourhood you can step straight onto Huippujen Kierros, the famous short viewpoint circuit past Ukko-Koli, Paha-Koli, and Akka-Koli from Luontokeskus Ukko. Pääministerin tulentekopaikka sits close to those peaks for a shelter stop if you link a summit outing with this east-side walk. Dropping toward the water, Kolin satama Alamaja, Kolin sataman pysäköintialue, and Uimahuoneen kävelysilta mark the harbour zone where Sataman polku and Vanhan metsän polku connect—useful if you arrive by boat or want to read more on our pages for the café and footbridge. About 2.4 km into the eastern slope line you pass Koli Ski Disc Golf at the ski resort edge. Farther east, Paimenenvaaran tulentekopaikka and Paimenenvaara kuivakäymälä sit around 5.5 km along the mapped line. This is the same Paimenenvaara pocket visited by Paimenen polku and shared with Mäkrän Kierto and Kolinuuron Kierros; Retkipaikka describes a triangular, moderately demanding forest loop there with steep climbs, short duckboards, bench-mark posts at some junctions, and orange circle route marks where side paths branch. The Paskovaara cliff viewpoint mentioned in that write-up sits on the dedicated loop rather than on every approach into the bay. The route closes on Likolahti tulentekopaikka near 7.3 km and Likolahti pysäköintialue shortly after—handy if you spot a car at the bay end or want a quieter finish by the shore. Kolin kesäkahvilakierros and other shore-side paths fan out from the same general harbourside–vaara fringe if you plan a longer day. Dry toilets are available at Paimenenvaara; treat tap water and swimming like typical backcountry visits unless a serviced point states otherwise.

Length & route

The trail is about 8.2 km as one point-to-point hiking line on our map. It runs from the Ukko-Koli visitor fringes toward Likolahti on the east side of the fell massif rather than forming its own closed loop. Expect to share junctions with Huippujen Kierros (about 1.4 km loop from the nature centre), Sataman polku along the harbour approach, and the longer circuits Mäkrän Kierto and Kolinuuron Kierros around the Paimenenvaara pocket. If you stitch extra spurs, total walking time can grow quickly even though many official circuit lengths in the park are short on paper.

Getting there

Most hikers reach Lieksa and Koli by car or combined train-and-bus travel via Joensuu; local timetables change seasonally, so check operators before the trip. Koli pysäköintialue 1, Koli pysäköintialue 2 ja 3, and Kolin sataman pysäköintialue give alternative road or harbour-side starts around Ukko-Koli. Likolahti pysäköintialue suits an end-point pickup if you walk the line as a shuttle between bayside parking and the hill parking areas.

Good to know

Carry windward-layer clothing: the eastern bays and forest benches can stay cool even when Ukko-Koli viewpoints feel mild. Retkipaikka notes muddy hollows and short duckboard sections on the Paimenenvaara loop; sturdy footwear helps if you borrow spurs from that network.

Managed by

Lieksa

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

National Park

Area

Recreation Area

Lake

Orange circle route marks are described at junctions on the Paimenen polku loop around Paimenenvaara; wider Koli trails use the park’s standard paint and post system per Luontoon.fi maps.

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Luontoon.fi – Hiking and outdoor recreation, Koli National Park+

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

8.2 km

Distance

About 2.5–4.5 hours depending on photos, Huippujen Kierros add-ons, and harbour stops.

Est. Time

Dirt / Duckboards

Surface

Point-to-Point, Single Track, Wide Track

Route Type

Partial Shade

Shade

Moderate Traffic

Traffic

Location

63.09608°N, 29.80260°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

North KareliaRegion

LieksaCity

Ylä-KoliVillage

Hiking TrailsCategory

Explore nearby

Koli Relax Spa

319 m

Ukko-Kolin laskettelukeskus

282 m

Kolin satama Alamaja

334 m

Ahmovaara-Lomakoli-Koli Moottorikelkkaura

481 m

Free

Old Alamaja Path

268 m

Free

Ukko-Koli parking access path

323 m

Free

Peaks shortcut trail 2

266 m

Free

Shepherd's Path

343 m

Free

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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 TrailsUkko-Koli eastern slope trails

Ukko-Koli eastern slope trails8.2 km

Route

P 1

Parking 1

0.0 km|Free

Koli pysäköintialue 1

0.0 km|Free

Free Parking

Koli pysäköintialue 2 ja 3

0.0 km|Free

Free Parking

Pääministerin tulentekopaikka

0.1 km|Free

Campfire Spots

Kolin sataman pysäköintialue

0.3 km|Free

Free Parking

Uimahuoneen kävelysilta

0.3 km|Free

Boat & Kayak Launches

Description

Luontoon.fi – Hiking and outdoor recreation, Koli National Park+

Description

Length & route

Getting there

Good to know

Managed by

Lieksa

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Location

National Park

Area

Recreation Area

Lake

Orange circle route marks are described at junctions on the Paimenen polku loop around Paimenenvaara; wider Koli trails use the park’s standard paint and post system per Luontoon.fi maps.

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Luontoon.fi – Hiking and outdoor recreation, Koli National Park+