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Ölökyn ylitys

—•Hiking Trails

5.3 km

Route

P 1

Description

Luontoon.fi – Ölökyn ylitys+

Description

Ölökyn ylitys is about 5.3 km as a marked loop along the south shore of Julma-Ölkky, Finland’s famous canyon lake in Hossa National Park on the North Ostrobothnia side of the Kuusamo–Suomussalmi area. Metsähallitus keeps the official trail description and maps for this exact route on Luontoon.fi. Visit Suomussalmi publishes practical driving directions to the Julma-Ölkky service yard and spells out how you reach the suspension bridge by stone steps and climb the far cliff on rock and steel spiral stairs, with orange paint blazes along the way. Luontopolkumies recounts the same loop on Retkipaikka tall west-shore boulders, slow pace on the west side, quicker forest going on the east, and the 2017-vintage bridge as the visual highlight—worth reading before you pack boots. Most people stage from the Julma-Ölkky south end where Julmaölkky linja-auto p-paikka and Julma-Ölkyn lisäparkkipaikka give room for cars and coaches, Julmaölkyn käymälä serves the parking area, and Julma-Ölkyn esteetön melontalaituri marks where canoe shuttles meet the shoreline. About 2.2 km into the walk you are above Ala-Ölkky tulentekopaikka on the smaller southern lake, and Ala-Ölkky vetotaival shows where boats are portaged between the two basins—useful context if you arrive by packraft or watch paddlers from the trail. After the bridge the east shore leg is generally easier walking, while the west rim stays rough underfoot; allow longer than a typical 5 km woodland stroll. If you still have energy, the longer Ölökyn ähkäsy circuit continues around the whole canyon and Julman Ölkyn polku explores the tight ravine from the same service area. Kuusamo holds the postal address for Julma-Ölkyntie, while many visitors approach from Suomussalmi along Visit Suomussalmi’s Highway 5 corridor instructions.

Length & route

The trail is about 5.3 km as a full loop on our map. It shares the Julma-Ölkky service area with longer canyon hikes: you fork from the same yard as Ölökyn ähkäsy and Julman Ölkyn polku. The crossing uses a suspension bridge, stone staircases, and steel spiral stairs on the far wall as described by Visit Suomussalmi.

Getting there

Navigation address for the Julma-Ölkky yard is Julma-Ölkyntie 86, 93780 Kuusamo. From Suomussalmi centre, Visit Suomussalmi instructs you to follow Highway 5 north about 66 km, turn right at Peranga onto Selkoskyläntie for about 25 km, then left on Hossantie for about 14 km, left again on Julma-Ölkyntie for about 4.5 km, and finally a short left spur roughly 4 km to the trailhead parking beside Julmaölkky linja-auto p-paikka and Julma-Ölkyn lisäparkkipaikka. If you rely on coaches, the same cluster is designed around the bus parking and toilets at Julmaölkyn käymälä.

Good to know

Visit Suomussalmi notes that the nearest lakeside campfire sits at Ala-Ölkky, roughly 300 m south of the Julma-Ölkky parking yard, without toilets there, and points to a connector toward the Värikallio loop via Ala-Ölkky for longer combinations. Summer kiosk sales and boat schedules at Julma-Ölkky change by season; confirm hours on Metsähallitus or local business pages before you plan meals or lake tours.

Managed by

Kuusamo

Official Maintenance

040 860 8365

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Clockwise is the natural choice when the south gate aligns with the marked orange line, but the loop can be walked either way.

Route direction

National Park

Area

Lake

Orange

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Retkipaikka – Luontopolkumies: Ölökyn Ylitys

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

5.3 km

Distance

About 2–3 hours for most adults because of rocky climbs, even though the distance is short.

Est. Time

Dirt / Gravel

Surface

Loop, Single Track

Route Type

Partial Shade

Shade

Moderate Traffic

Traffic

2017

Construction year

Retkipaikka – Luontopolkumies: Ölökyn Ylitys

Location

65.53729°N, 29.32577°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

North OstrobothniaRegion

KuusamoCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Kuusamo, 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 Ostrobothnia Kuusamo Hiking TrailsÖlökyn ylitys