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Kotajärvi circuit

—•Hiking Trails

3.6 km

Route

Description

Muuta maalle – Kotajärven kierros+

Description

Kotajärvi circuit is about 3.6 km of marked hiking in Reisjärvi, North Ostrobothnia, on the rocky drainage divide of the Suomenselkä backcountry. It threads lake isthmuses between Kuiva- and Iso-Kotajärvi and ties into the nationwide Peuran polku network. For trail markings, campfire stops, rental cabin context, and the Kirves-Heikki canal story, Muuta maalle is the municipality’s dedicated circuit page; the wider Peuran polku backbone that this path joins is summarised on Luontoon.fi. A separate municipal article outlines the roughly 115 km network between Petäjämäki in Reisjärvi and Central Finland. About 0.8 km from the start you reach the junction with Peuran polku’s orange-marked trunk and several longer arms. Poskeinen tulentekopaikka and Kompostikäymälä sit in that cluster—handy for a first break. The path then works through pine forest and rocky shores toward Kirves-Heikin nuotiopaikka, Kirves-Heikki tulentekopaikka, and Kirves-Heikki käymälä near the historic Kirves-Heikki canal cut between the two big lakes (dry toilets and fire rings are grouped there; bring your own water as always). From the same neighbourhood you can branch onto Raatejärvi – Mäntyjärven reitti, the Peuran polku runkoreitti E6, Suurijärvi hiking trail network, Jääkolun reitti, or Peuran polku (Reisjärvi) for much longer days—see our map pages for those trails when planning links north or south. Independent long-distance walkers on Peuran polku often remark how densely spaced the rest spots feel around Kuivajärvi and how striking Kirves-Heikin kanava looks from the footbridge—Jalkaisin walked this segment in late spring and describes the channel dimensions and stubborn lake levels with on-the-ground colour. Firewood policy is tied to the Metsähallitus rental cabin by the Kuivajärvi parking area; Muuta maalle notes that bundled firewood is intended for renters, while the shared courtyard fireplace is open to passing hikers—confirm current rules before you rely on it.

Length & route

The trail is about 3.6 km as plotted on our map. Muuta maalle and older Metsähallitus trail leaflets often quote nearer 7 km for the fully marked Kotajärvi lake circuit that overlaps Peuran polku; use our distance for the continuous line here and treat tourism figures as describing the broader marked loop with network links. Allow about 1–2 hours on foot at a relaxed pace with photos, longer if you picnic or detour onto Peuran polku spurs.

Getting there

Drive from Reisjärvi toward Mäntyperä about 8 km, turn onto Kuivajärventie, and continue roughly 7 km to the Kuivajärvi parking area at Kuivajärventie 699, 85900 Reisjärvi. The same page notes that the Kuivajärvi courtyard fireplace sits beside the reservable Metsähallitus cabin—bookings and sauna detail are linked from Muuta maalle to Luontoon.fi under Kuivajärvi rental hut. If you continue long-distance via Peuran polku, municipal copy points to paper maps sold at the library and service point in Reisjärvi.

Good to know

Muuta maalle lists May–October as the main season for this circuit, matching typical snow-free conditions on the divide. Firewood at Kuivajärvi is oriented to rental guests; carry a camping stove or your own fuel if you are unsure. Metsähallitus publishes combined Mäntyjärvi and Kotajärvi trail leaflets for print reference.

History

According to Muuta maalle and long-distance trail journals such as Jalkaisin, the settler known as Kirves-Heikki dug a roughly 65 m channel up to about 10 m wide across the isthmus in the late 1800s hoping to drain Iso-Kotajärvi for fields; the lake did not empty, but the rock-cut canal remains a landmark between the two basins.

Managed by

Reisjärvi

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Recreation Area

Lake

Orange on shared Peuran polku segments; additional blue marking on separate circuit sections.

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Muuta maalle – Kotajärven kierros

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

3.6 km

Distance

About 1–2 hours walking; add time for Peuran polku detours

Est. Time

Duckboards / Dirt

Surface

Light Traffic

Traffic

Location

63.50171°N, 25.07985°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

North OstrobothniaRegion

ReisjärviCity

MäntyperäVillage

Hiking TrailsCategory

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Reisjärvi, 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 Reisjärvi Hiking TrailsKotajärvi circuit