Pielavesi Hiking Trails

Urkin poloku is a long point-to-point hiking trail in North Savo. The start lies in the municipality of Pielavesi and the Korkeakoski finish is in Kuopio. Pielaveden kunta maintains the route and publishes maps, updates, and contact details on its outdoor recreation pages(1). The same trail is listed on Luontoon.fi(2). Visit Savo describes the overall visitor experience for the region(3). The trail is about 23.9 km from the Lepikon torppa start area toward Korkeakoski. It begins at parking beside Urkin poloku Parkkipaikka; dry toilets sit a few metres along the path. Within the first few kilometres you reach Arkkuvuoren laavu, then another parking area (Urkin poloku Parking) for drivers joining mid-route. The middle section passes Urkin poloku pysäköintialue and the Pajuskylän kota cluster with Pajuskylän WC nearby—natural places to pause, grill, or plan an overnight in the kota setting. Further on, Kesälahden laavu offers another sheltered stop before the line approaches Korkeakoski. At the Korkeakoski end you meet Finland’s highest free-falling waterfall and can continue onto Kanjonin kierros, which includes Kanjonin laavu and Kanjonin nuotiopaikka on its own circuit. In winter the corridor overlaps Moottorikelkkareitti Pielavesi-Jylänki where the geometries coincide—keep clear of snowmobile traffic when that route is active. A rural development project between 2019 and 2021 renewed duckboards, firewood storage, laavu and eco-toilet facilities, and added sensory boards and cultural interpretation along the line(4). Allow most of a day for the full distance; terrain mixes forest paths, village connections, and lakeshore near Tuovilanlahti as described by the municipality and regional tourism pages(1)(3).

Patalikon polut is a long point-to-point hiking route in Pielavesi, North Savo. The trail is about 26.9 km and is not a loop. It begins near Kirkkoniemen laavu at the route start, then continues through forest and lake shores typical of the Pielavesi area. About 10.4 km along you reach Tornin laavu, and about 13.9 km along Oravimäen laavu—natural places to pause, eat, or plan an overnight beside a lean-to. For maps, maintenance, and the latest local rules, start with the municipal outdoor recreation pages for this network(1). Visit Savo gives regional visitor context for the same municipality and nearby destinations(2). The municipality maintains several marked hiking routes in Pielavesi, including Urkin polku, which is often described as a roughly 25 km line from Lepikon torppa toward the Korkeakoski waterfall area. Patalikon polut follows its own alignment on our map with the distances and shelters above; use the same municipal pages to confirm how this line connects to the wider network and to download the official PDF map(1). Maaseutuverkosto documents a 2019–2021 rural development project that renewed duckboards, firewood storage, laavu and eco-toilet facilities, and added interpretation along the Urkin polku outdoor corridor in the same countryside(3). Allow most of a day for the full distance in summer conditions. Terrain mixes forest paths, local connections, and views toward Pielavesi lake country. Turisti-info lists a general contact number for trail enquiries(4).