Suonenjoki Hiking Trails

Jokivarren luontopolku—the same riverside walk widely known locally as Jokipolku or Suonenjoen Jokipolku—is a point-to-point nature path along the Suonenjoki river in Suonenjoki, North Savo. For route descriptions, access points, and kayaking alongside the river, Visit Savo’s Jokipolku page is a good starting point(1). The City of Suonenjoki groups the trail with other local outdoor ideas on its “Lähde retkelle luontoon” pages and notes city-maintained laavu shelters at both ends of the Kimpanlampi–Iisvesi section plus a cultural outhouse at the Kimpanlampi laavu(2). Retkipaikka’s long-form guide to Suonenjoen Jokipolku adds on-the-ground colour: river history boards, Myllykoski and Petsamo, a short climb to Simolanvuori for views over the ice-age landforms, and why Kimpanlampi matters for waterbirds in spring and autumn(3). The trail is about 6.2 km one way toward Lake Iisvesi. About 1.3 km along you reach Kimpanlammen Laavu, a natural break by the pond. The route finishes at Iisveden Laavu and the Iisvesi harbour area, where Iisveden sataman kuntopaikka and Iisveden sataman uimapaikka sit by the water for a swim or outdoor fitness after your walk. Near the upper part of the trail, SPSH ry:n halli lies close to the path—useful as a landmark when reading a map. The same river corridor links to other outdoor networks: Lintharjun luontopolku and Lintharjun ladut meet the area around the sports hill, and Simolan Maastopyöräreitti and the long Sisä-Savon retkeilyreitti - Suonenjoki share segments for cyclists and multi-day hikers who want to stitch a longer day together. Expect an easy, family-friendly riverside character with bridges across the river, nature and culture information boards, and wet ground after rain—Retkipaikka suggests sturdier footwear when the soil is soft(3). The river is popular for canoeing; Visit Savo points to phone-friendly paddling route guidance and free city boats stored along the centre(1). Suonenjoki is a compact Lakeland town; combine the walk with Lintharju’s ridge trails if you want more distance on another day.

The Lintharju nature trail is a long day hike on a forested ridge just outside Suonenjoki town centre in North Savo. The trail is about 12.9 km as mapped here—official pages for the area usually describe it as roughly 13 km, with connector paths that let you shorten the walk. Suonenjoen kaupunki maintains the Lintharju outdoor area and publishes practical details on its Lintharju pages(1). Visit Savo summarises the same network for regional visitors(2). Retkipaikka’s walk-through by Luontopolkumies adds on-the-ground notes on markings, lakes, and pacing along the ridge(3). The route runs through pine forest and open ridge tops with views over small lakes and mires. Nature boards along the way explain local habitats; the marking uses brown cone symbols on posts and additional colour marks on trees that are easy to follow in clear weather(3). After the first couple of kilometres you are already in the Palolampi–Onkilampi section, where the ridge profile stands out and several ponds sit in the forest mosaic. Nearer the eastern town side, the trail passes the Kaatron laavu lean-to and the Kyöpelin rinteen kuntoportaat fitness stairs—known locally as “Ranen raput” after Olympic skier Rauno Miettinen—with the Lintharjun Liikuntakeskus sports block and other town-edge facilities close by. The same ridge hosts Lintharjun ladut in winter, shared-use Lintharjun Maastoypöräreitti, and links into the long Sisä-Savon retkeilyreitti - Suonenjoki network; Jokivarren luontopolku is another hiking loop in the wider Suonenjoki system worth combining when you plan more than one day outdoors. Terrain is moderate: mostly wide forest tracks with a few steeper short climbs and, in wet springs, occasionally soft ground on alder shore strips—footwear with a bit of grip is enough for normal summer conditions(3). Five lean-tos (Alaparkki, Palolampi, Kukkura, and Onkilampi upper and lower) sit in the wider Lintharju recreation area; the city keeps firewood at the shelters(1)(2). A separate, shorter sienipolku mushroom trail with eleven species boards is signposted as an accessible loop in the same area(1).