The White-tailed Eagle Trail (Aarnikotkan polku) is a long point-to-point hiking route of about 34.7 km between Vieremä parish village and the Talaskangas forest and mire mosaic on the North Savo–Kainuu border. Vieremä lies in North Savo; this line ties Einarin puisto’s sports cluster in the village to Talaskangas, where the wider Talaskangas hiking trail network begins. For marking refreshes, forestry notices, the annual Hiljaisuuden kävely event, shuttle arrangements on event days, and safety notes such as the beaver-dam detour, the Municipality of Vieremä publishes the dedicated Aarnikotkan polku page(1). The reserve end of the journey is described together with driving distances and on-water rules on the municipality’s Talaskangas hiking page(2); the Natura 2000 site factsheet from the Finnish Environment Institute summarises why Talaskangas matters for old-growth forest and mire species(3).
The Municipality of Vieremä describes the route as a demanding, non-permanent marked “boot trail”: blue and red paint and arrow boards (including distance hints), following old footpaths, cart tracks, and quiet village roads through upper-Savon-style conifer forest, lakes, and streams(1). Markings were rechecked in early June 2025(1). Terrain and navigation skills matter; the same authority states the route is unsuitable for people with reduced mobility(1).
About 9 km from the end that lies toward Talaskangas you reach Puolinmäen laavu, a good first long stop with a fireplace. Past the midpoint, near Läsykankaan laavu at roughly 21 km, the line meets Revonsuon luontopolku, a short nature loop sharing the same lean-to. That stretch is also where a beaver dam blocks the main line: the trail page(1) describes a roughly 400 m bypass on blue and red ribbon roughly 3 km north of Läsykankaan laavu toward Talaskangas along Kotvakkojoki / Pieni Mäkijärvenpuro(1). Further on, Pitkäkankaan laavu offers another sheltered fire ring before Hukkalan laavu appears roughly 2 km from the village end—practical staging if you are linking into winter ski corridors or Kirkonkylän kuntorata around the disc golf course and Iivon Areena.
Scenery called out officially includes the Kuorejärvi slash-and-burn heritage patches, old spruce along Kotvakkojoki, and entry into Talaskankaan luonnonsuojelualue at the north end(1)(2). Vegetation shifts from spruce mires and brookside forest to hay meadows and grazed openings(1). The Finnish Environment Institute notes extensive aapa mires, wooded bogs, and boreal natural forest habitats across the wider Talaskangas Natura site on the Vieremä, Sonkajärvi, and Kajaani municipal boundaries(3). At Talaskangas itself Metsähallitus manages the strict reserve; easy built trails, canoe carry options, and the Patalampi / Pikku-Talas shelter cluster belong to the separate Talaskangas route that begins from Jyleikönkangas or Talaskangas trailheads(2).
You can walk the distance in sections; the trail page(1) notes vehicle access to each laavu when needed and promotes the late-August Hiljaisuuden kävely gathering with guided pace groups and free buses from Einarin puisto(1). Allow a very long summer day or two easier days with an overnight near one of the lean-tos if you tackle the whole trail.
Free