Päijät-Häme Biking Trails

Siltapolku - Salpausselkä Trails MTB is a short, two-way multi-use link on Lahti’s Salpausselkä ridge, inside the Salpausselkä UNESCO Global Geopark. For tunnel etiquette, winter ski-track crossings, speeds on the narrow hill climb, and how the Messiläntie outdoor bridge ties into other marked lines, start with the City of Lahti Siltapolku page(1). Visit Lahti’s mountain-bike pages for the region describe how narrow forest singletrack and multi-use corridors fit together on the ridge, including the longer loops this connector reaches into(2). Karoliina Kaski’s Retkipaikka report from Kintterön kymppi captures how the same trail system feels on the ground—clear arrow marking, busy multi-use corridors, and geopark forest that rewards calm pacing(3). The Municipality of Hollola describes Mörripolku as the Hollola-side link that meets the Messiläntie bridge—useful context when you are riding toward Hollola’s marked trails(4). The route is about 1.2 km point-to-point. Marking is yellow-and-blue arrows in both directions. Walking the whole line is easy; on a bike the hillside is moderate because the path is narrow and winding, while the lower flat section is easier(1). The line climbs from the Hämeenlinnantie and Reunakatu underpasses up to the newer Messiläntie outdoor bridge. Along the way it runs between Messiläntie and a groomed ski corridor, partly on a fresh trail strip beside the maintained outdoor route; in winter the city asks you not to cross the ski track except at marked spots so grooming is not damaged(1). In the underpass tunnels, stay to the side, expect oncoming walkers and riders, and ring a bell at the mouth when you are on a bike; in ski season yield to skiers on the bridge and tracks(1). On the ascent, keep speed moderate so you can pass others safely on tight bends(1). At the bridge end, a roughly 150 m two-way spur joins Kintterön kymppi - Salpausselkä Trails MTB: red arrows point toward Kintterö from the bridge, and yellow-blue arrows return toward the bridge from that loop(1). Along Siltapolku itself you can move between Riihelän Rinki - Salpausselkä trails MTB, Koneharjun yhdysreitti - Salpausselkä trails MTB, and the hiking line Siltapolku - Salpausselkä Trails, then continue over the bridge onto Mörripolku toward Hollola’s marked bike trails—or reverse the sequence from the Hollola direction(1)(4). The same landscape also links logically into Kintterön kymppi - Salpausselkä Trails MTB and Urheilukeskuksen ja Messilän kuntoradat when you are stitching a longer day on Salpausselkä. Lahti anchors the south Päijät-Häme side of this bridge segment. Near the lower metres of the line, the track passes within a few hundred metres of Liikuntastudio Zenana Hollola, Sisäpelikeskus PadelMarina, and Sisäpelikeskus PadelMarinan petankkikenttä on Tarmontie—handy if you are pairing outdoor riding with indoor training in the Salenius–Tarmontie service pocket.

Artjärvi local heritage cycling route is a loop of about 64 km through lake-and-farm countryside in Orimattila, Päijät-Häme. For the municipal description of this tour, brochure-style lengths, laavu rest points, and links toward the national cycling network, see the City of Orimattila cycling routes page(1). Artjärven Ahjo keeps older printed maps and planning notes that still help with on-the-ground navigation and longer stops in Artjärvi centre(2). About 10 km into the ride you can break at Pyykkinekan uimaranta, a village beach that also appears on the Lanskinjoen melontareitti paddling line if you combine water and land days. Near the northern lake shore, around 33 km, Tortolan tallit / maneesi sits just off the loop as an equestrian landmark. Closer to the western closure, Niinikosken ampumarata marks a quiet roadside point—ride considerately where sport shooting activities may be underway. At the start of the circuit, Villisikapolku branches as a short walking trail on the same footprint; Salmelan valaistu latu is a nearby winter ski track when snow conditions suit. Surfaces are mostly low-traffic rural asphalt with spells of fine gravel, a pattern Komoot users summarise as a moderate “three lakes” style lakeland road tour where wider tires feel safer on short unpaved links(3). For how a long training day on Orimattila’s roads feels—café stops, bike-path links from Lahti, and rolling fields—Pro Mustarousku’s report on a 70 km Kuivanto loop through Artjärvi adds useful colour even though it is not the same GPS line(4). Pack water and snacks; services cluster in village centres rather than every crossroad.

This segment is the western add-on to the signed Vellamo bike touring network between Sysmä and Hartola in Päijät-Häme: about 21 km as one line, shaped as a point-to-point link rather than its own loop. Visit Lahti presents the wider Hartola–Sysmä Vellamo ring as a road-signed touring circuit through farmland and shorelines, mixing gravel and quiet paved roads, with Tainionvirta river scenery and Lake Päijänne never far away(1). The Municipality of Sysmä points cyclists to local clubs and the regional bike-travel materials that pair with these countryside miles(2), and LAB’s regional bike tourism guide gives the broader Päijät-Häme context for linking stages(3). Riding west from the Nuoramoiset school cluster you soon pass typical village sports edges—ball field and an outdoor ice rink—before the line settles into mellower farm and forest roads toward Nuoramoisten uimapaikka, a practical swim and rest stop in the river-lake countryside with roughly six kilometres behind you. The second half bends north toward Virtaa, where village playing fields and the tennis court sit right on the junction bundle: here you meet the main Vellamo retkipyöräilyreitti: Sysmä - Hartola rengasreitti, can branch onto Vellamo retkipyöräilyreitti: Kalkkisten kierros for a longer lakeside loop, or note the nearby Tainionvirran melontareitti/Sysmä if your group mixes bikes and boats. Treat this spur as a quieter alternative approach to Virtaa when you are stitching together gravel days around Sysmä and Hartola; carry the current Vellamo map or GPX because seasonal forestry or field work can change how tempting a side lane feels even when the main network stays well marked.

This mapped line is a short cycling loop of about 0.2 km on Aurinkovuori in Asikkala, on the Second Salpausselkä ridge between Lake Päijänne and Lake Vesijärvi. It sits in the same hub as Aurinkovuori Trail Center, the municipal downhill and enduro bike area opened in summer 2022 in the old ski-slope terrain, which the City of Asikkala describes as starting beside the outdoor gym on the hilltop(1). The activities pages point to the municipal sports locations map and the Trail Center area map for full line layouts and descriptions(1). Visit Lahti’s Aurinkovuori destination page underlines how high the ridge rises above the lakes and how the wider outdoor area pairs laavut and viewpoints with lit multi-use paths in other seasons(2). Regional mountain biking materials highlight Aurinko–Ilves as a longer linked ride between Vääksy and Evo forests past Aurinkovuori(4). LAB’s write-up from the Pyörämatkailijan Päijät-Häme project notes four colour-coded difficulty levels at the Trail Center, no lift, summer-only use on the built downhill lines, and e-bikes as a practical way to regain the top—plus year-round maintained multi-use routes elsewhere on the hill for winter fat-biking(3). Right at the hilltop you are next to Aurinkovuori outdoor gym, fitness stairs, the ski trail centre, and Aurinkovuori laavu with a fireplace—handy for a break before or after laps.

The trail runs in Lahti on the Salpausselkä ridge, part of the Salpausselkä UNESCO Global Geopark. Kintterön kymppi - Salpausselkä Trails MTB follows the same signed line as the walking and running version Kintterön kymppi - Salpausselkä Trails: a roughly 10 km forest circuit marked with red arrows for clockwise travel, with about 190 m of climbing and a character built around narrow singletrack, rooty climbs, and short technical descents. For one-way rules, detours around damaged signs, mountain-bike skill expectations, and etiquette on a busy multi-use network, start with the City of Lahti Kintterön kymppi page(1). Visit Lahti publishes a mountain-bike-oriented description that matches the same layout and difficulty level(2). Karoliina Kaski’s Retkipaikka piece on walking Kintterön kymppi is a rich on-the-ground read on forest types, boardwalk sections, and how the red-arrow line feels when you are not in the saddle(3). Tiirismaan Latu ry partners with the city on Salpausselkä Trails and shares network background material(4). As described by the City of Lahti, the line threads Tapanila backwoods, winds past Likolammi and Koneharju, skirts an old-growth spruce stand, loops around the Kintterönsuo nature reserve with a mire crossing on duckboards, then climbs into rooty spruce around Hakalaukku, threads a few kettle depressions, and finishes with serpentine climbs and descents before rolling pine-forest riding back toward Tapanila. The route is marked one-way for safety, with clockwise (myötäpäivään) as the recommended bike direction; riding against the marking means extra care and solid GPS or map skills(1). Wet roots and stones raise the difficulty quickly—something the city calls out plainly for route choice after rain(1). Walkers and runners share the same corridor; the city asks people to skip headphones where sight lines are short, to expect fast riders from behind, and to keep dogs leashed(1). Along the roughly 10 km, our stop list clusters into two main service bands. Near the north-east side of the loop, within about the first kilometre from the Syke–Koneharju parking band, you pass Tapanilan hiihtomaja and Tapanilan ulkokuntolaitteet, with Jalkarannan koulun pallokenttä and Kankolanpuiston ulkokuntolaitteet close to the trail geometry as you work through the Tapanila side. Toward the south-west, around eight to nine kilometres into the circuit, Likolammen uimaranta Lahti and Likolammen ulkokuntolaitteet sit beside Likolammi—handy if you want a swim break or an outdoor-gym stop before closing the loop. Read more on our pages for each place when you want photos, maps, and amenities in one place. You can lengthen or vary a day from Urheilukeskuksen ja Messilän kuntoradat or Vanha Ravirata by tying in Tapanilan taival - Salpausselkä trails MTB, then branch into Kintterön kymppi; the City of Lahti also suggests adding Hakalaukunlenkki ja Hakalaukunpolku - Salpausselkä Trails MTB for distance, or using Siltapolku - Salpausselkä Trails MTB and Mörripolku toward Hollola’s marked bike trails(1). Koneharjun yhdysreitti - Salpausselkä trails MTB and Riihelän Rinki - Salpausselkä trails MTB connect near Likolammi if you want shorter link options. Päijät-Häme is known for ridge and lake scenery; Lahti is the regional hub, and this loop is the longest and most demanding of the city’s marked Salpausselkä Trails for riders(1). A separate Hollola “Suoreitti” network with wooden posts and yellow paint blazes is mentioned as an extension idea in the same area but is not the red-arrow Salpausselkä line(1).

This segment is part of Finnish national cycling route 10, the signed backbone that runs from Turku through Hämeenlinna and Lammi to Asikkala(1). Do not mix it up with the separate international EuroVelo 10 Baltic Sea circuit along Finland’s coast—this is the inland line listed on Polkupyöräwiki(1). The route is about 24 km point-to-point within Asikkala in Päijät-Häme between the Viitaila sports-field area and the Länsi-Asikkala school cluster, using the kind of quiet local roads and connectors typical for long-distance cycle touring in rural Häme. Near the start, Viitailan kaukalo and Viitailan nurmikenttä sit beside Hautiontie; further along you pass Länsi-Asikkalan koulun nurmikenttä, Länsi-Asikkalan koulun kaukalo and Länsi-Asikkalan koulun liikuntasali in the Hilliläntie area—handy landmarks for breaks even though they are school pitches rather than wilderness shelters. The main touring draw in Asikkala is linking onward: Visit Lahti’s local cycling pages highlight how Vääksy, the canal district and Pulkkilanharju fit into postcard rides such as the 27 km Vääksy–Pulkkilanharju loop on the Salpausselkä Geopark esker(2). From the same hub you can also stitch gravel and touring circuits around Vesijärvi and toward Lahti when you want a longer day(2). Where this line meets other networks, you can branch to Viitailan ladut and Kurhila-Hillilän ladut in winter, or in summer combine with Aurinko-Ilves vaellusreitti, Aurinkovuoren kesäreitit and Aurinkovuoren ladut near Aurinkovuori—those trails reach shelters such as Kivistön laavu and Kuurnamäen laavu that make strong coffee stops on a bike-and-hike holiday. National cycling route 4, which leaves Lahti toward Sysmä and the north, crosses the same Asikkala–Aurinkovuori outdoor network on its own alignment, so ambitious riders can plan multi-day hops between numbered routes. For closures, grooming on parallel ski tracks and paths the Municipality of Asikkala maintains, check the Municipality of Asikkala travel hub and its sports-facility map application(3).

The Kalkkinen loop is a roughly 56.9 km road-waymarked Vellamo bike touring circuit on our map, closing through Asikkala while linking the Päijänne shoreline, Pulkkilanharju ridge country, and open farmland around Virtaa and Kalkkinen in Päijät-Häme. Sysmän Sisu presents the wider Vellamo network as a Sysmä–Hartola touring system on public roads with downloadable maps and companion GPX layers, and calls out the Luhanka–Vääksy corridor among Finland’s celebrated scenic road experiences together with manor landscapes and cultural stops farther east(1). For day-long gravel-and-touring context around the same lakeland gateway—where the ice-age themed Asikkala loop text describes café stops in Kalkkinen village, the rolling Kopsuontie ridge section after the canal, and Tallukan tower as a closing viewpoint—Visit Lahti’s gravel and bike touring collection is the practical regional planner(2). The Municipality of Asikkala tourism routes hub is a clean place to confirm local trail hubs and the municipal map app before you roll out(3), while LAB’s bike travel guide frames how these Päijät-Häme stages chain for visitors arriving without a fixed itinerary(4). The Kalkkinen village site summarises why Pulkkilanharju, Kalkkinen canal, and the free-flowing rapids draw national interest right beside the settlement(5). Ride flow splits into readable chunks. The western approach threads the big-lake scenery that touring guides associate with the Vääksy–Sysmä window before the line dives toward Virtaan kenttä and Virtaan tenniskenttä, where you can join Vellamo retkipyöräreitti: Sysmä - Hartola rengasreitin lisälenkki or look toward Tainionvirran melontareitti/Sysmä if someone in your group is coordinating bikes and boats. Past Ratsutila Vahto / ratsastuskenttä the countryside opens into the Kalkkinen cluster: Kalkkisten urheilukenttä, Kalkkisten frisbeegolfrata, Kalkkisten lähiliikunta-alue, Kalkkisten koulun peliareena, Kalkkisten koulun kaukalo, and Kalkkisten nuorisoseuran liikuntasali sit within a short distance of each other, so expect village traffic and school-adjacent paths rather than remote singletrack. Here the geometry also kisses Valtakunnallinen pyöräilyreitti nro 4, Valtakunnallinen pyöräilyreitti nro 46, and winter-only Kalkkisten latu sharing the same school-side footprint—useful orientation if you fold national cycle arteries or ski grooming into a seasonal plan. Nuoramoisten koulun kenttä and Nuoramoisten koulun luistelukenttä mark the eastern swing back toward forest-and-farm roads that lead once more to the Vääksy end. Throughout, treat it as moderate-distance touring: carry lights, spare layers, and enough water for sun-exposed ridge segments. Combine this loop with Vellamo retkipyöräilyreitti: Sysmä - Hartola rengasreitti for a multi-day lakeland tour, or stitch in shorter Vellamo spurs when you want an extra half-day without repeating the full ring.

Riihelän Rinki – Salpausselkä trails MTB is the mountain-bike line for an easy, narrow loop on Salpausselkä Trails in Lahti, within the Salpausselkä UNESCO Global Geopark. For closures, grooming context on the wider network, and printable maps, start with the City of Lahti Riihelän Rinki page(1). Visit Lahti rounds up Lahti–Hollola MTB options on the same ridge and describes how the marked forest network rides day to day, which helps if you plan a longer session after this lap(2). Karoliina Kaski’s Retkipaikka piece on Kintterön kymppi and Salpausselkä Trails adds a walker’s eye view of Likolampi, Koneharju, and the same pine-and-spruce tread you meet here(3). Tiirismaan Latu ry works with the city on trail marking and background material for Salpausselkä Trails(4). On the bicycle map the line is about 2.1 km as one clockwise loop through Riihelä forest, marked with blue-background yellow arrow blazes(1). The loop is multi-use: the City of Lahti intends it for foot, running, and mountain bike in the seasons when the path is open, and asks for moderate speed because the tread is narrow(1). Terrain is mostly easy pine heath; spruce patches hold roots that get slippery when wet, and the steepest climb sits on the Junkkarinpolku outdoor-route section rather than on long downhill pitches(1). Along the ring you pass near Likolammen ulkokuntolaitteet at the lake side of the circuit, then loop the Riihelä sports cluster where Riihelän luistelukenttä, Riihelän pieni pallokenttä, Riihelän iso pallokenttä, and Erviänpuiston ulkokuntolaitteet sit close together—handy for a strength break or a short detour if you are stacking laps. From this loop you can link via Koneharjun yhdysreitti - Salpausselkä trails MTB toward Kintterön kymppi - Salpausselkä Trails MTB and Pirttipolku - Salpausselkä trails, pick up Siltapolku - Salpausselkä Trails MTB toward Hollola, or cross to Kasakkamäen kuntorata where it touches the same woods(1)(2). Urheilukeskuksen ja Messilän kuntoradat and other fitness loops sit a little farther north-east when you want a different surface after the forest ring.

Koneharjun yhdysreitti – Salpausselkä trails MTB is the mountain-bike line for a very short marked connector on Salpausselkä Trails in Lahti, inside the Salpausselkä UNESCO Global Geopark. On the bicycle category it is still about 0.6 km point-to-point from the Koneharju parking band toward Riihelän metsäpolku lines, including Riihelän Rinki - Salpausselkä trails MTB and the longer red-arrow Kintterön kymppi - Salpausselkä Trails MTB loop. The marked hiking and running version Koneharjun yhdysreitti - Salpausselkä Trails follows the same corridor; for direction-specific arrow colours, street and cycleway crossings, and safety in the underpass, start with the City of Lahti Koneharjun yhdysreitti page(1). Visit Lahti rounds up Lahti–Hollola MTB options in the same geopark setting and describes how the wider marked forest network feels for riders, which helps you plan what comes after this link(2). Karoliina Kaski’s Retkipaikka article on Kintterön kymppi gives a walking-eye view of Likolammi, Koneharju, and narrow forest tread—useful background before you join the bigger circuits(3). Tiirismaan Latu ry works with the city on Salpausselkä Trails upkeep and background material(4). On a mountain bike you use a short mix of roadside verge, Reunakatu light-traffic connection, wooded tread, a cycleway crossing on Hämeenlinnantie, and an underpass into Riihelä forest trails. Yield to people on the light-traffic routes, keep to the right through the tunnel, and ring a bell before the underpass so others hear you coming(1). The connector itself is two-way, but Kintterön kymppi - Salpausselkä Trails MTB and Riihelän Rinki - Salpausselkä trails MTB are marked clockwise for their main loops—follow those rotation notes the moment you merge(1). Along the few hundred metres you pass close to Erviänpuiston ulkokuntolaitteet, then Likolammen ulkokuntolaitteet and Likolammen uimaranta Lahti on the lake side—handy for a swim stop or outdoor-gym detour if you are stitching a longer day. Buses toward Päijät-Häme keskussairaala serve the hospital and Likolampi area. From here you can branch onto Pirttipolku - Salpausselkä trails, Siltapolku - Salpausselkä Trails MTB, Kasakkamäen kuntorata, Urheilukeskuksen ja Messilän kuntoradat, or the long circuits that Visit Lahti describes with Päijät-Hämeen Liitto / Maastopolku project copy on the regional MTB page(2). Lahti sits in Päijät-Häme; the city side of the ridge holds well over 30 km of marked terrain trails shared by foot, run, bike, and winter use depending on season(2).

This line is about 37.4 km of the former national bicycle touring corridor known as Pyörämatkailureitti 46, crossing Asikkala in Päijät-Häme between lake landscapes around Vesivehmaa–Virtasalmi and the Kalkkisten village sports cluster. The full numbered corridor historically linked Hamina, Kouvola, and Heinola toward Sysmä, Lake Päijänne crossings, and onward to Central Finland, as mapped and annotated by OpenStreetMap contributors(4). Brown “national bicycle route” signage was retired in the 2010s and those routes are no longer maintained as a signed system, though the roads remain public cycling roads(4). For local services, trail hubs, and the municipality’s outdoor overview, start from the Municipality of Asikkala travel-routes page(1); Visit Lahti’s gravel and trek-cycling collection places Asikkala in wider Päijät-Häme loop planning—including the paved-forward Ice Age touring ring and Vääksy–Pulkkilanharju scenery(2). From west to east, early kilometres pass the Ratsutila Vahto / ratsastuskenttä equestrian area roughly 7 km along, then drop toward Virtosaari on Päijänne. That island stop clusters a grill shelter, sauna, landing, and lakeside services maintained as a recreation site; facilities and visitor rules for the pause are documented alongside other lake islands(3). The virtues of a longer stop read like a small harbour pause: swim pier, shelter cooking, and optional sauna rather than a full trail centre. Near the eastern end the route threads Kalkkisten school and neighbourhood sports fields—outdoor gym, disc golf, rinks, and ball areas that read as a village sports hub more than wilderness. Connectors worth folding into the same day on our map include Vellamo retkipyöräilyreitti: Kalkkisten kierros for a signed trek-cycling ring around the Kalkkisten corner, Valtakunnallinen pyöräilyreitti nro 4 toward the Vääksy canal side and regional network, the short walking loop Kultainen tassu ulkoilureitti across the Virtosaari fireplaces and sauna corner, and Kalkkisten latu as the winter ski track hugging the same sports block.

For printable maps and the municipality’s own summary of Heinola’s long mixed-surface ride, start with the City of Heinola Pitkä pyöräilyreitti page(1). It describes a roughly 33 km circuit along the Kymenvirta shoreline and through local forests, moderate overall with a more technical stretch on the eastern loop via Karhulammen kota. On the ground this is Heinola’s signed mountain-bike circuit: about 33 km of varied terrain—rooty and rocky singletrack sections, duckboard bridges, gravel roads, and short asphalt connectors—with blue directional arrows at junctions and round blue marks on tree trunks; riders who try to follow markings alone in high summer should stay alert at intersections(2). One community GPX upload recorded on the order of 490 m cumulative ascent for the main loop and notes an optional technical add-on that pushes total distance past 40 km(2). Car access tends to work well from Forskulla or the Kumpeli parking areas(2). Early kilometres overlap the same forest fabric as Sataojan luontopolku near Rautjärvi and Venejärvi: lean-tos and fireplaces make natural breaks before the line turns south past sports clusters at Heinola racecourse (shared trails with Heinolan raviradan kuntopolut) and the Kippasuo disc golf complex. Around roughly 20 km from a typical start you are in the Saittalahti–Pirttisalmi lake shoreline band, where Saittalahden laavu, Pirttisalmen nuotiopaikka, and Savisaaren nuotiopaikka sit beside Saittalahdenpolku and Pirttisalmen polku if you want a foot detour. Toward Kaivannon lahti the route brushes Tähtisillan kuntorata, spa and beach amenities near Kumpeli, Sepänniemen luontopolku, and the stair climb at Paviljonginharjun kuntoportaat; Tommola and Jyrängön uimaranta add swimming stops before the line returns toward Koskensaari, where Koskensaaren laavu and Koskensaaren nuotiopaikka sit next to Koskensaaren luontopolku and connect onward to Korvenlammen Kierros (mtb), Läpiän Lenkki (mtb), and related loops for a longer day. Need a bike or helmet in the region? Visit Lahti lists Luontoliikuntakeskus at Vierumäki, Heinola, with e-fatbikes, front-suspension mountain bikes, booking online or on site, and loan helmets included with rental(3). Heinolan uutiset has highlighted Heinolan Latu’s occasional group mountain-bike evening rides as part of Heinola’s wider cycling scene—worth checking their calendar if you prefer a social spin(4). Retkipaikka’s Sataoja trail article illustrates how yellow nature-trail paint, white long-distance outdoor route marks, and blue bike-route hints can coexist on shared paths in this corner of Heinola—useful mental prep if you hop off to link that nature loop a few kilometres in(5).

The Vintturi loop is a demanding day ride on the Lake Päijänne shore and inland forests around Sysmä, marketed as Retkipyöräreitti Vintturin valloittaja and published with turn-by-turn notes by Visit Lahti on Outdoor Active(1). The City of Sysmä highlights cycling as a core summer draw and points riders to local clubs plus regional brochures from the same pages(2). On the ground the line first follows the eastern lake shore north on Luhangantie-style scenery roads, then swings into quieter gravel near the Vintturi side roads by Kammiovuori before dropping through larger forest blocks toward Taipale and Liikola, finally reaching the long shallow sand at Hiekon uimapaikka for a swim and rolling back toward town on paved Valittulantie as described in the official roadbook(1). The wider Vellamo family of segments—including the Hartola–Sysmä ring riders often stitch on—appears on national outdoor service pages for neighbouring loops such as the Kalkkinen circuit(3), and the regional gravel-and-touring collection adds mileage ideas around Päijät-Häme(4). On this mapped trace you spend roughly two-thirds of the distance before the halfway mark in the lake-and-village belt: around thirty kilometres in you cross sports and event edges such as Päijänne Areena, still well inside Sysmä’s built fringe. Further out, village pitches at Särkilahden kenttä and Liikolan kenttä mark the open countryside before the route dips toward Askon uimaranta and the beach-volleyball pocket at Askon rannan beachvolleykenttä—practical swim-and-sun stops above Päijänne. The forestry return leg tops out near Hiekon uimapaikka on Valittulantie, matching the touring copy that praises the beach after dusty gravel(1). Closing kilometres thread Sysmän keskusta amenities—Skeittiparkki Sysmä, Ulkokuntoilupaikka Sysmä and the school-field cluster—so you can cool down on outdoor courts before heading to the harbour cafés named on the Visit Lahti card(1). Fit riders often add Kammiovuori’s short hiking loop for a panorama over Päijänne; the Visit Lahti author tip calls out the summit lookout explicitly(1). Elsewhere in the Vellamo system you can link onto Vellamo retkipyöräilyreitti: Sysmä - Hartola rengasreitti for a longer lake-and-river day, or plan paddle support using Tainionvirran melontareitti/Sysmä when you want boats in the same landscape(1). Summer traffic mixes calm gravel with short faster paved links—read normal road-sharing guidance and carry water for the inland segments(1).

Raviksen rento – Salpausselkä trails MTB is an easy forest loop on marked Salpausselkä Trails in Lahti, inside the Salpausselkä UNESCO Global Geopark. The City of Lahti pitches it as the place to start on a mountain bike: a short circuit behind the ski jumps with blue arrow marking, a counterclockwise ride recommendation, about 25 m of climbing, and surfaces that stay mostly needle-carpet conifer paths with small root and short rocky spots to practise technique without big climbs or demanding descents(1). For network-wide etiquette—yielding to skiers when grooming is active, Ensilumenlatu crossings, shared use with walkers and dogs, and how to reach the trailhead from downtown in ski season—the municipal trail pages in Finnish and the English trail overview are the checklist(1)(2). Visit Lahti groups these ridges with other marked MTB options around Lahti and Hollola and stresses geopark scenery and mixed forest riding in the wider area(3). Tiirismaan Latu ry works with the city on Salpausselkä Trails background and volunteer maintenance lore that news stories echoed at the network launch(4)(5). The route works equally for easy walking and beginner trail running: the city describes it as low-threshold, partly narrow pleasant needle path and partly a slightly wider tread where stones and roots are easy to weave around, still genuine forest trail in bends and small rollers rather than a wide fitness boulevard, and not barrier-free despite gentle grades(1). Reflective arrow posts help at night, but there is no trail lighting, so carry your own light(1). Expect busy evenings: mountain bikers, walkers, dog walkers, and sometimes orienteering activity—slow down, give space, and keep dogs leashed(1). From the Old Racetrack trailhead the circuit wanders the Suurmäen bowl behind the jumps: the trail passes Salpausselän hyppyrimäki K64, Salpausselän hyppyrimäki K90, and Salpausselän hyppyrimäki K116, outdoor training spots, and Suurmäen näkötorni as a viewpoint anchor, with Lahden maauimala and Häränsilmän ulkokuntolaitteet in the same fringe. Löytynmäen koirien koulutuskenttä lies near the Old Racetrack neighbourhood. Further along Hämeenlinnantie you approach Padel Lahti Hämeenlinnantie and Kärpäsen yläasteen liikuntasali—use our place pages for photos and practical detail on each stop. Link-outs are a strength of this network: the City of Lahti notes easy onward options toward Tapanila and to Pirttipolku via Kankaankatu, and the same corridor overlaps the walking-running line Raviksen rento - Salpausselkä trails and sits beside connectors such as Tapanilan taival - Salpausselkä trails MTB, Urheilukeskuksen ja Messilän kuntoradat, Pirttipolku - Salpausselkä trails, and Tähtipolku - Salpausselkä Trails when you want a longer day(1). Near Vanha Ravirata, Raviksen Pyöräpuisto offers a BMX line and a small earth pump track maintained by Ride Salpaus ry for warm-up or skills play(1). Päijät-Häme is known for ridge-and-lake scenery; Lahti anchors the region, and this loop is the gentlest introduction many riders use before stepping up to longer marked circuits(1)(3).

Tapanilan taival – Salpausselkä trails MTB is an easy, roughly 2.9 km point-to-point connector on marked Salpausselkä Trails in Lahti, inside the Salpausselkä UNESCO Global Geopark. The City of Lahti describes it as the line that links the city side toward the Tapanila ski-lodge backwoods: green arrow markers start from the Old Racetrack trailhead at Vaskelaisenrinne and the route is signed both ways, shared with walkers and runners on the same hiking version of the trail(1). For the wider trail network, winter behaviour on shared paths, safety reminders, and printable maps, the same authority pages are the place to check first(1); broader network notes and the Hollola Suoreitti crossing reminder also appear on the English trail pages(2). Visit Lahti groups this landscape with other marked MTB options around Lahti and Hollola and stresses geopark scenery and mixed forest riding in the area(3). Tiirismaan Latu ry partners on Salpausselkä Trails background and outreach if you want club context beyond the municipality pages(4). On a mountain bike the corridor mixes narrower forest paths with wider old outdoor-route bases and a short rooty pitch; the city notes it is technically easy but not a flat, wide fitness boulevard, with a few climbs and fast descents where you should expect dog walkers, evening orienteering activity, and sharp corners(1). After the opening faster sections and a descent, the line crosses Sammalsuonkatu on the upper ski-bridge, cuts across an old gravel-pit meadow, then climbs toward Tapanilan hiihtomaja, with a short black-and-white-arrow side link on fine gravel to the lodge above the family loop(1). Above the family loop it meets other marked Salpausselkä Trails so you can stitch a longer day with Kintterön kymppi - Salpausselkä Trails MTB, Tähtipolku - Salpausselkä Trails, Urheilukeskuksen ja Messilän kuntoradat, Hakalaukunlenkki ja Hakalaukunpolku - Salpausselkä Trails MTB, or Pirttipolku - Salpausselkä trails(1). Raviksen rento - Salpausselkä trails MTB shares the Suurmäen näkötorni end of the landscape if you want a short blue-arrow loop nearby(1). For a more demanding return from Tapanila toward the racetrack, the city suggests Tähtipolku (pink arrows), roughly 6.8 km as a round trip with Tapanilan taival; you can also take a roughly 5 km shortcut by branching to Tähtipolku just before the ski bridge on a dashed-arrow link(1). The route briefly touches the Finlandia ski track; February grooming there may require detours beside the lane so you do not damage the track(1). Along the line, stops cluster into a few bands. Very near the Tapanila end you pass Tapanilan ulkokuntolaitteet and Tapanilan hiihtomaja, then the geometry cuts past Pirttiharjun pallokenttä toward Kasakanpuiston senioriulkokuntolaitteet on a more central segment. Closer to Suurmäen näkötorni you are in the sports-centre bowl; Padel Lahti Hämeenlinnantie sits along Hämeenlinnantie, and the tower viewpoint is almost at the east end of the mapped line with Löytynmäen koirien koulutuskenttä beside the same neighbourhood. Use our place pages for photos and practical detail on each stop. Päijät-Häme is known for ridge-and-lake scenery; Lahti anchors the region and this connector is the low-threshold link many riders use to reach the denser Tapanila trail hub from Vanha Ravirata or the sports-centre fringes(1)(3).

The Päijänne–Ilves Trail is about 12.9 km on our map as a point-to-point connector from Padasjoki Laivaranta toward the Tarus recreation area and onward links to Evo. The Municipality of Padasjoki describes it as a roughly 13 km hiking and mountain-biking link where the landscape shifts from easy, open countryside near the lake to rockier, hillier forest closer to Tarus, with about three to five hours typical for the full traverse(1). Metsähallitus summarises the same corridor on Luontoon.fi for visitors comparing it with other outdoor offers in the area(2). Visit Päijänne notes yellow paint marks and tape for wayfinding, moderate overall demand, and ends at Iso-Tarusjärvi with a swimming beach, campfire spot, and camping(3). Bikeland adds practical riding context—much of the distance is unpaved, forest path dominates after the village sections, elevation gain around a couple of hundred metres, and a short technical rocky push near Tarus that heavier bikes or full camping loads may want to bypass along forest road(4). Padasjoki sits in Päijät-Häme on Lake Päijänne. At the Laivaranta end you are beside Kullasvuori: Tuomastornit overlooks the lake and pairs naturally with Kullasvuoren Fitness-park, Kullasvuoren laavu, and the short Kullasvuoren luontopolku loop before you dive into the longer link. Along the ride, Tarusmäen uimapaikka and Taruksenmäen tulipaikka sit in the Tarus countryside cluster. Nuijamiehen kolo is the only shelter directly on the marked line—about 10 km from Laivaranta per official copy—with a fireplace and a dry toilet in the woods before Frans Joosef Lake nature reserve and the final pull to Tarus. From Tarus you can join Hämeen ilvesreitti, yhdysreitti Iso-Tarus - Evo into Evo’s wider trail network, pick up winter ski corridors such as Laivaranta - Kelvenne ladut near the shore, or spin the small Kullasvuoren latu and Kullasvuoren kuntorata circuits around Kullasvuori. The hiking line Päijänne–Ilves Trail shares much of the same corridor if someone in your group prefers to walk. For mountain bike rental and local guided rides, Padasjoen Latu maintains fat-bikes and hardtails—see their hire page for models and prices(5).