When did huts.fi research the data for Sataoja Nature Trail?

Huts.fi

Sataoja Nature Trail

—•Hiking Trails

5.5 km

Route

Description

City of Heinola – Sataojan luontopolku+

Description

For printable maps, route choices, and the latest municipal notes on this trail, start from the City of Heinola’s Sataoja nature trail page. Retkipaikka published Luontopolkumies Mika Markkanen’s walk-through of the same circuit—worth reading for photos, marker colours along shared bike corridors, and practical notes after wet weather. Heinola lies in Päijät-Häme. The Sataoja nature trail is about 5.5 km as one hiking route through lake-and-forest terrain at the edge of Heinola’s national urban park. Visitor write-ups that include the connector from the Pikijärvi parking area often land near 6 km and under two hours on foot; treat that as a full-walk figure if you start from the main information board there. The trail is easy–moderate underfoot: forest paths, short road crossings, and stretches beside three small wilderness-flavoured lakes. The City of Heinola places information boards along the way and describes the tread as marked with white dots on the ground. Luontopolkumies also saw yellow paint for the nature-trail loop and blue-and-white bike route markers where the trail overlaps Heinola’s Maastopyöräreitti and Maastopyöräreitti vaativa. About 3.9 km into the route you reach Venejärven nuotiopaikka; Venejärven laavu sits slightly farther along the Venejärvi shore. Closer to the end, Rautjärven laavu and the Rautjärven kalastusalue shoreline cluster offer a laavu, campfire spots, swim jetties, and duckboards—details echoed on the lakes’ sport-fishing pages. Dry toilets sit near the laavu areas rather than as separate named stops; plan footwear for damp ground, especially in spring and autumn. The Sataoja grove nature reserve—about four hectares protected since 1961—lies along the walk. The National Urban Parks programme describes Salomaa’s mosaic of rocky uplands, small wilderness lakes, and rich herb-rich forests, and notes the grove’s place in wider nature networks. Rautjärvi and Venejärvi form a stocked sport-fishing water pair; angling requires its own paid licence and follows the City of Heinola’s rules for boats and methods. There is no winter maintenance on these trails.

Length & route

The hiking route is about 5.5 km as one continuous line. Full walks that start at the Pikijärvi parking information board and use the short connector to the signed loop are often described at roughly 6 km round trip. The City of Heinola notes two length options on the nature trail and posts a printable PDF map. Terrain mixes conifer forest, lakeshore tread, short road links, and the Sataoja herb-rich grove.

Getting there

The City of Heinola lists several start points: a parking area with an information board on the main departure, another at Venejärvi, and printable directions on the trail page. Visitor guides often use Pikijärventie 72 near the former rheumatology hospital (now Hotelli Valo) for the Pikijärvi parking—space for a handful of cars and the board titled for Rautjärven kalastusalue. The Rautjärvi–Venejärvi fishing pages give navigator addresses for shore access, including Karpalolammentie 232 toward Rautjärvi and Pöytähonganmäentie addresses on the Venejärvi side, matching the shoreline stops along this hike.

Good to know

Outdoor route maps for Heinola cost 8 euros at the culture office, library, and swimming hall according to the city’s general trails hub. Angling on Rautjärvi and Venejärvi requires a separate paid licence; private boats are not allowed on those lakes, and Heinola’s fishing page lists methods, seasons, and where to buy permits. There is no winter maintenance on these trails.

History

Sataoja grove was protected in 1961; the City of Heinola gives its area at roughly four hectares and highlights rare woodland plants on the reserve. The National Urban Parks programme notes early public visits to the Sataoja protection area in the 1960s and situates the grove in Heinola’s wider Salomaa landscape.

Managed by

Heinola

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Recreation Area

Lake

White dots on the ground per the City of Heinola; yellow nature-trail paint and blue-and-white bike markers appear where the trail shares tread with Heinola’s MTB routes.

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

City of Heinola – Sataojan luontopolku+

Activities allowed

Run

Activity

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

5.5 km

Distance

About 1.5–2 hours on foot for a full circuit including connectors, depending on photography and pauses.

Est. Time

Forest soil and gravel, short road crossings, duckboards near the fishing lakes, and damp sections after rain.

Surface

Single Track

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

City of Heinola – Sataojan luontopolku+

Location

61.20376°N, 26.07524°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

Päijät-HämeRegion

HeinolaCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

Rate & Review

Be the first to write a review for "Sataoja Nature Trail"

Share a photo from a recent trip

Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Heinola, 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 Päijät-Häme Heinola Hiking TrailsSataoja Nature Trail

Sataoja Nature Trail5.5 km

Route

Venejärven nuotiopaikka

3.9 km|Free

Campfire SpotsPolttopuita, käymälä.

Venejärven laavu

4.3 km|Free

Wilderness HutsToilet

Rautjärven laavu

5.1 km|Free

Wilderness HutsToilet

Rautjärven kalastusalue

5.2 km|Free

Fishing

Description

City of Heinola – Sataojan luontopolku+

Description

Length & route

Getting there

Good to know

History

Managed by

Heinola

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Location

Recreation Area

Lake

White dots on the ground per the City of Heinola; yellow nature-trail paint and blue-and-white bike markers appear where the trail shares tread with Heinola’s MTB routes.

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

City of Heinola – Sataojan luontopolku+

Location

61.20376°N, 26.07524°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

Päijät-HämeRegion

HeinolaCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

Activities allowed

Run

Activity

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

5.5 km

Distance

About 1.5–2 hours on foot for a full circuit including connectors, depending on photography and pauses.

Est. Time

Forest soil and gravel, short road crossings, duckboards near the fishing lakes, and damp sections after rain.

Surface

Single Track

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

City of Heinola – Sataojan luontopolku+

Rate & Review

Be the first to write a review for "Sataoja Nature Trail"

Share a photo from a recent trip

Answers to your questions

Finland Päijät-Häme Heinola Hiking TrailsSataoja Nature Trail