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Karhunlenkki hiking trail (Tarus)

—•Hiking Trails

6.3 km

Route

Description

City of Hämeenlinna – Tarus and Evo recreation areas+

Description

Karhunlenkki is about 6.3 km of forest hiking on the Tarus recreation area in Padasjoki, part of a large mosaic of lakes and ridges between Hämeenlinna’s municipal forests and the state-owned Evo recreation area. The City of Hämeenlinna describes Karhunlenkki as a themed trail with information boards built around Finnish proverbs and situates it beside Savottapolku, a shorter historical logging-life loop, inside the wider Tarus–Evo outdoor network. Luontoon.fi is the place to double-check access and background for Evo itself when you plan longer links out of Tarus. Hämeen virkistysalueyhdistys pulls together parking, rental building contacts, and service phone numbers for everyone heading to Kelkute. Visit Häme’s outdoor catalogue entry repeats the length, notes natural surfaces with duckboards in wet spots, and names Kelkutteenharju and Karhumäki as parts of the hike. Padasjoki sits in Päijät-Häme; the trail character is typical southern boreal forest with small lakes and gentle relief, while the broader Evo–Tarus zone offers tens of kilometres of green paw-marked Ilves hiking links for anyone extending a day trip. Along this route you soon reach the Kelkute shore cluster: Kelkutteen tulipaikka, Kelkutteen Savottakämppä and Kelkutteen Savottakämpän Sauna sit within a few hundred metres of each other, and Savusauna Luppo is tucked right beside the same yard. Kristianin torppa (Kaskenpolttajan torppa), vuokrakämppä lies close to where the City of Hämeenlinna sends walkers coming along Savottapolku from the savotta yard toward the old charcoal-burner’s cottage. If you follow the line past wooded bays, Ruplahden tulipaikka marks a late-stage rest spot nearer Ilolantie before you swing back toward the Kelkute shore. Those buildings are bookable through the municipality’s cottage pages—read fees and sauna rules there before you commit. From Kelkute it is natural to combine Karhunlenkki with Hämeen ilvesreitti, yhdysreitti Iso-Tarus - Evo or the shorter Savottapolku 4,2 km, both of which share the same yard infrastructure on our map. Hämeen ilvesreitti, Ilvesvaellus runs nearby toward Asikkala if you want the parallel Ilves network in the opposite direction. Those connectors make Karhunlenkki a strong half-day anchor for sampling Tarus before committing to a multi-day Ilves tour.

Length & route

The trail is about 6.3 km. Terrain is mostly natural forest floor; sources note short duckboard sections where it stays wet after rain, so sturdy footwear helps. The City of Hämeenlinna characterises the wider Tarus–Evo landscape as rolling, roughly 70–80 metre relief with harder-going rocky margins off the main ridges—useful context if you leave the main circle for side links. With photo stops at Kelkutteen Savottakämppä and the proverb boards, budget about two to three hours on foot.

Getting there

Motorists usually leave cars at the Tarus parking on Kelkutteentie 486, 17470 Padasjoki—the address Hämeen virkistysalueyhdistys lists for the area. The same page gives the service desk phone +358 3 621 2310 and email mypalvelupiste@hameenlinna.fi for booking questions. From there you start on foot toward Kristianin torppa (Kaskenpolttajan torppa), vuokrakämppä and the Kelkute shore buildings without needing a separate map service.

Good to know

Firewood for the free-use fireplace trio named Kymppilaavu, Taruksenmäki and Kovero is called out on the association site, but those names are not the Kelkute stops on this route—bring your own supplies unless you confirm current practice for Kelkutteen tulipaikka and Ruplahden tulipaikka with the municipality. Metsähallitus manages Evo; Tarus belongs to the City of Hämeenlinna even though the land lies inside Padasjoki’s parish geography.

Managed by

Padasjoki

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Recreation Area

Lake

Marked Route

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

6.3 km

Distance

about 2–3 hours with stops

Est. Time

Dirt / Duckboards

Surface

Single Track

Route Type

Partial Shade

Shade

Light Traffic

Traffic

Location

61.26814°N, 25.24259°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

Päijät-HämeRegion

PadasjokiCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

Explore nearby

Ilvesvaellus (Tarus–Hakovuori section)

371 m

Free

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Padasjoki, 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 Padasjoki Hiking TrailsKarhunlenkki hiking trail (Tarus)