The Birgitta Trail (Birgitan polku) is a long-distance hiking route in Lempäälä in Pirkanmaa, near Tampere. On our map the trail is about 64 km from start to finish as one continuous line and is not a closed loop. The City of Lempäälä and regional tourism pages describe roughly 50 km of marked hiking on a ring-shaped t...
City of Lempäälä – Birgitan polku+
Description
The Birgitta Trail (Birgitan polku) is a long-distance hiking route in Lempäälä in Pirkanmaa, near Tampere. On our map the trail is about 64 km from start to finish as one continuous line and is not a closed loop. The City of Lempäälä and regional tourism pages describe roughly 50 km of marked hiking on a ring-shaped trail network through lake and forest landscapes, with many entry points and link paths—so total distance depends on which sections you combine. The route was chosen as Finland’s Hiking Destination of the Year in 2006. For the latest on parking, lean-tos, winter overlap with ski tracks, fire rules, and downloadable maps, start from the City of Lempäälä’s Birgitan polku pages.
The trail is named after Lempäälä’s landmark medieval Church of Saint Birgitta. It runs mainly through private commercial forests where forestry work continues, so views can shift between young stands, older forest, rocky moraine, small bogs, and openings toward lake surfaces. Visit Lempäälä notes yellow markings on posts and trees and states that dogs are welcome on leash.
From the north, the line soon reaches Kaitajärven kota and passes Ammejärven laavu, Siisjärven laavu, and Saarikonmäen laavu—useful early stops with fireplaces and shelters in typical ridge-and-lake scenery. Around the Hakkari–Kulju corridor the hiking trail shares ground with winter ski and fitness routes: Latu Hakkari–Kulju, Kuntopolku Hakkari–Kulju, Hakkarin hiihtoladut, and Hakkarin kuntopolut pass the same lean-to cluster at Saarikonmäen laavu, and when grooming is active you should walk at the edge of the ski track so the surface stays skiable. Farther on, Houkkalammin nuotiopaikka sits on a more remote-feeling section where the short Birgitan polku - Houkkalammi spur meets the main network; the longer Retkeilyreitti Kuljun asemakylä–Pirkkala hiking line and its parallel dog-ski track use the same general corridor toward Pirkkala. Herralankosken kalastuspaikka and Herralankosken laavu, then Lempoisten uimaranta and related shore facilities, bring you through mixed shore and village edge before the route swings toward Kirskaanniemen laavu—one of the most popular picnic areas on the whole network, with multiple fire sites and views toward open water. Past Vähä-Riutan kotus the trail connects conceptually toward Kaarinanpolku, and the Pyhäjärven maisemareitti ja Pyhäjärven kierros cycling circuit crosses the same broad lake-and-town fabric toward Tampere. The last kilometres pass Kyynärön laavu and Vähä-Kausjärven laavukota and Vähä-Kausjärven nuotiopaikka, ending near forest ponds and quiet shoreline.
The Municipality of Pirkkala lists regional outdoor routes where Birgitan polku ties Lempäälä together with Pirkkala’s shore and forest network. Luontopolkumies on Retkipaikka describes boardwalks, rocky moraine, spring moisture, and how easy it is to confuse nearby paths where several markings meet—worth reading if you plan a long day or link sections near Koipitaipale. Visit Tampere offers a compact regional introduction with the same practical themes: short walks to multi-day hikes, many rest spots, and no drinking water taps along the route—carry what you need. The City of Lempäälä publishes a short YouTube introduction filmed on the trail; see our video field for a quick visual overview.
Lempäälä lies in Pirkanmaa. The Birgitan polku network is an easy day trip from Tampere by bus or train plus a short walk.
Length & route
The trail on our map is about 64 km as one continuous line and is not a loop. Municipal and regional descriptions usually quote about 50 km of marked hiking on a ring-shaped network with many access points, optional spurs, and occasional road or forest-road links—carry a current PDF map from the City of Lempäälä or Visit Lempäälä if you stitch sections together. Terrain varies from rocky moraine and short boardwalks to gravel maintenance roads and lakeshore paths; spring and after rain some stretches stay soft or wet.
Getting there
You can join Birgitan polku from many parking areas. The City of Lempäälä lists Hakkarin urheilukeskus (Kapteenienkatu 5), Hääkiven levähdysalue (Turuntie 128), and Sääksjärvi (Sääksjärventie 2) among the practical starts, plus Kirskaanniemi (several signed lots on Koipitaipaleentie—do not park along the private road itself), Vähä-Riutta (Savontie 654), Vähä-Kausjärvi (Haapalammintie 350), and Saarikonmäen laavu (Heposuontie 117, gate key from Lempäälä-talo by arrangement). Lempäälä railway station is about 1.5 km from the Hääkivi rest area, and regional buses from Tampere serve Sääksjärvi, Vuores, Hakkari, and nearby stops—check current timetables in the Nyssi journey planner.
Good to know
Open fire is allowed only at official campfire sites; do not build new fire pits. During grass or forest fire warnings all fires are prohibited—follow Finnish Meteorological Institute alerts. There are no public drinking-water points along the trail; fill bottles before you leave town. In winter the main hiking trail is not machine-groomed for walking, but maintenance tries to empty bins and stock firewood when conditions allow; where the line overlaps Hakkarin–Kulju ski tracks, walk beside the groomed lane.
History
The network is named after Lempäälä’s medieval Church of Saint Birgitta, a prominent landmark. The wider Birgitan polku was selected as Finland’s Hiking Destination of the Year in 2006.
Itinerary
Example three-day outline using lean-tos and shelters along the mapped line (distances from start): Day 1 — From the northern trailhead area toward Kaitajärven kota (about 2 km), Ammejärven laavu and Siisjärven laavu (about 6 km), and Saarikonmäen laavu (about 7 km), then through the Hakkari sports corridor where ski and running loops share lean-tos; aim for Houkkalammin nuotiopaikka (about 22 km) or Herralankosken laavu (about 25 km) for the night. Day 2 — Continue past Lempoisten uimaranta and central Lempäälä shore sections toward Kirskaanniemen laavu (about 45 km), a major picnic area with several fire sites. Day 3 — From Vähä-Riutan kotus (about 57 km) through Kyynärön laavu (about 63 km) to Vähä-Kausjärven laavukota and Vähä-Kausjärven nuotiopaikka (about 64 km). Adjust daily distances to your pace; water must be carried—there are no public taps on route.
Walk either direction along the line; the municipality describes a ring network where you choose segments and access points.
Route direction
Recreation Area
Recreation Area
Lake
Lake
Winter Maintenance
Winter Maintenance
Yellow markings on posts and trees on Birgitan polku per Visit Lempäälä and City of Lempäälä.
Route Signs
Dogs (On Leash)
Dogs
Activities allowed
Hike / Walk
Activity
Terrain & conditions
63.9 km
Distance
Typically two to four long days on foot for the full mapped line at a steady trekking pace, or shorter day walks on individual sections—many people walk only Kirskaanniemi–Vähä-Riutta or lake sections near Sääksjärvi.
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Answers to your questions
Our data was researched from Lempäälä, 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.
Official short introduction from Lempäälä: lakeshore and forest sections of Birgitan polku.
Description
The Birgitta Trail (Birgitan polku) is a long-distance hiking route in Lempäälä in Pirkanmaa, near Tampere. On our map the trail is about 64 km from start to finish as one continuous line and is not a closed loop. The City of Lempäälä and regional tourism pages describe roughly 50 km of marked hiking on a ring-shaped t...
City of Lempäälä – Birgitan polku+
Description
The Birgitta Trail (Birgitan polku) is a long-distance hiking route in Lempäälä in Pirkanmaa, near Tampere. On our map the trail is about 64 km from start to finish as one continuous line and is not a closed loop. The City of Lempäälä and regional tourism pages describe roughly 50 km of marked hiking on a ring-shaped trail network through lake and forest landscapes, with many entry points and link paths—so total distance depends on which sections you combine. The route was chosen as Finland’s Hiking Destination of the Year in 2006. For the latest on parking, lean-tos, winter overlap with ski tracks, fire rules, and downloadable maps, start from the City of Lempäälä’s Birgitan polku pages.
The trail is named after Lempäälä’s landmark medieval Church of Saint Birgitta. It runs mainly through private commercial forests where forestry work continues, so views can shift between young stands, older forest, rocky moraine, small bogs, and openings toward lake surfaces. Visit Lempäälä notes yellow markings on posts and trees and states that dogs are welcome on leash.
From the north, the line soon reaches Kaitajärven kota and passes Ammejärven laavu, Siisjärven laavu, and Saarikonmäen laavu—useful early stops with fireplaces and shelters in typical ridge-and-lake scenery. Around the Hakkari–Kulju corridor the hiking trail shares ground with winter ski and fitness routes: Latu Hakkari–Kulju, Kuntopolku Hakkari–Kulju, Hakkarin hiihtoladut, and Hakkarin kuntopolut pass the same lean-to cluster at Saarikonmäen laavu, and when grooming is active you should walk at the edge of the ski track so the surface stays skiable. Farther on, Houkkalammin nuotiopaikka sits on a more remote-feeling section where the short Birgitan polku - Houkkalammi spur meets the main network; the longer Retkeilyreitti Kuljun asemakylä–Pirkkala hiking line and its parallel dog-ski track use the same general corridor toward Pirkkala. Herralankosken kalastuspaikka and Herralankosken laavu, then Lempoisten uimaranta and related shore facilities, bring you through mixed shore and village edge before the route swings toward Kirskaanniemen laavu—one of the most popular picnic areas on the whole network, with multiple fire sites and views toward open water. Past Vähä-Riutan kotus the trail connects conceptually toward Kaarinanpolku, and the Pyhäjärven maisemareitti ja Pyhäjärven kierros cycling circuit crosses the same broad lake-and-town fabric toward Tampere. The last kilometres pass Kyynärön laavu and Vähä-Kausjärven laavukota and Vähä-Kausjärven nuotiopaikka, ending near forest ponds and quiet shoreline.
The Municipality of Pirkkala lists regional outdoor routes where Birgitan polku ties Lempäälä together with Pirkkala’s shore and forest network. Luontopolkumies on Retkipaikka describes boardwalks, rocky moraine, spring moisture, and how easy it is to confuse nearby paths where several markings meet—worth reading if you plan a long day or link sections near Koipitaipale. Visit Tampere offers a compact regional introduction with the same practical themes: short walks to multi-day hikes, many rest spots, and no drinking water taps along the route—carry what you need. The City of Lempäälä publishes a short YouTube introduction filmed on the trail; see our video field for a quick visual overview.
Lempäälä lies in Pirkanmaa. The Birgitan polku network is an easy day trip from Tampere by bus or train plus a short walk.
Length & route
The trail on our map is about 64 km as one continuous line and is not a loop. Municipal and regional descriptions usually quote about 50 km of marked hiking on a ring-shaped network with many access points, optional spurs, and occasional road or forest-road links—carry a current PDF map from the City of Lempäälä or Visit Lempäälä if you stitch sections together. Terrain varies from rocky moraine and short boardwalks to gravel maintenance roads and lakeshore paths; spring and after rain some stretches stay soft or wet.
Getting there
You can join Birgitan polku from many parking areas. The City of Lempäälä lists Hakkarin urheilukeskus (Kapteenienkatu 5), Hääkiven levähdysalue (Turuntie 128), and Sääksjärvi (Sääksjärventie 2) among the practical starts, plus Kirskaanniemi (several signed lots on Koipitaipaleentie—do not park along the private road itself), Vähä-Riutta (Savontie 654), Vähä-Kausjärvi (Haapalammintie 350), and Saarikonmäen laavu (Heposuontie 117, gate key from Lempäälä-talo by arrangement). Lempäälä railway station is about 1.5 km from the Hääkivi rest area, and regional buses from Tampere serve Sääksjärvi, Vuores, Hakkari, and nearby stops—check current timetables in the Nyssi journey planner.
Good to know
Open fire is allowed only at official campfire sites; do not build new fire pits. During grass or forest fire warnings all fires are prohibited—follow Finnish Meteorological Institute alerts. There are no public drinking-water points along the trail; fill bottles before you leave town. In winter the main hiking trail is not machine-groomed for walking, but maintenance tries to empty bins and stock firewood when conditions allow; where the line overlaps Hakkarin–Kulju ski tracks, walk beside the groomed lane.
History
The network is named after Lempäälä’s medieval Church of Saint Birgitta, a prominent landmark. The wider Birgitan polku was selected as Finland’s Hiking Destination of the Year in 2006.
Itinerary
Example three-day outline using lean-tos and shelters along the mapped line (distances from start): Day 1 — From the northern trailhead area toward Kaitajärven kota (about 2 km), Ammejärven laavu and Siisjärven laavu (about 6 km), and Saarikonmäen laavu (about 7 km), then through the Hakkari sports corridor where ski and running loops share lean-tos; aim for Houkkalammin nuotiopaikka (about 22 km) or Herralankosken laavu (about 25 km) for the night. Day 2 — Continue past Lempoisten uimaranta and central Lempäälä shore sections toward Kirskaanniemen laavu (about 45 km), a major picnic area with several fire sites. Day 3 — From Vähä-Riutan kotus (about 57 km) through Kyynärön laavu (about 63 km) to Vähä-Kausjärven laavukota and Vähä-Kausjärven nuotiopaikka (about 64 km). Adjust daily distances to your pace; water must be carried—there are no public taps on route.
Typically two to four long days on foot for the full mapped line at a steady trekking pace, or shorter day walks on individual sections—many people walk only Kirskaanniemi–Vähä-Riutta or lake sections near Sääksjärvi.
Be the first to write a review for "Birgitta Trail"
Share a photo from a recent trip
Answers to your questions
Our data was researched from Lempäälä, 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.
