Ruovesi Hiking Trails

The Haukanhieta–Helvetinkolu Trail is about 5.5 km one way through Helvetinjärvi National Park, linking the Haukanhieta shore area on Lake Haukkajärvi with the Helvetinkolu ravine above Lake Helvetinjärvi. Walking out and back is typically about 11 km if you return the same way. For current route information, rest-stop maintenance notes, and any seasonal restrictions, start from Luontoon.fi(1), which Metsähallitus publishes for this national park segment. The trail is Pirkanmaa’s classic day-hike backbone between two of the park’s best-known viewpoints. Underfoot you climb and drop through forested ridges and ravine terrain; bergfex, summarising Ruovesi-area promotional material tied to Outdooractive, describes stairways on the steepest pitches and recommends allowing plenty of time because the hills are demanding(5). Along the way the line passes the Iso Ruokejärvi rest area with a jetty, campfire spot, and lake shore—useful roughly halfway for a food break before you press on toward Helvetinkolu or back toward Haukanhieta’s services. At the Helvetinkolu end, the route reaches Helvetinkolu päivätupa, a launching spot at Helvetinkolu laituri, Helvetinkolu tulentekopaikka, and supporting facilities clustered tight to the ravine rim. Askeleita Suomessa notes the long stair flights down toward the day hut and lakeshore campfire, and that the ravine itself was fenced in 2023 after rockfall risk made climbing through the slot unsafe(3). Aamulehti reported the same summer 2023 decision by Metsähallitus to install protective fencing and warning signs after visitors had repeatedly climbed up from the lake ice(4). Plan photography and viewpoints from the rim instead of expecting to thread the narrow gorge floor. The Haukanhieta end packs a lot of services into a small beach and camping pocket: Haukanhieta telttailualue, Haukanhieta tulentekopaikka 1 and 2, Haukanhieta, keittokatos 1, Haukanhieta keittokatos 2, Haukanhieta porakaivo for water, and Helvetinjärvi, Hiedan maja, vuokratupa together with Helvetinjärvi, Hiedan majan sauna and Hiedan sauna tulentekopaikka for renters wanting a cabin or sauna evening. Two small car parks, Haukanhieta P-paikka 1 and Haukanhieta P-paikka 2, sit a short stroll from the sand. You can continue from this knot onto Lokinpojanpolku toward shorter lakeshore loops or combine with Helvetistä itään -luontopolku, Helvetinjärven polut, Luomalahti-Pikku-Kovero, Haukanhieta-Haukkajoki reitti, and Helvetinjärven polut, polku Hiedan rantaan where those junctions match your map. Ruovesi lies within easy striking distance of Tampere, and Pirkanmaa’s glacially carved lakes give this segment a stronger relief than many southern forest walks. Even on a clear day, carry traction you trust on wet rock and roots after rain.

The trail is about 1.2 km as one walk through Helvetinjärvi National Park. It is a short, marked link on the Helvetinjärvi trail network from the Haukkamaantie side toward Heinälahti bay. For the official description of this segment and any updates to access or services, use the Helvetinjärvi trails, Haukkamaantie to Heinälahti page on Luontoon.fi(1). Retkipaikka’s Helvetinjärvi destination guide sets the wider scene: the park is known for deep gorges and lake chains between steep rock walls, with roughly 40 km of marked routes to combine once you reach the shore roads(2). Ruovesi lies in Pirkanmaa north of Tampere. The Heinälahti end is a practical service cluster for short visits: Heinälahti tulipaikka, Heinälahti Telttailualue for tent camping, and Heinälahti kuivakäymälä sit together by the water, so you can grill, pitch a tent, or pause with dry toilets nearby without walking the whole Haukanhieta–Helvetinkolu circuit first. From here the same trail fabric meets longer favourites described in visitor material—Pihkassa.fi’s walk-through of the park notes how marked routes climb and descend enough to feel like a real day out even on shorter loops, with wet-weather caution on duckboards and stairs(3). This segment is not a loop: it connects the Haukkamaantie approach into Heinälahti. It sits on the same shoreline system as Haukanhieta–Haukkajoki Trail toward Haukanhieta beach and Haukkajoki, overlaps Haukkajoen melontareitti (Ruovesi) at the bay, and ties into Pirkan taival (Ruovesi section) for anyone stitching a multi-day link through Ruovesi. Expect typical national-park forest path underfoot—roots and short climbs are common in the wider park(3). Matkalla Suomessa summarises the park as a Pirkanmaa signature destination around Helvetinkolu and Haukanhieta, which helps place this short connector inside the same visit(4). For seasonal restrictions that affect paddling and some Haukkajärvi shores, follow Metsähallitus guidance in the national park instructions(5).

For national-park rules, seasonal restrictions, and up-to-date service information for this part of Helvetinjärvi National Park, start with the Helvetinjärvi pages on Luontoon.fi(1). Visit Tampere describes the park’s deep gorge-and-lake setting and names Haukanhieta’s sandy shore as a natural place to relax after taking in Helvetinjärvi lake and Helvetinkolu(2). Retkipaikka’s park guide notes Heinälahti as a campfire stop with toilets on the way in, before the Haukanhieta parking area, and lists Haukanhieta’s reservable Hiedanmaja rental cabin, tent camping option, cooking shelter, well, toilets, and sandy beaches on Lake Haukkajärvi(3). The Haukanhieta–Haukkajoki Trail is about 2 km on our map as a point-to-point walking route in Ruovesi, Pirkanmaa. It is not a loop. The line runs from the Heinälahti shoreline toward the Haukanhieta recreation area on Lake Haukkajärvi at the western end of the national park. From the start you are beside Heinälahti tulipaikka and Heinälahti Telttailualue; dry toilets are available at Heinälahti kuivakäymälä. That makes the shore a practical place to light a cook fire, stretch a short canoe or packraft day around Haukkajoen melontareitti (Ruovesi), or sync up on foot with Helvetinjärven polut, Haukkamaantieltä Heinälahteen before you walk the main kilometre toward Haukanhieta. About 1.75 km along, Haukanhieta P-paikka 1 and Haukanhieta P-paikka 2 sit close to the line for drivers who want to finish at the beach instead of returning to Heinälahti. The Haukanhieta end gathers Helvetinjärvi, Hiedan maja, vuokratupa and Helvetinjärvi, Hiedan majan sauna near the shore; read fees, seasons, and keys on Eräluvat.fi’s Hiedanmaja page(5). Nearby are Hiedan sauna tulentekopaikka, Haukanhieta tulentekopaikka 1, Haukanhieta tulentekopaikka 2, Haukanhieta, keittokatos 1, Haukanhieta keittokatos 2, Haukanhieta porakaivo, and Haukanhieta telttailualue for longer picnics or overnight tent stays. From Haukanhieta the wider marked network fans out: Haukanhieta-Helvetinkolu reitti and Lokinpojanpolku share the same beach and parking area, while Helvetinjärven polut, polku Hiedan rantaan is a very short link along the shore. On longer connections in the park, hikers report clear markings but steep stone steps that can feel slippery in rain, and patchy phone signal on the ridges(4). Those notes describe the bigger Helvetinjärvi terrain rather than every metre of this 2 km segment, but they match how people usually combine Haukanhieta with the rest of the park.

Helvetinjärvi trails, Luomalahti–Pikku-Kovero, is about 12 km as a point-to-point hike inside Helvetinjärvi National Park in Ruovesi, Pirkanmaa. Metsähallitus keeps maps, service lists, and rule changes on Luontoon.fi(1). Retkipaikka’s long-form park guide explains how the gorge lakes, old spruce forest, and shoreline pockets fit together for visitors who want more storytelling alongside the official facts(2). Visit Heart Finland offers a compact destination introduction from the regional tourism side(3). The route begins at the Helvetinkolu end of the park’s trail network, within a few minutes’ walk of Helvetinkolu päivätupa, Helvetinkolu laituri, and Helvetinkolu tulentekopaikka—useful whether you are staging food or simply orienting before heading toward Luomalahti. The same junction is where Helvetistä itään -luontopolku meets the shoreline, and where you can drop onto Haukanhieta-Helvetinkolu reitti if you want a shorter, very hilly link out to Haukanhiedan beach services instead of continuing east. About 3.8 km into the hike you reach the Luoma shore cluster with Luoma Tulipaikka, a natural lunch stop before the trail threads deeper toward the Luomalahti bay. Near 5 km, Luomalahti keittokatos gives a roofed cooking shelter next to Luomalahti kuivakäymälä—handy in unsettled weather when you still want a hot meal. Dry toilets sit with each of these clusters; use them rather than stepping off-trail in the national park. From Luomalahti the marked trail keeps going toward Pikku-Kovero on the lake chain east of Iso Helvetinjärvi. Retkipaikka notes that several Helvetinjärvi lakes—including Luomajärvi and Kovero—belong to a portage-heavy paddling chain for canoeists, while hikers on foot stay on the forested shore tracks(2). Expect roots, short climbs, and damp hollows where duckboards help; the segment between Helvetinkolu and Luomajärvi is singled out for especially natural old-growth character(2). Allow most of a day if you like long breaks at the fire spots and cooking shelter, or a brisk half-day if you move steadily. Weekend crowds concentrate near Helvetinkolu and the main parking areas; spacing an early start helps. Respect any seasonal limits around Lake Haukkajärvi that protect nesting birds—Retkipaikka points readers to Metsähallitus map notes for exact dates(2).

For national-park rules, seasonal restrictions, and up-to-date service information around Haukanhieta in Helvetinjärvi National Park, start with the Helvetinjärvi pages on Luontoon.fi(1). Visit Tampere summarises the stark cliff-and-lake scenery and suggests Haukanhieta’s sandy shore as a natural place to pause after visiting Helvetinjärvi lake and Helvetinkolu(2). Retkipaikka’s long guide to the park describes Haukanhieta’s reservable Hiedan maja, beach, cooking shelter, well, dry toilets, and tent camping beside Lake Haukkajärvi, with Heinälahti named as a campfire stop before the Haukanhieta parking area on some approaches(3). Lokinpojanpolku is about 1.3 km and not a loop. It lies in Ruovesi, Pirkanmaa, as a short point-to-point link in the western part of the national park. The line ties the Haukanhieta shore cluster to the wider marked network: about one kilometre into the route you are beside Helvetinjärvi, Hiedan maja, vuokratupa and Helvetinjärvi, Hiedan majan sauna on their forested point above the shared beach, together with Hiedan sauna tulentekopaikka, Haukanhieta tulentekopaikka 1, Haukanhieta tulentekopaikka 2, Haukanhieta, keittokatos 1, Haukanhieta keittokatos 2, and Haukanhieta telttailualue for meals, swimming, or overnight tents. Haukanhieta porakaivo sits a little farther along for drinking water in season. The route ends at Haukanhieta P-paikka 1 and Haukanhieta P-paikka 2 for motorists using Haukkamaantie access. From this same shore junction the longer Haukanhieta-Helvetinkolu reitti and Haukanhieta-Haukkajoki reitti continue, and Helvetinjärven polut, polku Hiedan rantaan is an almost level link along the water’s edge between the same facilities. Eräluvat.fi states rental guests at Hiedanmaja leave vehicles at Haukanhieta parking and walk about 600 m to the cabin(4). Dedicated trail pages and blogs rarely isolate the name Lokinpojanpolku; treat it as a practical connector between parking, rental cabin, and the main west-side trails. Kohtisuora’s day write-up of the park is a useful reminder that Haukanhieta’s beach can draw busy summer crowds(5), which matters when you plan a short leg through this hub.

This Ruovesi segment is one piece of Pirkan Taival, a long-distance hiking network in northern Pirkanmaa. On Luontoon.fi the Pirkan taival (Ruovesi) trail page lists this line as a hiking route in that system(1). Ruoveden kunta presents Pirkan Taival as linking Helvetinjärvi and Seitseminen national parks, with many laavus and campfire sites along the whole corridor(2). Virtain kaupunki describes the full Pirkan Taival network at about 300 km, passing through eleven municipalities and forming part of the European E6 long-distance hiking route(3). The trail on our map is about 29.5 km and is not a loop; it runs as a single stage through Ruovesi’s forests and lake shores toward the town’s sports and leisure area. Along the way you pass Iso-Kalliojärven laavu roughly 6.6 km from the start, a good break spot by the water, and later Laavu ja nuotiopaikka with a lean-to and campfire place around 21.6 km—both useful for lunch or an overnight pause if you time your day accordingly. Where this segment meets the Pirkan taival - Ruukiinkosken retkeilyalue branch, the same Iso-Kalliojärven laavu also appears on that route, and Ruukinkosken laavu sits a little farther along that branch’s line. Closer to Ruovesi centre, the route ties into other local outdoor lines such as Pirkan taival Talvisilta- Ruovesi through Riuttaskorpi, the short Helvetinjärven polut, Haukkamaantieltä Heinälahteen connection toward Heinälahti campfire and tent spots, Haukkajoen melontareitti (Ruovesi) where paddlers share the shoreline context, winter ski lines such as Urheilukeskuksen latu Ruovesi and Kotavuoren latu near the sports area, and the town’s outdoor facilities near Urheilutie. A 2024 Yle Pirkanmaa article reported that six municipalities were preparing a coordinated outdoor route plan for Pirkan Taival to clear overgrown sections, renew signage, and make the line easier to follow—worth checking for updates before a long trip(4). Tanguy Gerome’s blog on a June 2025 hike from Ruovesi toward Helvetinjärvi notes wet, muddy stretches in places and a start through Ruovesi’s sports park—useful candid terrain reading(5). Carry a current Calazo or other Pirkan Taival map if you leave the main marked corridor.

The Siikaneva Circuit Trail is about 9.9 km through Siikaneva strict mire reserve, mostly in Ruovesi, Pirkanmaa. Siikaneva is Pirkanmaa’s largest continuous bog complex and a showcase of open fen and wooded islets linked by long duckboard sections. Metsähallitus publishes the reserve overview and access rules on Luontoon.fi(1); always check that page before you travel for the latest closure notices and any reopening after maintenance. From March 2026 the marked hiking circuits on Siikaneva were closed to the public because winter damage had left many duckboards loose, broken, or unstable, creating a safety hazard along nearly four kilometres of decking(2). Metsähallitus confirmed to Yle that the routes were closed while repairs and funding decisions were weighed(2). Plan any future visit only after Luontoon.fi(1) shows the trails open again. When the trail is open, the outing is a medium-demand day hike: long stretches on duckboards alternate with drier forest legs on wooded islets such as Vääräjärvenmaa, Pikkulatosaari, Heinäsaari, Vanhanladonsaari, Jaarikanmaa, and Saarihuhdanmaa in the detailed account Retkipaikka publisher Luontopolkumies Mika Markkanen published in 2025(3). He measured his own walk at roughly 10.5 km in about three hours of steady walking with photo stops, and noted other hikers sometimes completing the ring the other way round to front-load the forest(3). Markings for this longer circuit are described as blue on trail posts and paint blazes in the forest(3), while the shorter adjacent ring uses yellow markings at junctions(3). A hiking pole helps on spring-loaded boards after wet weather(3)(4). Starting from the information area near Siikaneva itäosan nuotiopaikka and Siikaneva itäosan liiteri, you soon cross the first open bog, then climb onto forest islets before dropping back to the mire. About 4 km into the walk you reach the western rest cluster with Siikanevan laavu and Siikaneva laavu beside Siikaneva länsiosan nuotiopaikka—natural lunch stops with a fireplace and firewood storage in the liiteri system—plus dry toilets in the same hub without needing to navigate off the duckboards. After more bog and forest, the line meets Pikkulatosaaren kierros near the east side; you can branch onto that roughly 2.7 km loop or continue on Siikaneva pysäköintialue itäosa along the forest edge back toward the eastern gravel access road Polkujen Lumo recommends for drivers who want the larger parking option(4).

For the wider Helvetinjärvi National Park trail network, winter conditions, and how steep the terrain can feel across the roughly 40 km of marked paths, start with Luontoon.fi(1), which Parks & Wildlife Finland keeps updated. Ruovesi sits on Pirkanmaa’s lake-and-ridge country, and this segment—Helvetinjärvi Trails, White Trail—is a short, non-loop stretch of about half a kilometre through the Valkoinen tent-camping pocket in the park’s southern trail system. The line is named for the white-marked branch in the park’s colour-coded route family; it is an easy connector for people who are already camping or stopping at Valkoinen tulentekopaikka beside Valkoinen. Dry toilets sit beside the footpath at Valkoinen kuivakäymälä so you do not need to go far from Valkoinen for basic sanitation. Retkipaikka stresses that the park supplies tent camping areas rather than lean-tos, which makes places like Valkoinen important if you are pitching a tent overnight in the backcountry zones that allow it(2). About half a kilometre from the usual starting direction along this segment you reach the junction with Helvetinjärven polut, Ruokejärven polku, a longer marked link toward the Ruokejärvet shore and campsite cluster if you want to extend the day. That continuation adds lakeshore campfire spots and another tent pitch pocket on the map, whereas this White Trail slice itself is mainly about moving between the Valkoinen services and the wider Ruokejärvi-side loop options. Summer visitors often combine the southern lakes with the famous Helvetinkolu rim walks described for the whole park(4). Matkalla Suomessa echoes that the park packs dramatic gorge scenery into a day-trip friendly distance from Tampere, while the City of Ruovesi publishes tourism contact hours and background on how the protected area ties into Pirkan Taival and neighbouring Seitseminen(3). Even on a short segment, carry footwear you trust on rooty forest soil and check Luontoon.fi before you leave if meltwater, maintenance work, or bird protection windows might affect your chosen link.

Ryövärinkuoppa Trail is a very short hiking path, about 0.4 km on our map, beside Finnish national road 66 between Ruovesi and Orivesi in Pirkanmaa. The route drops from a roadside pocket into a cool, sheltered sink around a clear open spring, then returns to the same parking verge. Metsähallitus lists the trail on Luontoon.fi with maps and access notes(1). City of Ruovesi describes the stop for travellers as a lush spring pocket with varied plants and beaver-worked streams in the valley(2). Despite the dramatic name—“Bandit’s Hole” in English—the place is a small nature reserve visited for its spring, steep wooden stairs, and duckboards over wet ground(3). Out in the Nature walked the roughly half-kilometre circuit via stairs down and a second stair back up near the car, following narrow duckboards above the water(3). KAUKOKAIPUU notes how slippery the steps and duckboards can get when wet leaves cover them in autumn, and still calls the site a handy break for through-drivers because parking sits right by the road(4). The spring stays visibly open in winter while sheltered by the pit walls; summer brings dense greenery over the pool(3). Mineral-rich water feeds the spring; several writers mention drinking from it, but treat any natural water with normal caution(3)(4). A picnic table sits by the parking area; camping and open fires are not allowed in the reserve(3). The walk suits children who can manage stairs, but prams and wheelchairs cannot use the stair-and-duckboard geometry(3).

The Ruokejärvi Trail is about 1.3 km as one walk in Helvetinjärvi National Park. It is a short, marked link on the Helvetinjärvi trail network from the Valkoinen / White Trail junction toward the Ruokejärvet shore rest area. For the official trail list, maps, and service updates for the park, start from the Helvetinjärvi hiking and outdoor recreation pages on Luontoon.fi(1). Seasonal restrictions, dogs, fires, and camping zones for the national park are published under Metsähallitus instructions and rules(2). Retkipaikka’s introduction to the park sets the wider scene: the western Haukanhieta approach is a familiar starting point for longer circuits, and Iso Ruokejärvi is a popular lakeshore camping area that many people combine with other marked routes in the park(3). At the Valkoinen end this segment meets Helvetinjärven polut, Valkoisen polku (Helvetinjärvi Trails, White Trail): Valkoinen (campsite), Valkoinen tulentekopaikka, and Valkoinen kuivakäymälä sit close to that junction. Walking through to Ruokejärvet you reach Ruokejärvet, Ruokejärvet tulentekopaikka, and Ruokejärvet kuivakäymälä by the water—practical spots for a break or a meal stop on a short out-and-back or when chaining into the Haukanhieta–Helvetinkolu route system described on Luontoon.fi(1). Ruovesi lies in Pirkanmaa north of Tampere. The trail is forest walking typical of the park: roots and short ups and downs are common on neighbouring links(3).

The Pikkulatosaari Loop Trail is about 2.7 km through Siikaneva strict mire reserve in Ruovesi, Pirkanmaa. It is the shorter of two marked circuits in the area and shares its eastern trailhead neck with the longer Siikanevan kierros. Metsähallitus lists the reserve on Luontoon.fi(1); check there for the latest reserve rules and any reopening notices after maintenance pauses. From March 2026 the Siikaneva hiking boardwalks were closed to the public because winter damage had left some structures unsafe, and Metsähallitus told media it was not planning a full rebuild of every walkway on cost grounds(2). A Metsähallitus contact quoted in the same reporting floated a smaller renewal focused on this shorter circuit as a less expensive partial option(2). Treat every visit plan as provisional until Luontoon.fi(1) shows the routes open again. When the route is open, the character is easy day-hiking on duckboards and dry forest tread between small wooded islets and open bog. Near the eastern cluster you pass Siikaneva itäosan nuotiopaikka and Siikaneva itäosan liiteri, where firewood has often been stocked for the fireplace. About halfway around, a tiny forest islet called Pikkulatosaari sits in the bog with a bench—Retkipaikka publisher Luontopolkumies Mika Markkanen used his 2019 walk to highlight that pause and the alternating bog-and-wood scenery(3). Along one bog margin, white marker poles belong to climate-impact research installations he also noticed(3). Forest sections have been marked with blue paint blazes on trees(3). Where the line meets the longer ring, you can branch onto Siikanevan kierros or stay on the short circuit back toward Siikaneva pysäköintialue itäosa. Polkujen Lumo’s Siikaneva trip journal contrasts the short east-side ring they walked at about two kilometres with the roughly ten kilometre full circuit—the eastern gravel lot as a practical start for the shorter option(4). Some outdoor write-ups round the short route similarly while this hike measures about 2.7 km end to end. Pirkanmaa is the region around the reserve, and Ruovesi is the municipality most drivers reach first from highway 66.

Path to Hieda shore is a very short marked connector under the Helvetinjärvi trails network at Haukanhieta in Ruovesi, Pirkanmaa. The trail is about 100 m long as one small loop and links the Haukanhieta day-use cluster on Lake Helvetinjärvi’s west shore to the Hieda beach and rental buildings. Metsähallitus manages Helvetinjärvi National Park; for closures, services, and the wider route menu, start from the Helvetinjärvi National Park pages on Luontoon.fi(1). The main day hike from the same parking area—deep into the ravine landscape toward Helvetinkolu—is described on the Haukanhieta–Helvetinkolu route page on Luontoon.fi(2). From the forest-side cluster you pass Haukanhieta tulentekopaikka 2, Haukanhieta telttailualue, and Haukanhieta porakaivo for water before the line reaches the lakeshore. At Hieda, Helvetinjärvi, Hiedan maja, vuokratupa and Helvetinjärvi, Hiedan majan sauna sit beside the natural sand beach with Hiedan sauna tulentekopaikka between cooking shelters Haukanhieta, keittokatos 1 and Haukanhieta keittokatos 2; Haukanhieta tulentekopaikka 1 sits slightly back toward the carpark side. Read more on our pages for the cabin and sauna if you plan to book or need house rules. The same junction feeds the longer Haukanhieta–Helvetinkolu Trail, Haukanhieta–Haukkajoki Trail, and Lokinpojanpolku Trail if you want a longer walk after reaching the beach. Retkipaikka(3) highlights Haukanhiedan hiekkaranta as a classic park attraction and notes that Metsähallitus rents Hiedan maja in this corner of the national park. Muu maa vadelma’s weekend piece from Hiedan maja(4) is worth reading for an on-the-ground sense of staying at the cabin and using the shore. The trail runs in Ruovesi. Pirkanmaa is the administrative region.

East from Hell Nature Trail is an easy, marked day hike in Helvetinjärvi National Park in Ruovesi, Pirkanmaa. The trail is about 3.9 km as one line in authoritative outdoor data and is the park’s best-known introduction to the ravine scenery around Iso Helvetinjärvi and Helvetinkolu. For route text, safety notes, and service updates, check the Helvetistä itään -luontopolku page on Luontoon.fi(1), published by Metsähallitus. Visit Tampere(2) summarises how travellers from the Tampere region usually reach the park and the main sights around Helvetinjärvi and Helvetinkolu. Tien päällä -matkablogi(3) is worth reading for photos, pacing, and practical notes from walking the same named hike, including how the wide path near the start contrasts with narrower forest walking and duckboards later. The walk revolves around the Helvetinkolu service cluster on Iso Helvetinjärvi. At the shore you pass Helvetinkolu tulentekopaikka and Helvetinkolu päivätupa for breaks and Helvetinkolu laituri if you arrive by small craft; dry toilets are available at the resting area without needing each structure named. The famous Helvetinkolu gorge itself is only a couple of metres wide; bloggers often quote about a 40-metre vertical scale and note long wooden stairs as the hardest part of the day when you descend to the lake and climb back to the viewpoints(3). Metsähallitus warns against walking along the bottom of the rock gorge and asks you to move carefully at open viewpoints because the steep edges are not fenced(1). There is no winter track grooming on the route, though a beaten path is usually visible in snow(1). From the same junction you can extend the day onto Haukanhieta–Helvetinkolu Trail toward Haukanhieta’s beaches and lakeshore camping, or onto Helvetinjärven polut, Luomalahti-Pikku-Kovero toward Luomalahti cooking shelter and Luoma camping if you want deeper coverage of the eastern lake chain. The trail runs in Ruovesi. Pirkanmaa is the administrative region.