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Kierinniemi Nature Trail

—•Hiking Trails

2.7 km

Route

P 1

Description

Visit Seinäjoki Region – Kierinniemi nature trail+

Description

The Kierinniemi Nature Trail is about 2.7 km on a wooded peninsula on Lake Hankavesi in Ähtäri, South Ostrobothnia. For a trail-specific description, map download, and practical notes on direction of travel and surfaces, start with Visit Seinäjoki Region’s Kierinniemi page. Visit Ähtäri’s nature routes overview repeats the same length and difficulty and situates the trail in the wider Ähtäri tourism area. The City of Ähtäri’s outdoor routes page notes that Tuomarniemi forestry school signage and interpretation were part of how the trail was set up, and mentions fortification-era earthworks in the forest. Walk the route counterclockwise around the cape. The path is marked in red and some signs still say “metsäpolku” while others say “luontopolku”; they refer to the same circuit. At the beginning, duckboards cross wet ground; farther along you get rooty, rocky forest tread, one short steep climb, and two stretches beside the lake. The north part of the cape rises roughly twenty metres above the water; expect partial shade in pine and spruce forest. There are no dry toilets or campfire sites on the nature trail itself—plan breaks at services in the tourism area if you need them. About 0.7 km along the circuit you pass Roomuniemen kota, a lean-to that also sits on the Väliveden ulkoilureitti and Väliveden reitti (lyhyt) cycling routes; it is a natural rest point before you swing through the higher ground in the middle of the peninsula. Nearer the camping shore, the line comes close to Ähtäri Zoo Camping, the camping parking area, Mekkorannan rantauimala, and Leirintäalueen beachvolleykenttä—useful landmarks if you are linking a zoo visit or a swim with the walk. The trail meets Nallenpolku directly, so you can combine a short lake-shore walk with that longer, story-board route in the same area. Retkipaikka’s walk-through by Luontopolkumies Mika Markkanen adds on-the-ground detail: storm damage from 2001 left standing deadwood that the boards explain, you can see tar-burning pits and unused Russian trench lines from 1916–1917 near the Vaasa–Tampere railway corridor, and a simple bench sits along the south shore—worth reading if you want photos and pacing notes from a full lap.

Length & route

The trail is about 2.7 km as one circuit around the Kierinniemi peninsula on Lake Hankavesi. It is walked counterclockwise. The terrain mixes duckboard sections, rocky and rooty forest path, lakeshore, and one short steep climb; elevation on the north shore of the cape reaches about twenty metres above lake level.

Getting there

Park at Ähtäri Zoo Camping (Karhunkierros 229, 63700 Ähtäri). The signed trail start lies about 300 m from the camping parking area on the lake side at the north corner of the camping field. Coordinates given for the parking area are approximately N62 32.415 E24 10.372 (WGS84). If you need the latest on camping access or area services, check Visit Seinäjoki Region’s page or Visit Ähtäri’s nature routes hub.

Good to know

Leave No Trace applies: pack out all litter. MOBO orienteering control points are listed for the wider tourism area on Visit Seinäjoki Region’s page if you use the mobile app. There is no campfire site on the nature trail itself; lean-to and network trails nearby are described on Visit Ähtäri for longer outings.

History

Along the trail, interpretation boards describe forest history. Russian forces had trench lines dug in 1916–1917 near the Vaasa–Tampere railway; they were never used in combat and are now moss-covered. November 2001 storms (Janika and Pyry) caused windthrow in planted lodgepole pine stands; some damaged trees were left standing for nature values.

Managed by

Ähtäri

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Walk counterclockwise (anticlockwise) around the peninsula; this is the intended direction of travel.

Route direction

Red markers and signposts; some older signs read “metsäpolku” and others “luontopolku” for the same trail.

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Visit Seinäjoki Region – Kierinniemi nature trail

Activities allowed

Run

Activity

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

2.7 km

Distance

About 1–2 hours on foot for the full circuit at an easy pace, including short stops at boards and lake views; a steady lap without a long break is often around one hour.

Est. Time

Forest path with duckboards on wet sections, roots and stone, short lakeshore segments, and occasional narrow, overgrown tread where long sleeves and trousers help.

Surface

Loop, Single Track

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

Visit Seinäjoki Region – Kierinniemi nature trail+

Location

62.54068°N, 24.17246°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

South OstrobothniaRegion

ÄhtäriCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

Explore nearby

Ähtäri Zoo Camping

198 m

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Answers to your questions

oikeudet Kuuden tähden reitistö

Our data was researched from Ähtäri, 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 South Ostrobothnia Ähtäri Hiking TrailsKierinniemi Nature Trail

Photo: Kuuden tähden reitistö, Long trees on the Kierinniemi nature trail, 2026

Kierinniemi Nature Trail2.7 km

Route

P 1

Parking 1

0.0 km|Free

Roomuniemen kota

0.7 km|Free

Ähtäri Zoo Camping parkkipaika

2.4 km|Free

Free Parking

Description

Visit Seinäjoki Region – Kierinniemi nature trail+

Description

Length & route

Getting there

Good to know

History

Managed by

Ähtäri

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Location

Walk counterclockwise (anticlockwise) around the peninsula; this is the intended direction of travel.

Route direction

Red markers and signposts; some older signs read “metsäpolku” and others “luontopolku” for the same trail.

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Visit Seinäjoki Region – Kierinniemi nature trail

Location

62.54068°N, 24.17246°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

South OstrobothniaRegion

ÄhtäriCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

Activities allowed

Run

Activity

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

2.7 km

Distance

About 1–2 hours on foot for the full circuit at an easy pace, including short stops at boards and lake views; a steady lap without a long break is often around one hour.

Est. Time

Forest path with duckboards on wet sections, roots and stone, short lakeshore segments, and occasional narrow, overgrown tread where long sleeves and trousers help.

Surface

Loop, Single Track

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

Visit Seinäjoki Region – Kierinniemi nature trail+