Lapua Map

The Hietala river hut, known as Jokitupa and painted with red clay, is a historical resting and overnight site located in the Alajoki agricultural plain. This plain, approximately 20 km north-south and 8-9 km east-west, is a traditional landscape in South Ostrobothnia. Jokitupa was once used by shepherds to rest, milk cows, and store provisions, with a single daily delivery of milk and supplies. While multiple river huts previously existed, only Jokitupa remains to represent this historical practice. The Lapua Society received Jokitupa as a donation and restored it in 2013, renewing its roof, fireplace, and floor. A dry toilet is also present. Jokitupa is accessible to visitors as a resting place and for overnight stays, with unlocked doors.

Simpsiö outdoor trail is about 6.1 km point-to-point through Luonto-Simpsiö, the nature and recreational area on Simpsiö hill in Lapua, South Ostrobothnia. The line links the lower ski-centre side—where Simpsiön uimaranta, Simpsiön laskettelukeskus and the long Simpsiön kuntoportaat sit—toward the Urheilumajantie cluster with Simpsiön hiihtomajan talviuintipaikka, Simpsiön nurmikenttä and Frisbeegolf Simpsiö. About halfway you pass Simpsiön hyppyrimäki K50 and Simpsiön ulkokuntosali. The hill is a residual outcrop roughly a hundred metres above the surrounding plain, with mixed forest, rocky slopes and small wetlands; it feels unusually rugged for the region. For shelter firewood rules, dry-toilet locations, each named nature trail’s colour marking and printable network context, start with the City of Lapua’s Simpsiö outdoor trails page(1). Visit Lapua summarises tower access, seasonal activities and how the marked paths connect(2). The same corridors are shared with winter ski tracks and a running track: Santerinkydön latu, Simpsiön latu, Simpsiön kuntorata and Simpsiön talvikävelypolku use overlapping lines here, so expect wide, groomed or compacted sections as well as narrower forest path. Luontopolkumies Mika Markkanen’s report on combining Kalliomaanpolku and Piispanpolku describes yellow and red square paint marks, interpretation boards on nature topics and how crowded the ski-centre parking trailhead feels—useful colour-marking detail even if your goal is this longer connector rather than only those two loops(3).

Jonkin verran korkeuseroja.

The Alajoki birdwatching tower in Lapua, managed by the Suomenselkä Ornithological Society (SSLTY), provides extensive views of the Lapua-Kauhava lower river valley, ideal for birdwatching during spring and autumn migration. SSLTY is affiliated with BirdLife Finland, a national bird conservation organization with 16,000 members across 30 associations.

The Ritalavu trail is a 2.1 km, blue-marked route within the Ritavuori fitness trail network in Lapua, starting from the parking lot on Ritapuistontie. It is suitable for families, featuring a Ritaalaavu, an outdoor fitness area, and proximity to playgrounds and the Ritavuori local sports area. The entire route is illuminated and serves as a cross-country ski trail in winter.