When did huts.fi research the data for Uutela herp trail?

Huts.fi

Uutela herp trail

—•Hiking Trails

1.3 km

Route

P 1

Description

City of Helsinki – Uutela herp trail+

Description

Uutela herp trail is Finland’s only nature trail built around reptiles and amphibians. It runs through Särkkäniemi in the Uutela outdoor area in Vuosaari, eastern Helsinki. The trail is about 1.3 km as a closed loop on our map; City of Helsinki materials describe a partly one-way, partly circular walk of roughly 1.4–1.5 km when the full marked circuit is followed. For accessibility notes, rest points, rubbish bins, map embeds, and the HSL journey planner link to Särkkäniemi, the City of Helsinki’s herp trail page is the right place to start. The walk begins and ends near Uutelan kota, where picnic tables sit and dry toilets are available close to the main path; the kota itself is often minded by volunteers on weekends so the shelter can stay open to the public. From there, green pinecone markers lead through spruce forest, rocky shoreline with views toward Skatanluoto and Skatanselkä, and short duckboard sections across wet flads and shallows. Along the route, eleven boards spotlight Finnish snakes, lizards, frogs and toads; the texts and photographs come from biologist, photographer and author Antti Kolin. WalkHelsinki notes that the project opened in May 2023 and that the city’s environment services built it together with Helsingin luonnonsuojeluyhdistys (Helsinki Nature Conservation Association). You pass Skatan tila on the peninsula, a good landmark between the wooded inland sections and the shore. Many people string this loop with Uutelan luontopolku or Uutelan metsäluontopolku for a longer seaside outing in the same recreation network. The tread mixes fine crushed rock, gravel, roots, and natural stone; the posted accessibility notes flag narrow passages where wheelchairs or strollers cannot pass and at least one unfenced fall hazard beside the tread, while a selection of boards and toilets is easier to approach without duckboards. Suomen Luonto’s family visit reminds readers that quiet observation helps, yet studying the boards alone is still worthwhile when animals stay out of sight. Helsinki is Finland’s capital, and Uusimaa is the wider coastal region around it—this trail is a compact way to sample both urban shoreline nature and targeted interpretation. The same page also flags upcoming QR-code add-ons and extra child-focused material; timings were still being finalized on the page reviewed. Luontopolkumies at Retkipaikka gives a practical on-foot feel for how the green-marked herp loop sits beside the orange-marked forest nature trail, including where duckboards can seasonally sit close to the water.

Length & route

On our map the herp trail is about 1.3 km as one closed loop beginning and ending near Uutelan kota. The trail page describes the field marking as partly one-way and partly circular, with a total distance of about 1.5 km on the ground; treat the small gap as rounding and the one-way layout rather than a conflicting second route.

Getting there

The visiting address listed for the service is Särkkäniemi, 00990 Helsinki. The nearest huts.fi parking in our data is Uutela parkkipaikka a short walk from the kota and loop junction; expect stone ash and busy weekends like any popular Helsinki seaside lot. Public transport users can open the ready-made HSL journey planner link for Särkkäniemi coordinates from the same trail page. Retkipaikka adds that Vuosaari metro and the Solvikinkatu bus stop are practical entry points if you prefer to walk in from the wider Vuosaari street grid.

Good to know

The trail page announced QR-code supplements and raised platforms for children’s extra material, with details to be posted during spring while online content was still in production when we reviewed it. Dedicated YouTube searches did not return a short overview that isolates this specific trail from wider Vuosaari clips, so no embedded video is proposed here. Respect wildlife, keep dogs under local shoreline rules, and give other shoreline users space in summer.

History

The municipality implemented the herp trail with Helsinki Nature Conservation Association and published interpretive boards authored by Antti Kolin. WalkHelsinki reported a May 2023 opening for the new loop.

Managed by

Helsinki

Official Maintenance

+358 931 013 300

Trail info

Official guidance describes the layout as partly one-way and partly circular; follow green pinecone markers and branching signs at crossings.

Route direction

Recreation Area

Green pinecone symbols on trees plus signposts at junctions.

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

City of Helsinki – Uutela herp trail

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

1.3 km

Distance

About 30–45 minutes at an easy pace if you read most boards, faster for a fitness-paced lap.

Est. Time

Fine crushed rock, gravel, natural soil with stones and roots, and duckboard spans; hard but uneven in places with narrow pinch points.

Surface

Loop, Single Track

Route Type

Partial Shade

Shade

Moderate Traffic

Traffic

2023

Construction year

City of Helsinki – Uutela herp trail

Location

60.20194°N, 25.17963°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

UusimaaRegion

HelsinkiCity

SärkkäniemiVillage

Hiking TrailsCategory

Explore nearby

Uutela Forest Nature Trail

458 m

Free

Rate & Review

Be the first to write a review for "Uutela herp trail"

Share a photo from a recent trip

Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Helsinki, 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 Uusimaa Helsinki Hiking TrailsUutela herp trail