Karhunpolku, Hiking Trail in Lieksa
Lieksan Kehitys Oy
Reserve plenty of time to take in the views of the landscape and to get acquainted with the sights. Along the hiking trail and in its vicinity are well-maintained rest stops, restored battlefields and several fishing areas.
Tourism companies offer supplements for your equipment and provide hikers with the opportunity to rest, sauna, eat well or even try different activities. You can find the tourism services of Lieksa at the map service Lieksan karttapalvelu.
For hiking the entire trail, the recommendation is 6 to 8 days. The terrain is varied both in terms of landscape and differences in elevation. The dampest parts have duckboards.
Author’s recommendation
Suggested daily stages of the hike:
1st day: 26 km: Patvinsuo - Pitkäjärvi desert hut.
2nd day 10 km: Pitkäjärvi desert hut - Särkkäjoki
3th. day 20 km, Särkkäjoki shed - Haapavitja.
4th day 18 km: Haapavitja - Niskalahti shed.
5th day 24 km: Niskalahti shed - Änäkäinen
*6.th day 18 km: Änäkäinen - Valamajoki desert cabin.
7. th day km: 18 km: Valamajoki desert cabin - Teljo
Rest stops
Suomu Nature Information HutLoma-Kitsi
Ruunaa Hiking center
Ruunaan Matkailu
Café Ruunaa tupa
Ruunaan MetsäKoti
Eräkeskus Wilderness Lodge
Jongunjoen Matkailu
Safety information
- Making an open fire during forest or grass fire warnings and in strong wind is prohibited.
- Be careful -- don’t leave a fire burning alone. The last person to leave should ensure that the fire has been extinguished.
- In rainy or damp conditions, the duckboards, rocks and roots can be very slippery.
- Take along first-aid supplies.
- The emergency phone number: 112 (load your mobile phone for free using the 112 Suomi app).
- Please note that there may not be mobile phone service in some areas.
- Check the Ilmatieteenlaitos (Weather Institute) for any warnings!
Tips and hints
- We observe litter-free camping -- Please take your trash with you when you leave and keep nature clean.
- The trail is also used by mountain bikers in parts.
- Please familiarise yourself with The travellers etiquette
Start
Turn-by-turn directions
You can divide up the Karhunpolku Trail into several day trips according to your own preference. The northern section of the Karhunpolku Trail, or between Teljo and Ruunaa, the ridges that rise up high and the needle paths offer fine views of the lake and ridge landscape and a lot of variation in elevation. In the souther part, or between Patvinsuo and Ruunaa, there are many beautiful old-growth trees, open marsh landscapes and fewer steep hills compared to the trail between Ruunaa and Teljo.
The entire trail is long, and to navigate its entire length, you should reserve around a week. You can also take the trail in the opposite direction.
Route description from Patvinsuo to Teljo:
0 km It is worth booking an extra day for Patvinsuo. Go around Suomujärvi, visit the bird tower, sauna in the beach sauna of Suomu nature hut. In the nature hut you can stay in a dormitory (9 beds, cooking facilities) or in Suomu House. Check out the National Park exhibition. The nature hut rents a sauna, canoes and boats.
3 km Kurkilahti, fireplace, beach. A route for a great peri-urban.
14.8 km Kangas-Piilo fireplace. Route prolongation.
16.8 km Ahokoski shed.
21.3 km Fireplace of Hukkalammi. Route ridge landscape.
23.7 km Kirkisensalmi shed.
25.8 km Pitkäjärvi desert hut + small desert hut in the yard. Accommodation for about 13-14 people. Sauna. Marked route around Pitkäjärvi in a really beautiful ridge landscape. After Kirkisensalmi, shed in a beautiful location.
28.5 km The restored battle area of Valkealammi. Fireplace, restored dugouts and armor barriers. Route partly on a small road (Dugouts closed due to risk of collapse).
29.5 km Connecting path to Loma-Kits (7.8 km).
30.5 km Kaatiinlampi fireplace. Route beautiful ridge, nice oaks, forestry work carried out in the area.
36.1 km Särkkäjoki fire place. Lava. The route continues first as a road and then as a magnificent ridge of the Särkkäjoki river.
41.6 km The trail runs down the ridge, crosses the road and gravel pit and continues towards Ruuna. The route goes along the village road before descending to the Ruunaa nature reserve on the shores of Itkiinpohja and Ruunaanjärvi. There are long trees on the beach.
49.3 km Fireplace of Rantakangas.
51.8 km Marinkangas fire place.
55.3 km Haapavitja suspension bridge, sheds on both sides of the river. You can jump on a rafting boat from here if you have agreed with the entrepreneur in advance.
56.0 km Haapavitja II, lava.
61.0 km Ruunaan Retkeilykeskus. Come and admire Neitikoski. The route continues in the form of elongated trees and along a path, between wetlands.
64.6 km Connecting path to Ruuna Tourism (4.5 km).
68.8 km Naarajoki. Summer cafe Ruunaan Tupa. The route continues as a new route to the next fire site. By mountain bike on the old route along the road.
73.8 km Niskanlahti shed. On the route, first a power-consuming uphill and then a magnificent ridge section opens.
83.3 km Piilonen shed. About 5 km from the Piilonen shed along the road to the Olkikoski reservation hut in the Wild North.
88.3 km Connecting path to the village of Nurmijärvi. THE CONNECTION PATH HAS NOT BEEN REFURBISHED FOR YEARS - INCOMPLETE MARKING - RISK OF MISTAKING WITHOUT A PROPER MAP. Along the connecting trail, the Wild North Puuruu reservation room.
92.3 km Jynkä fireplace by the pond. The route continues in a ridge landscape. About 3 km from the southern end of Jynkkälammi along a gravel road to the reserve of the Häähnijoki River in the Wild North.
95.5 km Connecting path to the village of Nurmijärvi
97.5 km Änäkäinen, Winter War battle area, trenches, armored obstacles and a large three-storey cave - the cave is closed due to the risk of collapse. Änäkäinen is also Metsähallitus' fishing area; rental boats (you can get the keys from Café Annuka, tel. 040 964 1083). There is a shed at the end of Saarijärvi, and there is a hut on the isthmus between Änäkäinen and Saarijärvi. Book for Noisy for at least 3 hours. The route continues in a ridge landscape.
104.0 km Fireplace and shed on the bank of the river Jongunjoki. The route continues as a village road and path in the treasure area. From the Aarn area, there is a marked path to the bank of the Jongunjoki River to Pälvekoski. Pälvekoski has a comfortable home in a beautiful location next to a suspension bridge. Marked source at the northern end of Hämönlampi, guidance from the path.
115.5 km Valamajoki desert cabin. The cabin has 6 beds and an outdoor fireplace, log cabin and wood stove.
120.7 km Aittokoski, home and fireplace. The route continues along the beach, even in some places wet.
125.3 km Viharinkoski. Shed and marked source.
127.3 km Otroskoski desert hut, accommodation companions on 2 floors for 10-15 people, beach sauna, fireplace, log canopy and wooden roof. The route continues as a path and a forest road. Room renovated in 2010.
133.0 km Teljo. 500 m in the direction of Lieksa Teljo bridge and fireplace. The route continues to Kuhmo Petranpolkuna up the Jongunjoki river.
Welcome to Karhunpolku and a nice excursion!
Note
Public transport
Access via Teljo and Jongunjoki: Lieksa can be reached from Joensuu by train (vr.fi) and bus (matkahuolto.fi) Onward connection By car or by ordering a transport service or a taxi
Getting there
See transport connections via Patvinsuo:
See transport connections via Ruunaa:
Transport services to the hiking trails of Lieksa
Parking
Free parkingCoordinates
Equipment
Please wear rubber boots or sturdy hiking footwear. For crossing some wetlands, you will need rubber boots or to remove your shoes. Take along sufficiently warm clothing. You should also take along insect repellent. Bring along enough to drink and eat as well. It’s a good idea to take along a map, even though the path is clearly marked. GSM phones work rather well in the area. A compass is not necessary.Related Offers
Come and enjoy a memorable mountain biking trip to Ruunaa across varying terrains and along beautiful waterways.
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- 52 Waypoints
- 52 Waypoints
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