Construction work affects the use of Kivitunturi Nature Trail in summer 2023
The Pirunkuru suspension bridge on the short 5.9 km route (marked with red) of the Kivitunturi Nature Trail will be renewed in the summer of 2023. The old suspension bridge will be dismantled starting June 12 2023 and the southern part of the short route will be closed during the demolition work and construction of the new bridge. The new bridge will be completed by the end of August 2023, until then the route can not be used as a circular trail. The northern part of the route to the top of Kivitunturi Fell and Äitipetäjänlampi rest spot is available all the time, as is the 3.6 km long additional loop of the nature trail marked with yellow, the Sotsonportti round.
Trailhead
- The Kivitunturi Nature Trail trailhead is located at the Kivitunturi parking area. The Sotsonportti Round Trail is accessed from the same trailhead, as its own starting point is off of the main trail.
- Driving instructions to the starting point.
- Attention! From July 3 to July 5, 2023, the Kivitunturi parking area and the road leading to Kivitunturi are closed due to helicopter transportations of construction materials.
Description of Trails
Kivitunturi Nature Trail basic route 5.9 km, round trail
When the ground is unfrozen, duration 3-4 h.
Intermediate trail. There are quite plenty of changes in elevation and stairs on the trail.
Admire the beauty of distant landscapes, acquaint yourself with the diverse nature of Eastern Lapland and delve into the geological history of the area by reading information boards along the way.
Starting Point
Address: Kivitunturin parking area, Kivitunturintie, 98800 Savukoski
Coordinates: WGS84 lat: 67° 21.3587’ lon: 27° 56.0074’
ETRS-TM35FIN P: 7471366 m I: 540104 m.
Hiking Structures
Cooking shelter at the starting point (www.excursionmap.fi), Äitipetäjänlampi lean-to-shelter (www.excursionmap.fi). Both rest areas have a dry toilet and a woodshed.
Sights
Kettukumpu scenic overlook and Kivitunturi landscape, Pirunkuru, Luojanluomalaavu boulder lean-to.
Trail Description
Trail markings: Red markings on trees or wooden poles.
Recommended direction: Can be done in both directions, but if you want to follow the information boards along the way in a chronological order, it is recommended to go clockwise.
The trail starts from the Kivitunturi parking area, where there is an information board with a trail map. The trail starts with a rocky descent down to a forested wetland, where the duckboard trail is surrounded by spruce trees festooned with beard moss. The trail will soon branch off in two directions, thus forming a circle trail. When hiking in a clockwise direction, you will first follow along the flank of the fell until you come to the first of several wooden staircases. The stairs lead to the Kettukumpu scenic overlook platform. On a clear day, for example, the summits of Pyhätunturi can be seen 60 kilometres away.
After taking the stairs back down, you will soon come to an unusual rock formation, i.e. the Luojanluomalaavu lean-to and then cross the Pirunkuru ravine on a suspension bridge. At the intersection just before the halfway point of the trail, the left branch will take you onto the Sotsonportti Circle Trail, which is marked on the trees in yellow. If you are staying on the main trail, the trail will keep going straight, following the red tree markings to Äitipetäjänlampi Pond. Located on the banks of the pond, the lean-to is a charming spot for making a campfire and enjoying a bite to eat. From the pond, the trail follows a gentle slope up to the summit of Kivitunturi, with sections of the trail hiked on duckboards, and then descends on the north side of the fell. Soon after this, you will return to the start of the Circle Trail and hike the last few hundred metres on the same section of trail you started on.
Please note
The Pirunkuru suspension bridge will be renewed in the summer of 2023, and the trail cannot be used as a round trail. Read more at the top of the page. The trail has significant changes in elevation and lots of stairs to climb. Pirunkuru ravine is crossed on a suspension bridge. The trail is extremely rocky in some places, so sturdy hiking shoes/boots are recommended. There may be wet sections along the trail, especially in the early summer.
Basic Route and Sotsonportti Tour 9.5 km, round trail
When the ground is unfrozen, duration 4-6 h.
Demanding trail. There are plenty of changes in elevation and stairs on the trail.
Savour the natural beauty of Eastern Lapland, wonder at its Ice Age remnants, and gaze out over distant landscapes from the Sotsonportti scenic overlook.
Starting Point
Address: Kivitunturin parking area, Kivitunturintie, 98800
Coordinates: WGS84 lat: 67° 21.3587’ lon: 27° 56.0074’
ETRS-TM35FIN P: 7471366 m I: 540104 m.
Hiking Structures
Cooking shelter at the starting point (www.excursionmap.fi), Äitipetäjänlampi lean-to-shelter (www.excursionmap.fi). Sotsonportti cooking shelter and a campfire site (www.excursionmap.fi). Both Sotsonportti and Äitipetäjänlampi rest areas have a dry toilet and a woodshed. The lean-to shelter located at Kivikuru has been dismantled 07/2021.
Sights
Kivikuru gorge, Sotsonportti viewpoint, Pirunkuru gorge and Luojanluomalaavu rock formation.
Trail Description
Trail markings: Yellow markings on trees or wooden poles.
Recommended direction: Can be done in both directions, but if you want to follow the information boards along the way in a chronological order, it is recommended to go clockwise. In the summer 2023, due to renovation work on the Pirunkuru suspension bridge, the first part of the trail must be taken in a counterclockwise direction. Read more at the top of the page.
When hiking in a clockwise direction, the first 2.7 km section follows the main trail. At the fork in the trail, the Sotsonportti Circle Trail, which is marked in yellow, leads off to the left. The trail drops steeply into Kivikuru ravine. The trail then climbs the opposite wall of the ravine and begins to circle around the fell in a clockwise direction. Passing by ponds formed in depressions left during the last Ice Age, the trail descends into Sotsonportti Valley, where Kiviaapa mire can be found in a forest clearing. At the Sotsonportti cooking shelter, you can stop and have something to eat before climbing the stairs to the Sotsonportti scenic overlook, which can be accessed from the main trail. You can also admire several old-growth pines on the slope of the fell. When coming down from the scenic overlook, you will pass through some lovely forest and creek hollows on your way to the rest stop at Äitipetäjänlampi Pond, from which the Round Trail rejoins the main trail.
Please note
The Pirunkuru suspension bridge will be renewed in the summer of 2023, and only part of the trail can be used as a round trail. Read more at the top of the page. The trail has significant changes in elevation and lots of stairs to climb. Pirunkuru ravine is crossed on a suspension bridge. The trail is extremely rocky in some places, so sturdy hiking shoes/boots are recommended. There may be wet sections along the trail, especially in the early summer.
