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Jatkon valkea Trail, 10 km, Partly a Circle Trail

Available when the ground is unfrozen, travel time about 1 h 10 min
Category: Symbol for Easy trail. easy

As regards the technical elements, Jatkon valkea is the easiest trail and it is suitable for those experimenting mountain biking. There are no large altitude differences along the trail. There is no winter maintenance on the trail.

A fatbike rests against a pine in front of a windbreak. Although it is spring, there is snow on the ground.

Starting Point
Visitor centre, the starting point for mountain biking trails  

Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 65° 28.1400' lon: 29° 31.0443'  

Address: Jatkonsalmentie 6, Suomussalmi  

Hiking Structures
Huosivirta campfire site  

Sights
Huosivirta Rapids, Jatkonsalmi, Lake Jatkonjärvi, the Lounatkoski Rapids  

Trail Description
Length: about 10 km, the road section about 5.4 km, the terrain section 4.3 km   
Trail markings: white signs  
Starting point: visitor centre   
Direction: clockwise   
Services: Huosivirta campfire site  

The trail starts from the visitor centre's starting point for mountain biking trails and continues along Jatkonsalmentie Road to Huosivirta, in a gorgeous lake scenery framed by Huosiharju Esker. After crossing the Huosivirta Rapids, the trail continues along the shores of Lake Kenttäjärvi to the Jatkonsalmi hut and further onwards, along the shores of Lake Jatkonjärvi, onto Jatkonvaara Hill. From there, the trail returns to Huosivirta and, along a road, to the visitor centre.  

Along the trail, you will travel along the shore trails of Lake Kenttäjärvi and Lake Jatkonjärvi, as well as along duckboards, a path crossing a clearing and along a forest path the runs by a large depression. From Tolosenvirrantie Road, you can visit the fascinating Lounatkoski area (at a distance of less than 2 km), where you can admire an old mill, for example. 

Harjujen huikonen Trail, 12.5 km, Circle Trail

Available when the ground is unfrozen, travel time about 1.5 h
Category: Symbol for Partly demanding trail. partly demanding - intermediate  

Description of the Harjujen huikonen Trail: Harjujen huikonen is suitable for those with some mountain biking experience and for real mountain biking enthusiasts. There is no winter maintenance on the trail.

A bicycle rests against a tree next to a path. A yellow route marker can be seen on another tree.

Starting Point
Visitor centre, the starting point for mountain biking trails

Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 65° 28.1400' lon: 29° 31.0443'  

Address: Jatkonsalmentie 6, Suomussalmi  

Hiking Structures
Iikoski campfire site, the Hakokoski lean-to shelter, the Huosivirta campfire site

Trail Description
Length: 12.5 km, the road section about 2.7 km  
Trail markings: yellow signs
Starting point: visitor centre, the starting point for mountain biking trails
Direction: anti-clockwise

There are demanding esker sections along the trail and in rainy weather, the shore trails are slippery.

When doing the entire circle trail, you can test your hill ascending abilities. The trail introduces all key elements of Hossa, ranging from the shore trails to the esker trails and the lake scenery. The mountain biking trail starts from the visitor centre, and its direction is anti-clockwise. In the initial section, the first 300 metres run along a trail that is accessible to all. The trail runs from Iikoski, along the shore trails on the northern side of Lake Huosiusjärvi, pass the Torkonluikea Rapids, from where it continues towards the Hakokoski Rapids, running around Lake Syvä-Hoilua. The esker area between Hakokoski and Lake Syvä-Suottajärvi takes you to the Hakokoski bridge. After crossing the bridge, you can light a campfire by the lean-to shelter. The trail returns along Hakoharju Esker and arrives at the Huosivirta parking area. The final section goes along Jatkonsalmentie Road to the visitor centre. 

Kokalmuksen kierros Trail, 14 km, Circle Trail

Available when the ground is unfrozen, travel time about 1.5 h 
Category: Symbol for Partly demanding trail. partly demanding  

Kokalmuksen kierros is suitable for beginners and mountain biking enthusiasts. The trail does not have sections where special biking skills are required, even though the root-filled sections are slippery in rainy weather. There is no winter maintenance on the trail.

Close-up of a simple wooden bench. A bicycle is visible in the background.

Starting Point
Starting point: Hossalaislammet parking area  

Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 65° 29.2077' lon: 29° 24.2176'  

Hiking Structures
Muikkupuro lean-to shelter, Ala-Valkeainen Open Wilderness Hut, the Kokalmus campfire site, the Kokalmus lean-to shelter, the Lipposensalmi lean-to shelter, the Pitkä-Hoilua campfire site (eastern and northern)  

Trail Description
Length 14 km, which runs on the terrain, except for one short road section  
Trail markings: red signs  
Starting point: Hossalaislammet parking area  
Direction: anti-clockwise  

The Kokalmuksen kierros Trail presents bikers with a magnificent lake scenery, crystal-clear streams, as well as a memorable pedalling experience along the Hoiluansärkkä esker trail. The duckboards will take you to the shores of Lake Kokalmus in a beautiful lake scenery that is characteristic of the Kainuu region. The trails at Lipposensalmi and along the eastern shores of Lake Pitkä-Hoilua are so memorable that you will want to return.  

The initial part of the trail that starts from Hossalaislammet is in shared use with those travelling along an accessible trail, until it branches off to a trail that runs along the shore of Lake Iso-Valkeainen. It continues to the Muikkupuro lean-to shelter. From Muikkupuro, the trail continues, via Ala-Valkeainen Open Wilderness Hut, to Hoiluansärkkä and, bypassing the reindeer sheds, to the Kokalmus lean-to shelter. The trail returns to Hossalaislammet, via Lipposensalmi, along the eastern shore of Lake Pitkä-Hoilua. You can also combine this trail with the Syrjäharjun kierros Trail, in which case the excursion is about 20 km long. 

Sininen saavutus Trail, 50 km, Circle Trail

Available when the ground is unfrozen, travel time about 4.5 h
Category:  Symbol for Demanding trail. demanding  

The Sininen saavutus Trail is long and demanding, requiring good mountain biking skills. The trail also includes more technical sections, as well as demanding esker ascents and descents. The trail runs in almost all parts of the national park, except for Värikallio and Julma-Ölkky, and you can shorten it in many places, as it best suits to you. There is no winter maintenance on the trail.

A trail follows the lake shore. It is summer.

Starting Point
Visitor centre, the starting point for mountain biking trails  

Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 65° 28.1400' lon: 29° 31.0443'  

Address: Jatkonsalmentie 6, Suomussalmi  

Hiking Structures
IIkoski campfire site, the Torkonluikea campfire site, the Hakokoski lean-to shelter, the Puukkojärvi lean-to shelter, Laukkujärvi Open Wilderness Hut, the Lihapyörre lean-to shelter, the Kokalmus lean-to shelter, the Aittojoki campfire site, the Syrjäsalmi lean-to shelter, the Joukovirta lean-to shelter, the Lipposensalmi lean-to shelter, the Lounaja campfire site, the Huosivirta campfire site.

Trail Description
Length: 50 km  
Trail markings: blue signs  
Starting point: visitor centre, the starting point for mountain biking trails  
Direction: anti-clockwise  

The Sininen saavutus Trail runs in almost all parts of the national park, utilising its extensive network of trails. Only the Ala-Ölkky and Julma-Ölkky areas are not located along the trail. The trail runs by the Värikallio area. From the Lihapyörre area, it runs along the same trail from which branches off a connecting trail to Värikallio. Please note, in summer it is not allowed to cycle to Värikallio. Leave your bike for a while and have a walk to the Värikallio Cliffs.  

You can cycle the entire circle trail in one day, if you already have some mountain biking experience. In other words, you do not need to be particularly experienced. However, the trail is long and its technical elements are demanding in places. As regards its technical elements, the trail as a whole is intermediate. On a long trail, the weather is important. In rainy weather, the trail becomes a couple of categories more demanding on its technical sections, because of the wet roots. Likewise, the final part of the trail in the area of Jatkonvaara Hill may be very challenging. Of course, you can also set off from elsewhere than from the visitor centre, even though it is the official starting point. You can also shorten the trail at many points. 

Initial Part Starting from the Visitor Centre   

The initial part of the trail runs along the yellow trail, all the way to a trail that connects Lake Syvä-Suottajärvi and the Hakokoski Rapids. From there, the trail continues along the shores of Lake Syvä-Suottajärvi to Lake Puukkojärvi. The trail continues along the shore of Lake Puukkojärvi to Talassalmi. The Puukkojärvi lean-to shelter is located in this section. From Talassalmi, continue along the shores of Lake Talasjärvi, to Laukunsalmi. At Laukunsalmi, you will arrive at crossroads of trails, from where you can branch off to the Laukkujärvi Open Wilderness Hut.   

The trail turns to the left towards Laukunsalmi and runs across a bridge, to the southwestern shore of Lake Laukkujärvi. After pedalling about 250 metres, turn to the left and ascend to a skiing trail base that runs along the esker, and continue to the Lihapyörre parking area. From there, the trail continues along a more stony connecting trail (that runs to the Värikallio Cliffs, where is forbidden to ride a bike in summer), until it branches off from the connecting trail and continues straight towards Laurintyrnänlampi Pond and Levälammet Ponds. This trail section consists of small-scaled, more technical root-filled terrain, where bikers are able to test their biking techniques.   

Towards Lake Kokalmus   

After crossing Pistonlehdontie Road, the trail continues from the southwestern side of Kirkasvetinen Pond to Kaunislampi Pond. This is also a more technical, root-filled section. After Kaunislampi Pond, the trail becomes easy and continues towards Valkeisenvaara Hill and Lake Kokalmus. By the Kokalmus reindeer shed, the trail turns to the right towards the Kokalmus lean-to shelter.    

The trail running along the shore of Lake Kokalmusjärvi is undulating, even though there are also some roots on the terrain. After Kuikkalahti, there will be several duckboard sections that can be cycled. Thereafter, you will arrive at a reindeer shed that is located close to the Kokalmus lean-to shelter. After bypassing it, you will arrive at a lean-to shelter that is located at a tip of a small peninsula in the Korealahti Bay.   

Towards the River Aittojoki, via Syrjäharju Esker

From the bottom of Korealahti Bay, turn to the right and start ascending, along a maintenance road, until you arrive on a forest road that runs to Pistonlehdontie Road. The trail continues along the road for about 5.5 km until you arrive at Alakoski, River Aittojoki, on the western side of Variskangas. Before the bridge across River Aittojoki, turn to the left onto a small, undulating trail along the riverside. By the pond on the edge of a mire area, you will be able to enjoy the loud mating concert of birds when pedalling towards the shore of Lake Lavajärvi. Before Likolahti, turn to the left and continue to the Syrjäsalmi lean-to shelter and to Syrjäharju Esker.  

After crossing the Syrjäsalmi bridge, you will ascend to Syrjäharju Esker. The stony trail takes you, along the narrow ridge, to the east, and you will see the Iso-Nimetön watercourse on your right side. Thereafter, the trail turns and descends to the right just before Nimettömänsalmi. The undulating trail that runs along the shores of Pikku-Nimetön goes across streams and bypasses moister sections. Then you will arrive at the Joukovirta lean-to shelter. After the Joukovirta lean-to shelter, the trail takes you to the shore trails of Lake Joukojärvi and to the side of Virtasalmi. Thereafter, there is a fairly steep ascent. Continue along a trail that goes towards a former reindeer roundup pen. The trail descends towards Poroaidanlampi Pond. After riding round the pond, there will be a brisk ascent, and you will arrive at the trail section on the western side of Lake Lounat-Valkeinen. This trail is much more stony and unlevel all the way to the shore sections on the western side of Lake Lounaja. After the Rytipuro duckboards, you will arrive at a trail that connects Lake Kokalmusjärvi and Lipposensalmi. Next, you will arrive at the Lipposensalmi bridge and an idyllic lean-to shelter.

From Lipposensalmi towards the Visitor Centre

The trail continues along the southern side of Lipposenniemi to the shore trail of Lake Lounatkapea. Thereafter, it turns to the left to a small-scaled, more technical trail that takes you onto Jatkonvaara Hill. You will arrive at the top of Jatkonvaara Hill after a two-kilometre ascent. Thereafter, the trail starts descending towards Pistonlehdontie Road, connecting to the white trail. After crossing Pistonlehdontie Road, continue towards the Huosivirta parking area. The final section goes along Jatkonsalmentie Road to the visitor centre. 

Remember the etiquette for mountain biking:

  • The trail and nature are meant for all people, and we are considerate for the others on the trail.
  • A controlled situational speed brings safety to everyone and cyclists, who are faster than hikers, are ready to give way to the others.
  • The right way of biking does not erode the terrain, and we keep to the existing trails and routes.
  • We avoid locking up our brakes and sensitive nature destinations.
  • We adhere to the rules of the area and the principles of litter-free hiking.
  • We are considerate to the residents, the landowners and those who maintain the trail.
  • We enjoy nature and remember our responsibilities.