Koli Nature Center Ukko closed 1.4.-7.6.2022
By public transport to Koli National Park
Current hiking conditions on trails
Herajärvi trail
Drinking water: Ikolanaho and Jero wells and springs out of comission
Campfire sites and fire making
(Updated 24th of May 2022)
Finland's most famous national landscapes can also be reached by bus and the new train-water bus connection.
From Vuonislahti Railway Station, the distance to Koli by water is about 10 kilometers. Vuonislahti harbor is located about 200 m from the train station. Water bus M/Y Elektra (koli.fi) cruises 10.6.-21.8. between Wednesday and Monday between Koli, Vuonislahti and Kelvänsaari. From Vuonislahti, the water bus takes you to the harbor of Koli. From there you can follow the oldest nature trail of Finland, the Satama trail (“Harbor Trail”), towards the iconic landscapes of Ukko-Koli.
From Joensuu railway station you can make the trip to Koli National Park by by taxi (kolintaksi.fi, in Finnish).
From Joensuu and Kajaani Railway Station you can also take a bus to Ahmovaara. The distance from Ahmovaara to Koli National Park is approximately 9 km. You can get from Ahmovaara to Koli National Park by walking, cycling, or taking a regular taxi (kolintaksi.fi, in Finnish). Mon-Fri you can get to Koli village from Ahmovaara by booking a bus connection from Ahmovaara to Koli (koli.fi, in Finnish) in advance. From the village of Koli, a hiker can follow the Kylän polku (“Village Trail”) to the Koli Nature Center Ukko and further to the Ukko-Koli landscape site.
From Lieksa railway station you you can pre-book a shared taxi provided by the City of Lieksa (lieksa.fi, in Finnish).
You can get to Koli National Park from Lieksa Railway Station by ordering a shared taxi in advance (lieksa.fi, in finnish).
Read more from the Directions website.
Koli Nature Center Ukko is closed 1.4.–7.6.2022 due to construction work
(Updated 11th of April 2022)
Koli Nature Center Ukko's lobby and gift shop space will be renewed this spring. The Nature Center will be closed to public during the construction.
During the construction 1.4.–7.6.2022 the customer service of Metsähallitus is available from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 3 pm:
Information about Koli National Park's services and maps you can find from our websites. Excursionmap.fi offers a free map service that contains all the trails and service structures offered and maintained by Metsähallitus. You can also purchase maps in advance from the Koli.fi online store (koli.fi, in finnish) or after arrival from the reception of Break Sokos Hotel Koli (sokoshotels.fi).
Remember to check the instructions and rules of the area before your trip. Koli National Park is first of all a nature conservation area. To ensure the health of our environment and to avoid erosion we have limited the locations where you can camp, make a fire (only when the forest fire warning is not in force), or park your car inside our national park.
Current hiking conditions on Koli National Park's trails
(Updated 23th of May 2022)
Remember to check the instructions and rules of the area before your trip. Koli National Park is first of all a nature conservation area. To ensure the health of our environment and to avoid erosion we have limited the locations where you can camp, make a fire (only when the forest fire warning is not in force), or park your car inside our national park. Check out the Outdoor Etiquette too.
Right now the trails of Koli National Park are mostly bare and dry. At spring some parts of the trails could still be wet and/or muddy due to the spring floods. Some snow often lingers for a longer time on the shadowy terrain and for example northern side of the hills.
Read more about our trails and check out the equipment rental opportunities offered by our partners.
(Updated 23th of May 2022)
The Herajärvi Trail is available to hikers during the snow-free season. The route is very demanding due to steep ascents and descents. The route also has a rope-pulley ferry and a wading cable. The Sikosalmi rope-pulley ferry is already available for use. The wading cable crossing on the other hand may not be possible during spring floods.
When hiking in May, keep in mind that the trails can be partly snowy, wet and/or muddy. Snow often lingers for a longer time on the shadowy terrain, even if the roads and shorelines would already be bare.
It is also good to prepare for spring floods. For example, the road leading to the Lakkala farm may have water up to 30-40 cm in the spring. In addition, there is a wading cable on the route near Rykiniemi camping area, which crosses Herajoki. During possible spring floods, the water level may be so high that the wading cable of Herajoki cannot be used. The crossing should be circled through Herajoentie, the bridge and Vaaralahdentie. If you don’t use the wading cable and follow the Herajoentie road to the intersection of Rekilammentie instead (the distance along the road is 3 km), the overall hiking distance is reduced by more than a kilometer.
Normally during the snow-free season it is recommended to reserve 2-3 days for The Northern Herajärvi Trail (35 km), because the hiking route is demanding even in summer and slow to travel due to the altitude differences. If you decide to hike The Northern Herajärvi Trail in early spring, when there is still snow in the terrain, it is good to reserve at least 4 days for the hike. Camping can also be challenging in May, as the possible camping sites can still be snowy or the ground cold and wet at least.
Please carefully check our websites for further hiking information on the Northern Herajärvi Trail and Southern Herajärvi Trail.
Drinking water around Koli National Park
(Updated 23th of May 2022)
The spring and well in Ikolanaho and the well in Jero reservable hut and are out of commission. Do not drink the water even after boiling it. It is possible to borrow water containers and get clean drinking water from the Nature Centre Ukko. If Ukko is closed, water can be obtained from Break Sokos Hotel Koli (sokoshotels.fi).
Read more about the drinking water of Herajärvi trail and drinking water of Koli National Park.
Campfire sites and fire making
(Updated 23th of May 2022)
When forest and grass fire warnings (en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi) are in effect, fire is only allowed at covered campfire sites that have a flue. A fire can be also lit in fireplaces at wilderness and other huts. Always use extreme caution when handling fire. The one who lights a fire is always responsible for its safe use.
Except the “Prime minister’s” campfire site, all of our campfire sites marked on the map contain long firewood that hikers can saw and chop to make a campfire. Remember to check the Outdoor Etiquette for further info.
Read more about Koli National Park's maps and services.
Avoid Jerontie and Rantatie – it is always best to arrive via the alphalted Kolintie (Road 504)
(Updated 4th of May 2022)
We recommend arriving to Koli and Koli National Park always via asphalted Kolintie (Road 504). Navigators often recommend to use Jerontie (Road 15735) and Rantatie (Road 5046), but it is better to drive through Neste Kolinportti and Kolintie (Road 504).
Jerontie and Rantatie are challenging especially for big vehicles, such as caravans.
Read more about arriving to Koli.
When forest and grass fire warnings (en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi) are in effect, fire is only allowed at covered campfire sites that have a flue. A fire can be also lit in fireplaces at wilderness and other huts. Always use extreme caution when handling fire. The one who lights a fire is always responsible for its safe use. Please note, that making fire at these campfire sites can be banned locally. 
