Directions and arrival to Koli
Current on hiking
Arriving
Current on hiking in Koli
(Updated July 24 2024)
We are updating this article with current information about the hiking conditions, terrain services, and exceptional situations in Koli National Park.
Koli Trails
Hiking in Koli takes place in normal summer conditions. Choose good, sturdy, preferably high-top hiking boots for the hike.
The Herajärvi trail is a demanding hiking route during the thawed season. The route is challenging due to heavy ascents and steep descents.
The ferry at Sikosalmi, located in the southern part of Herajärvi, is in use. This means that the 35 km and 30 km Herajärvi trails are passable.
Travel on the trails of Koli National Park is at the hiker's own risk. Read more about our trails and also check the equipment rental opportunities from our partners.
We ask you to avoid hiking to the Tarhapuro waterfall. The area is heavily trampled and worn. The aim is for the vegetation in the area to recover so that the site can be reopened more sustainably in the future.
The Herajärvi Trail 30-60 kms
The Herajärvi Trail is a demanding hiking route. The route is challenging due to steep ascents and descents. The pull ferry at Sikosalmi in the southern part of Lake Herajärvi, at Kiviniemi, is in operation. This means that the Herajärvi Trail circuits of 35 km and 30 km can be hiked.
Movement on Koli's hiking trails is at the hiker's own risk. Read more about our trails and explore the equipment rental options provided by our partners.
We recommend arriving to Koli and Koli National Park always via asphalted Kolintie (Road 504). At spring the smaller roads could be in a bad shape due to melting snow and ice.
Rental huts
In Koli National Park, there are 11 rental cottages available for booking through the Metsähallitus Eräluvat online store. The online store will undergo renovations in 2024. Therefore, sales for the 2025 rental season will start exceptionally in November 2024.
You can find the rental calendars for 2024 and cottage presentations as usual at: nationalparks.fi/huts.
Campfire sites and fire making
Making a fire is not an everyman's right, and fires cannot be made anywhere and at any time.
- Fires are only allowed at designated, official campfire places marked with fire symbols on maps. Except the “Prime minister’s” campfire site, all of our campfire sites marked on the map should contain long firewood that hikers can saw and chop to make a campfire. Remember to check the Outdoor Etiquette for further info.
- The person who starts the fire is always responsible for its safety.
Read more about Koli National Park's maps and services.
Drinking water around Koli National Park
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 Herajärven kierros Trail and drinking water of Koli National Park.
Herajärven kierros Trail
The Herajärven kierros Trail is available to hikers during the snow-free season (about from June to October). The route is very demanding due to steep ascents and descents. Please carefully check additional details and tips about Herajärven kierros Trail.
Arrival
Public transportation
You can reach Koli using public transportation, including trains, buses, and taxis. Trains stop in Joensuu, where you can catch a bus and get off at Kolinportti or even to Koli. From Kolinportti to Koli, it is about 9 km; for the rest of the journey, it is advisable to order a taxi. For more information, visit the Arrival page.
Learn more about the possibilities of getting to Koli on the Arrival website and Koli Travel Ltd's How to Get to Koli page. Note that in the latter schedules, "hotel" or "Break Sokos Hotel Koli" refers to the hotel located at Koli Upper Yard, next to the Koli Nature Center Ukko. The same schedules apply to those arriving at or departing from the nature center.
By Car to Koli - Tips for Avoiding Traffic During the High Season
During the summer season, parking areas in Koli can become congested. During the summer, favor public transport and our other smaller parking areas.
Please note that overnight stays in our parking areas are prohibited. There are also services designed for caravans in the area.
You can also reach upper Koli with the scenic lift from the Ukko-Koli slopes parking area (Rantatie 27, Lieksa). There is plenty of free parking at the lower station of the lift. Check the operating times and prices of the scenic lift (koli.fi). More information about arriving at Koli.
For those arriving by car, we recommend coming to Koli via the asphalted Kolintie (road number 504), even if your navigator suggests otherwise. Jerontie (no. 15735) or Rantatie (no. 5046) are not paved, so they can be challenging, especially after heavy rains and for large vehicles.
Cruising to and from Koli
How about arriving the same way as the pioneers of Koli tourism did! You can reach Koli the same way as the pioneers of Finnish tourism, by train to Vuonislahti and by boat (Marival II) across Lake Pielinen to the Koli harbor. More information at koli.fi. Koli harbor restaurant provides services at the Koli harbor. From the harbor to the top of Koli, you can follow the Harbor Path, which has been walked since the late 1800s.
If you arrive in Koli by car to cruise on Lake Pielinen, visit the harbor, or walk the Harbor Path, note the new parking area located at the corner of Kolin Rantatie and Aamurannantie (Rantatie 6), about 500m before the Koli harbor when arriving from Koli village. There is no pedestrian path from the parking area to the harbor, so visitors must walk along the roadside with caution.
By public transportation to Koli National Park
(Updated 29th of September 2022)
Finland's most famous national landscapes can also be reached by train and bus.
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.
When wildfire 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. 
