Warnings
Directions and arrival to Koli
Current on hiking
Koli Nature Centre Ukko
With big vehicles, avoid Jerontie and Rantatie – arrive via the alphalted Kolintie (Road 504)
(Updated 19th of January 2023)
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). On Jerontie and Rantatie there is no pavement, so they might be challenging especially for big vehicles, such as caravans.
Read more about arriving to Koli.
Current hiking conditions on Koli National Park's trails
(Updated 19th of January 2023)
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.
Conditions on Trails
There is no winter maintenance on our trails. Some of the most visited trails near Koli Nature Centre Ukko might be walkable with studded shoes or ice spikes. Check the weather, day length and snow depth (en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi) before your trip.
The trails of Koli National Park are mostly demanding due to rocks, roots and high hills. Moving on the trails of Koli National Park is done at the hiker's own responsibility. Read more about our trails and check out the equipment rental opportunities offered by our partners.
The Herajärven kierros 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 at Herajoki. The Sikosalmi rope-pulley ferry is already frozen and not usable.
Snowshoeing in Koli
(Updated 23th of January 2023)
The Snowshoeing Trail of the Tops is now available for winter season 2022–2023. The trail is marked with blue reflectors and its recommended direction is counterclockwise. Please note that the trail is suitable only for snowshoeing. Check the trail brochure and map of Snowshoeing Trail of the Tops.
Winter hiking tips from our customer advisors
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.
Campfire sites and fire making
Always check the warnings (en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi) before making fire. 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 should 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.
Exhibition applications for the upper lobby of Kolin Nature Center Ukko for 2024 are open
(Updated 1st of January 2023)
The exhibition applications for the upper lobby of Kolin Nature Center Ukko for the year 2024 is open from 1st of January to 31th of January 2023. Read more.
The Sikosalmi rope-pulley ferry at Herajärven kierros Trail is not available
(Updated 18th of November 2022)
Sikosalmi strait is starting to freeze. The rope-pulley ferry located in Sikosalmi strait has frozen to the Ahosaari island's side, and the ferry is not available anymore. The ferry will be available when the ice melts, about in middle May. Please notice, that Herajärven kierros Trail is a demanding hiking trail available to hikers during the snow-free season. There is no winter maintenance on the trail.
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.
Check the forest fire warning and the weather before your trip
(Updated 11th of August 2022)
Check the weather and warnings in effect (en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi) always before your trip.
- At thunder, one must avoid open terrain and high hills.
- When forest and grass fire warnings 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 huts and rental huts.
- Always use extreme caution when handling fire. The one who lights a fire is always responsible for its safe use.
