Ruunaa Hiking Area Trails

A wooden suspension bridge crossing a rapid. The shores of the rapid are covered by a lush forest. The sky is clear.
A magnificent view over the rapids opens up from the Haapavitja suspension bridge. Photo: Heikki Räsänen.
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Steep drop at the rapids of Neitikoski is impressive. Photo: Metsähallitus.
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Special white water kayak in Neitikoski Rapids. Photo: Metsähallitus.
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The accessible Neitikoski trail invites everyone to enjoy the Ruunaa rapids. Photo: Heikki Räsänen.
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The size of the anthill is a wonder for hikers. Photo: Marja Lahti.
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School camp participants in Ruunaa. Photo: Heikki Räsänen.
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The Siikakoski skiing track. Photo: Heikki Räsänen.
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Skiers at Murrookoski Rapids. Photo: Heikki Räsänen.
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Skiers enjoying a break at the Siikakoski lean-to-shelter. Photo: Heikki Räsänen.
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Photo: Heikki Räsänen.

There are about 50 km of marked trails in Ruunaa Hiking Area. 

Easy Trails

The Accessible Neitikoski Trail, 600 m/Each Way

A demanding wheelchair route symbol. Hiking symbol. Fishing symbol. Sightseeing symbol. Campfire place symbol. Cooking shelter symbol. Toilet for the disabled symbol. Recycling symbol. Parking symbol.

People on an accessible wooden bridge. One person is pushing a stroller and two persons in wheelchairs are fishing from the bridge. A summery forest can be seen in the background.

When there is no snow on the ground, travel time 1h

Category: an easy trail , a demanding wheelchair trail 

Starting Point: Neitikoski Parking Area (excursionmap.fi)

Description of the Accessible Neitikoski Trail
 

Närelenkki Trail, 2 km Circle Trail

Access to nature trail symbol. Campfire place symbol. Cooking shelter symbol. Toilet for the disabled symbol. Recycling symbol. Parking symbol.

A creek flows through a dense, mossy forest.

When there is no snow on the ground, travel time 1h

Category: an easy trail 

Starting Point: Neitikoski Parking Area (excursionmap.fi)

Description of the Närelenkki Trail

Intermediate Trails

The Short Trails of Siikakoski, 3 km and 5 km Circle Trails

Hiking symbol. Sightseeing symbol. Fishing symbol. Campfire place symbol. Lean-to shelter symbol. Dry toilet symbol. Recycling symbol. Parking symbol.

Two fishermen wading by the shore of a rapid. A mist is hovering over the rapid and there is a summer forest by the shore.

When there is no snow on the ground. Travel time Siika - Murrookoski (5 km) 2h and Siikakoski (3 km) 1h 

Category: an intermediate trail 

Starting Point: Siikakoski Parking Area (excursionmap.fi)

Description of the Short Trails of Siikakoski

Demanding Routes

Vastuuniemen Kierros Trail, 11 km Circle Trail

Hiking symbol. Sightseeing symbol. Fishing symbol. Campfire place symbol. Lean-to shelter symbol. Dry toilet symbol. Suspension bridge symbol. Crossing boat symbol. Recycling symbol. Parking symbol.

When there is no snow on the ground. Hiking this trail takes 3 - 5 hours, depending on the choice of route, and the walking pace and fitness of the hiker.

Category: a demanding trail  

Starting Point: Siikakoski Parking Area (excursionmap.fi)

Description of the Vastuuniemen Kierros Trail

Neitijärven Kierros Trail, 22 km

Hiking symbol. Sightseeing symbol. Fishing symbol. Observation tower symbol. Campfire place symbol. Lean-to shelter symbol. Toilet for the disabled symbol. Dry toilet  Suspension bridge symbol. Crossing boat symbol. Recycling symbol. Parking symbol.

An autumn landscape photographed from a tall viewing point. There is a forest in autumn colours in the foreground and a calm lake can be seen behind the forest.

When there is no snow on the ground. It will take all day to hike this trail.

Category: a demanding trail  

Starting Point: Trail starts clockwise from the gravel road which turns off just before Neitikoski parking area (excursionmap.fi)

Description of the Neitijärven Kierros Trail

Koskikierros Circle Trail, 31 km

Hiking symbol. Sightseeing symbol. Fishing symbol.Observation tower symbol. Campfire place symbol. Lean-to shelter symbol. Toilet for the disabled symbol. Dry toilet symbol. Suspension bridge symbol. Recycling symbol. Parking symbol.

When there is no snow on the ground. You should reserve at least one whole day, preferably two.

Category: a demanding trail  

Starting Points: Neitikoski parking area (excursionmap.fi). Other good places to get onto the trail are the parking areas at Siikakoskentie road, Lake Neitijärvi and on the east and west sides of Haapavitja Rapids.

Description of the Koskikierros Circle Trail

Hiking Trails

Karhunpolku Trail, 133 km

The Town of Lieksa (lieksa.fi, in Finnish) is responsible for managing the trail, except in the Ruunaa Hiking Area, Ruunaa Nature Reserve and Patvinsuo National Park, which are run by Metsähallitus.

Route markings: yellow circles.

The regional 133 km hiking trail Karhunpolku (vaellus.info), runs through the Ruunaa Hiking Area and the western part of the Ruunaa Nature Reserve (21 km) from the border of Lieksa and Kuhmo to the Patvinsuo National Park.

Cross-country Skiing Trails, 30 km

Ski cross-country on maintained trails symbol. Sightseeing symbol. Campfire place symbol. Lean-to shelter symbol. Dry toilet symbol. Recycling symbol. Parking symbol.

Skiers on the lake ice. The sun is shining and the sky is clear.

Ruunaan Matkailu and Metsähallitus maintain about 30 km of skiing trails in Siikakoski - Murrookoski area. 

Starting Points: Ruunaa retkeilykeskus, Ruunaan Matkailu in Munkinvaara or Siikakoski Parking Area (excursionmap.fi).

Description of the Skiing Trails

Canoeing Routes

Canoeing symbol. Campfire place symbol. Lean-to shelter symbol. Dry toilet symbol. Recycling symbol. Parking symbol.

Lieksanjoki River is an excellent destination for rapids shooting as well as flat water paddling. The rapids belong to class II - III according to Finnish Canoe Federation. 

Different sections of the river, rapids and lakes provide alternative routes for canoeists with different levels of experience. The services along each route can be seen on the map of the Hiking Area.

Description of the Canoeing Routes

Snowmobile Tracks, 30 km

Snowmobiling symbol. Campfire place symbol. Lean-to shelter symbol. Dry toilet symbol.  

Two snowmobilers on a snowmobile trail. The terrain next to the trail is untouched and covered in a thick layer of snow.

A snowmobile route maintained by the North Karelia Association for Recreational Trails circles the Ruunaa Hiking Area (excursionmap.fi).

Snowmobiling on the routes is subject to the permission of the North Karelia Association for Recreational Trails. More information from the local snowmobiling association "Pohjois-Karjalan virkistysreitistö ry" (pohjoiskarjalankelkkaurat.fi, in Finnish).

Description of the Snowmobile Tracks