Winter hiking in Hossa National Park

Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife has restored two wilderness trails leading into Hossa National Park.
These wilderness routes are multi‑use trails and can be travelled until late April on foot, with snowshoes, skis or a fatbike. In April, the trail surface usually begins to soften, and at that time skiing or snowshoeing is typically the easiest way to move.

The Hossa Latupooli -team also maintains a few routes that function as multi‑purpose trails.
Please note: these routes are also used by dog sled teams. In meeting situations, dog sleds have the right of way.

Most likely, you will be able to walk these routes in winter:

• Värikallion erämaareitti
• Muikkupuron erämaareitti
• [Jatkon jotos (https://luontoon.fi/fi/reitit/jatkon-jotos-suomussalmi-10795)

Parking areas that are ploughed in winter are:

• Hossan luontokeskus pysäköintialue
• Hossalaislampi pysäköintialue
• Lihapyörre pysäköintialue

In and around Hossa National Park, there is a network of ski trails maintained by the local ski trail team.

You can find up‑to‑date ski trail information comprehensively at Fluent Outdoors - Suomussalmi.

If the parking area is maintained in winter and there is a campfire site nearby, the route from the parking area to the campfire site is usually packed down by visitors.
Please note that:

• Snowfall can quickly cover the routes, and warm weather may soften the edges of the paths, making them slushy and difficult to walk.
• Visitors are responsible for clearing snow from the campfire site themselves.
• Information on parking areas can be found in the first section of this news article. Winter maintenance details can also be found by clicking the parking area icon on the map. You can also check the information on the destination’s “How to get there” page.

Easily accessible campfire sites in winter:

• From the Hossa Visitor Centre, a trail usually becomes packed down leading to the accessible lean to shelter Huosilampi
• From the Hossalaislammet parking area, you can easily access the wilderness trail to the Muikkupuro lean to shelter
• From the Lihapyörre parking area, it is a short walk to the Lihapyörre lean-to shelter. or follow the wilderness trail to Värikallio.

There are no separately marked snowshoeing trails in Hossa. You can go snowshoeing anywhere, as long as you respect the restricted areas. The easiest option is to follow the summer hiking trails, where you can use the trail markers and be sure you are moving in safe terrain. Multi‑use and wilderness trails are also good for snowshoeing.

Please note that snowshoeing in deep snow can be physically demanding, so beginners should choose shorter routes.
When planning a snowshoeing trip, it is best to start by checking which parking areas are maintained in winter. You can do this by clicking the parking area icon on the map or by checking the information on the destination’s “How to get there” page.

• Walking and snowshoeing on ski trails is prohibited. Only skiing is allowed.
• Be careful on weak ice! You can read about ice safety on the Finnish Meteorological Institute’s website.
• Not all parking areas in Hossa National Park are maintained in winter.