Hiking & outdoor recreationLength38.4 km
The Herajärvenkierros route is enlivened by rocky hilltops, shady herb-rich forests and cultural landscapes. Hikers can stop at old farmyards, open fields or birch forests and catch a glimpse of the local history. The trail is demanding due to the differences in altitude, but if you are into even more challenging exercise, you can always increase your speed. This northern part of the trail is 35 km, the southern section is 30 km. The total length of the trail is 61 km, as the trails share a section of 4 km between Kiviniemi and Lakkala.
The Sikosalmi cable ferry along the Herajärvi Trail is in operation.
The Sikosalmi cable ferry at the southern end of Herajärvi, along the Herajärvi Trail, is back on the water after the winter. The southern and northern sections of the Herajärvi Trail can now be completed again as a circular route.
Hiking season of Herajärvenkierros Trail starts usually in May
Hiking on the Herajärvenkierros trail in Koli National Park and its surroundings becomes possible in the spring when the crossing at Sikosalmi melts enough for the pull ferry to be used. We will announce this on the Koli National Park's What's New page.
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Circle trailThe recommended direction of travel is counterclockwise.
Camping permittedCamping is only permitted at designated sites.
Remember to bring a trash bagThere are no waste bins on the trail. Bring along your own trash bag and take your waste out with you when leaving.
Water pointAlong the Herajärvi Trail, tap water is available from Koli Nature Centre Ukko (tap outside also).
Dry toilet
Contact information
Starting pointYlä-Kolintie 39, 83960 Koli
Koli Nature Centre Ukko - Ryläys Parking Area 6.2 km
Before heading for the Herajärven kierros Trail you should stop at the Koli Nature Centre Ukko to get maps, up-to-date information on the trail and useful tips from the guides, who will be happy to help you plan your hike. Right at the start of the trail you will face the national park's highest peaks, Ukko-Koli, Akka-Koli and Paha-Koli. After the hill peaks you will head for two clearings, Mäkränaho and Ikolanaho. Both clearings are maintained by mowing them in late summer. The clearings are home to a wide range of butterfly and plant species. The best time to see the field flowers in full bloom is mid-summer. There is a rental hut, a campfire site, a woodshed, a dry toilet and a well at Ikolanaho. From Ikolanaho the trail turns right towards the Myllypuro brook. After crossing Kotaniementie and passing the Peiponpelto parking area, the trail continues through a young pine forest and an old coniferous forest to the Myllykorpi mire. A 40-metre path from the trail leads to the mire, where there is an information board in Finnish, English and German. After Myllykorpi the trail runs through an old forest to Myllyvaara Hill, after which, if you wish, you can take a kilometre-long trail off the main trail to the Myllypuro camping site, which has a dry toilet, a campfire site and a woodshed. After crossing the Myllypuro brook the trail runs over private land.
Ryläys Parking Area - Kiviniemi 12.6 km
The section from the Ryläys parking area to Kiviniemi is one of the pearls of the trail with diverse nature and great differences in altitude. The trail runs through a forest dominated by deciduous trees to lookout points, onto rocks, to small wetland areas and into a magnificent spruce forest. You will first climb Mörkövaara Hill, which offers a splendid view over the area. There is a small brook by the Mörkölampi pond, and behind the pond there is a spring - please note that the spring water in not safe to drink. A wooden viewing tower in an autumnal landscape.There is a spacious campfire hut suitable for overnight stays, a campfire site, a woodshed and a dry toilet at Ryläys. Some 500 metres from the hut you will find the Ryläys observation tower, which, in bright weather, offers a view all the way to Joensuu, Uimaharju and Outokumpu. On the Ryläys slope descending towards the north-east there is a 150-metre long, 30-metre wide boulder field called the Ryläys "stonefall". It was formed in the final stage of the Ice Age when the rock that had tumbled down onto the melting ice slid along the ice down the slope. After Ryläys you will pass the Koukkelonrinne brook and reach the old-growth forests of Koukkelonrinne and Huurunrinne. From the top of Ikosenvaara Hill you will be able see far across to the horizon. After passing the Pitkälampi pond the trail ascends Sammakkovaara Hill and then descends to Sammakkouuro, a gorge that has a small stream running along the bottom. After Sammakkouuro the trail runs through a residential area and then crosses Heraniementie. The climb to Kolinvaara Hill starts through an old spruce forest and agricultural land. The River Pusonjoki is crossed via a bridge. The climb is steep, but the scenery is rewarding: the Herajoki and Pusonjoki rivers and Lake Pielinen crown the view opening up from the top. From Kolinvaara Hill you will descend towards the shore of Lake Herajärvi. After crossing Mustalahdentie you will reach a sauna that is available for all hikers to use, and soon after that, a two-sided lean-to shelter.
Sikosalmi pull ferry
Immediately after Kiviniemi, there is the crossing of Sikosalmi with a pull ferry. The ferry is pulled to its dock using a cable if necessary, then you step onto the ferry and continue the journey to the opposite shore by hand. For safety reasons, the backpack must be taken off during the crossing. The ferry can be used by a maximum of three people at a time. In winter, the ferry is out of service. It is advisable to check the status of the ferry on the Koli National Park's What's New page or at the Ukko Nature Center if hiking early in the spring or late in the fall.
Kiviniemi - Lakkala 4 km
From Kiviniemi to Lakkala you will walk through splendid lake scenery. Right after Kiviniemi you will need to cross the Sikosalmi inlet on a rope-pulley ferry. If it is on the other side, you must first pull the ferry to the jetty on your side of the inlet, then step on board and use your arm muscles to get to the opposite shore. For safety reasons, you must take your backpack off while crossing the inlet. The ferry may only be boarded by three people at a time and it is not available in the winter. If you are hiking early in the spring or late in the autumn, you should check the ferry's availability at the Koli Nature Centre Ukko. There is a footbridge across the River Orivirta, and after that the trail will re-enter the Koli National Park area. You can camp, eat your packed lunch and go for a swim in the vicinity of Lakkala farm. There is no official beach. The campfire site, camping site, woodshed and dry toilet are located behind the main building by Lake Herajärvi. The water of the Lakkala well is not safe to drink. Instead, water can be fetched from the well at Seppälä farm less than two kilometres away or from the lake. The surface water from the lakes, rivers and brooks must be boiled before use. Water in the springs and running water in the brooks is usually good for drinking. However, the quality of the water cannot be monitored, so the use of natural water is at your own risk. In the summer, the Lakkala grounds are maintained by grazing sheep surrounded by traditional round-pole fences.
Lakkala - Havukanaho 7.1 km
The trail continues from Lakkala towards the north. After the Törisevä mire and mire meadow there is a path on the left to the Metsäpirtti rental hut, located 500 metres from the trail. After Törisevä you will walk through an old-growth forest dominated by spruces and pass the Karttusenlampi pond. At the Turusenautio clearing you will see the remains of an old house. The clearing landscape is managed by mowing. Off Turusenautio there is a kilometre-long trail to the Soikkeli rental hut and a 0.9-km trail to Ylä-Murhi, where there is a rental hut, a camping site, a dry toilet, a campfire site and a woodshed. A panoramic view of an autumnal landscape with a lake.From Turusenautio the trail continues towards the Pitkälampi pond and its lakeside picnic shelter and dry toilet. After Pitkälampi the trail runs along the same route as the Kiehisen kierros Trail to Jauholanvaara Hill, which offers one of the best views in Koli National Park: the glistening Lake Pielinen in the east and the wide open view over Lake Herajärvi in the west. From Jauholanvaara Hill you can take a kilometre-long trail along the Kiehisen kierros Trail to Pirunkirkko, which is a 33-metre deep cave near Kolin Rantatie. The Herajärven kierros Trail continues its circular route from Jauholanvaara Hill towards Havukanaho. The Havukankorpi picnic shelter is located 400 m before Havukanaho. There is a dry toilet at the picnic shelter, which is located in a hollow; the small stream at the bottom may dry up in the summer. The diversity of the plant and butterfly species at Havukanaho is one of the widest in Koli National Park. There are also the remains of an old residential building at Havukanaho.
Havukanaho - Koli Nature Centre Ukko 5.6 km
From Havukanaho the trail continues along Kolin Rantatie and Kehätie and then turns right off the road and starts to ascend towards Mäkrävaara Hill. There is a 1.5-km trail off the main trail to the Mäkränmaja rental hut. From Mäkrävaara Hill you will have an open view towards both the east and the west. There is a huge erratic boulder on the top of the hill. There is a famous Finnish painting by Eero Järnefelt that depicts an autumn scene from Mäkrä towards Ukko-Koli Hill. From Mäkrävaara Hill the trail descends to Purolanaho, a clearing managed by mowing, and continues to Mäkränaho, another managed clearing. The Tarhapuro waterfall is well worth a visit early in the spring, and in the autumn if it has been rainy. There is a 0.9-km trail off the main trail to the waterfall. From Mäkränaho the trail ascends Koli's highest peaks: Paha-Koli, Akka-Koli and Ukko-Koli. An easier route diverts to the left after Mäkränaho and continues straight to the Koli Nature Centre Ukko's P2 parking area.
End pointYlä-Kolintie 39, 83960 Koli