Hiking & outdoor recreationLength3,7 km
Duration(1,5 hours)
Degree of difficultyHard
Kulhanvuori is a peaceful day trip destination for those seeking ridge and gorge landscapes. The area offers excellent opportunities for hiking, berry picking, and mushroom foraging. The mountain and its surrounding ridges, streams, ponds, and Syväojanrotko gorge make the terrain challenging in places. The 500-meter path from the parking area to the vicinity of Kulhanvuori's campfire site is accessible with the assistance of a companion. The highest point of Kulhanvuori rises to 260 meters above sea level. In the terrain, it stands out as a prominent conical mountain, 60 meters higher than the surrounding areas. At the bottom of Syväojanrotko gorge, the ground is consistently moist and windless. On the shaded cliffs, remnants of the winter's impressive ice walls can still be found in July. Even rare plants and animals thrive in the environment, which offers plenty of deadwood and moist rock cliffs.
- Ridge and gorge landscapes.
- The walls of Syväojanrotko rise almost vertically to the level of the treetops. In spring, impressive ice formations cover the rock walls.
- On the southern slope, at an altitude of 223 meters, there is a stone belt washed by ancient sea waves.
- Kulhankosken rannalla näkee jäänteitä uittoränneistä ja joen keskellä on myllynkivi.
- Area 515 ha, established in 1994.
Route marker in the terrain
Dry toiletRemember to bring toilet paper.
Camping not permitted
No winter maintenance
No water point
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.
Campfire siteAlways check for any wildfire warnings in effect before making a fire.
Contact information
The Kulhanvuori nature trail, 3.2 km (total 4.2 km), starts from the Kulhanvuori campfire site by the shore of Iso-Musta lake.
From the parking area to the Kulhanvuori campfire site, there is a 500-meter walk along the regional trail, which increases the total walking distance to 4.2 kilometers. The nature trail is marked in the terrain with orange paint markings.
The path is partially difficult to traverse due to steep hills. The descent to Syväojanrotko is particularly challenging because of the steepness and unevenness of the path. The mound-like Kulhanvuori rises 60 meters above its surroundings, with an elevation of 260 meters above sea level. Kulhanvuori is part of a 7 km long southeast-northwest oriented ridge formed during the Ice Age.
In the small Kulhankoski, there are signs of logging and timber floating activities carried out in the area; along the riverbanks, there are remnants of timber floating chutes. On the riverbed lies a millstone as a reminder of the mill's operation along the river.
The high Kulhanvuori has been used as an observation point. Today, remnants of a dismantled triangulation tower, which was needed for mapping, can be seen at its summit. Previously, a Russian measurement and surveillance tower stood at the site. Similarly, the sheltered Syväojanrotko is known to have served as a hiding place for villagers during the Finnish War in the early 1800s.
The walls of Syväojanrotko rise almost vertically to the level of the treetops. At the bottom of the gorge, there is a rocky area through which the Syväoja stream flows. The gorge is about one kilometer long and up to twenty meters deep. The walls of the gorge are as different as night and day. While the northeastern wall is bathed in sunlight, the southwestern wall remains moist and cold. During winter, a magnificent ice wall forms on this shaded side, with remnants visible even in July. The terrain at the bottom of the gorge remains consistently moist and windless.
Along the nature trail, there are informational signs that introduce the nature and history of Kulhanvuori.