Lakeland by Cycle: Vihreän Kulln Soratiekierros

Day 1: Viitasaari – Piispala Youth Centre (50km, elevation gain 600m)

The route starts from Viitasaari on a paved road first south and then west to the Blue Highway, a heavily-trafficked road section that the route tries to avoid by using old parallel roadbeds and gravel roads instead. Some of the roadbeds are partially paved with old asphalt while others are pure gravel.

The highlight of the day at the Huopanankoski rapids less than 20km from the starting point is the birthplace of Finnish fly-fishing culture and well-known for its salmons. The kiosk on the grounds is an excellent location for a break or for some lunch while one learns about the history of Huopanankoski on the culture trail around the rapids.

From Huopanankoski, the route parallels the edges of the Blue Highway. The southernmost section of the Green Gold Gravel Loop consists of fragments of asphalt and gravel roads. Even though the southern part has more asphalt, the roads are small and calm.

Thanks to easily-ridden road sections, the journey from Viitasaari is lighter than the other daily legs. The first overnight stay is at the Piispala Youth Centre before which the route passes by the Kannonkoski population centre with two shops, a restaurant in a gas station, and a bar.

The best campsite in the area is on the Isohiekka beach quite a bit off the route north of the Blue Highway. It is, however, well worth a detour if its location coincides with the need to set up camp.

Day 2: Piispala Youth Centre – Koirasalmi Nature Information Hut, Salamajärvi National Park (58km, elevation gain 1,170m)

The second day starts from the Piispala Youth Centre and is northbound while the proportion of gravel roads increases. The way to the population centre of Kivijärvi alternates between gravel and paved roads but is overall a nice stretch to ride. There are shops, restaurants, and a few alternatives for staying the night in Kivijärvi.

From Kivijärvi, the route switches to more remote gravel roads and continues north. Once more, the road surfaces vary a lot but coarse-crushed rock has been used only here and there. The rest of the surfaces is finer crushed rock and already compacted gravel. The single biggest elevation gains of the Green Gold Gravel Loop coincide with this day so progress is relatively slow.

The scenery becomes gradually more w-like due to the arrival in the national park of Lake Salamajärvi. The Koirasalmi nature information hut is an excellent location for an overnight stay but the lean-to shelter by the Heikinlampi pond has also place for a camper to pitch a tent. At Heikinlampi, one is very likely to get in touch with local culture since the site is a popular recreational fishing spot where an evening is easily spent sitting by a campfire.

Day 3: Koirasalmi Nature Information Hut – Kuivajärvi Conservation Area (66km, elevation gain 650m)

From Koirasalmi, the route continues on straight gravel roads to Kinnula. Some of them are covered with fine-crushed rock, and the thick dust cloud that rises when a car overtakes remains in the air for a while under dry weather. The early part of the route is mainly uphill yet the gravel road is easy to travel on and peaceful. It is a good idea to replenish food and drink supplies in Kinnula and to pay a visit to Kinnulan Parlamentti restaurant and café. The “representatives” who gather at this common living room of locals are well placed to tell you how the world turns.

From Kinnula, the route continues for 18km on an asphalt road after which nearly all of the remainder is on small roads. The Lake Kuivajärvi area is home to several separate nature reserves and to Metsähallitus-owned rental cabins in the middle of beautiful old forest scenery. Some of the cabins are easier to reach while others require walking the bike for a longer spell. Some of them have a sauna too so the challenge of unrideable stretches may well be more than worth the trouble.

Day 4: Kuivajärvi Nature Reserve Area – Haapajärvi (48km, elevation gain 450m)

From the Kuivajärvi area, there are a good 15km to Reisjärvi where food shops and restaurants can be found. On a summer day, there is an ice-cream stand open on the Reisjärvi beach so it is a fine place for a break. From Reisjärvi, the route continues on asphalt road but soon switches to nice gravel. The way back to Haapajärvi is easy gravel road. The last destination of the day is Kalaskivi, an erratic block that stands 8m tall and is 29m in circumference.

Day 5: Haapajärvi – Niemenharju Tourist Centre (83km, elevation gain 840m)

Before leaving Haapajärvi, it is a good idea to still check the drinking bottle and food situation since the next shop is 45km away and since there are no services whatsoever available in between.

One leaves Haapajärvi on bicycle paths toward beautiful field landscapes. After crossing the Haapajärvi bridge, the route soon changes into a wide gravel road surrounded by country landscapes in the form of fields and outbuildings. There is another bridge to cross right around a bend, and this time it is the Lemmensilta (“Love Bridge”) on the railings of which you can check out love locks.

After crossing the Lemmensilta bridge, the route continues on a wide gravel road in good condition to the Härkäaho rapids. The beautiful rapids are well worth photographing. The route does not follow the gravel road from there but turns downstream on a smaller trail instead. There is a beautiful verdant cart road bed with a trail that is easy to ride on. A magnificent short singletrack section to start quite a long daily leg with!

The route then crosses a railroad, and the occasional changes between gravel and pavement cease when the route switches to a remote gravel road. The road surface variations here bear witness to the active forest industry since this section also includes somewhat coarser-crushed rock colloquially known as “log truck gravel” or “sauna stone”. The bigger the wheel size of the bike and the nicer the progress. Fortunately, the condition of the gravel road improves closer to the population centre of Muurasjärvi.

In case of need to do some purchases at this stage of the journey, there is a charming village shop called MeiJän Kauppa (“Our Store”) in Muurasjärvi. The route does not pass by it so getting there requires a short extra leg of about 5km.

Before Muurasjärvi, the route turns to smaller gravel roads in the middle of country landscapes. The remaining 14km to Pihtipudas is paved roads. Before Pihtipudas, one can still swing by the lean-to at Heinäjoki, leave the bike there for a while, and visit the nature trail that begins from there.

Pihtipudas has lots of services available including basic equipment for a cycle too if needed. Apart from food shops, there are cafés and restaurants in the population centre. The daily leg still continues from Pihtipudas a bit further south to the Niemenharju Tourist Centre.

Day 6: Niemenharju Tourist Centre – Hännilänsalmi Camping (58km, elevation gain 600m)

From the Niemenharju Tourist Centre, the route continues on the last day of the Loop on a paved road in the midst of beautiful esker scenery. The paved road continues a little further on the occasionally heavily-trafficked Viitasaarentie road until the route switches to gravel for a good 5km before following the edge of the main road for another few kilometres.

It finally leaves the Pihtiputaantie for good east of Löytänä in favour of gravel roads. These are in good condition and their surfaces vary between sand and hardened clay. A beautiful and roomy campfire hut along the gravel road section serves as a location for a break in case of need. It is situated virtually on the top of a hill so the road from there to Viitasaari in the middle of country landscapes is mostly downhill.

Depleted drink and food supplies can be replenished in the centre of Viitasaari. This population centre has a nice range of services available, and the lean-to in Paniaisniemi and the swimming place in Hiekka are fine places for a pause. There are several restaurant options. The Lyhty Viitasaari in an old wooden schoolhouse and the Kontti for example are great alternatives of which the latter at least is worthy of a special mention.

A short trip on bicycle paths and on the Äänekoskentie road separates Viitasaari from the Hännilänsalmi Camping area if the plan is not to take the bike and hop straight away on a bus home.