Hiking & outdoor recreationLength9.2 km
Duration(5-6 hours)
Degree of difficultyMedium
The Paljakka Strict Nature Reserve trail will take you deep into the spruce-dominated fell forests of the strict nature reserve, Kilpisuo mire and up to Leililampi Pond at the top of Holstinvaara fell.
Route marker in the terrain
Circle trailThis trail can be hiked in both directions.
Campfire siteIlveskota hut is at the beginning of the trail, outside the reserve.
Camping permittedCamping in the Paljakka Strict Nature Reserve is prohibited. Make sure that you know where the boundary of the reserve runs.
Dry toiletRemember to bring toilet paper.
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.
No water point
No winter maintenance
Contact information
Starting point: Pirunkirkko parking area, Holstintie 34, 89140 Kotila
From the Pirunkirkko parking area, follow Holstintie road south for 0.3 km until you reach the trailhead of the Ilveskierros trail on the left side of the road. Follow the Ilveskierros trail for approximately 2.5 km until you reach the starting point of the Pajakka Strict Nature Reserve trail.
The trail runs approximately 1.6 km towards Ilveskota hut in the pass between Holstinvaara and Latvavaara fells. There are no dry toilets or other hiking structures in the Paljakka Strict Nature Reserve, so you should stop at Ilveskota hut before entering the reserve.
The Pajakka Strict Nature Reserve trail starts from Ilveskota hut, from which the trail runs approximately 0.1 km until you arrive at the trail junction.
The Paljakka Strict Nature Reserve trail can be hiked in both directions, but there are some steeper climbs on the trail when going clockwise than when going counterclockwise. This trail description presents a counterclockwise route.
Turn right at the junction and follow the trail for approximately 1.3 km through the old-growth forests on the Holstinvaara fells until you reach the Kilpisuo mire. Along the trail, you may encounter, for example, individual trees knocked over by storms.
At Kilpisuo, the trail continues along duckboards between the Kilpisuo mire and the Aittarinta mire next to it on the lower slope. The length of the Kilpisuo section is approximately 0.4 km.
The trail then climbs from Kilpisuo to the forested slopes of the fell, winding up Holstinvaara fell from the north side of the mire. The distance to the summit of Holstinvaara and Leililampi pond is approximately 3.2 km.
The small pond of Leililampi sits nearly at the top of Holstinvaara fell, where there is a short trail offshoot about 10 metres in length from the trail.
After Leililampi Pond, the Strict Nature Reserve trail continues next to Vaaranpäällyssuo mire and descends back towards Ilveskota hut. The distance from Leililampi Pond to Ilveskota hut is approximately 1.5 km.
From the Ilveskota hut, return to the Pirunkirkko parking area along the same trail you started on, i.e. on the Ilveskierros trail.
End point: Pirunkirkko parking area, Pirunkirkko parking area, Holstintie 34, 89140 Kotila