Pitämävaaran lenkki

Starting pointSyötteen luontokeskus, Erätie 1, 93280 Syöte

Starting point

Kansallispuiston portti - Syötteentien latusilta

The Pitämivaara loop begins at the main entrance gate of the national park, where you turn right toward Luppovesi. The first 2.4 kilometers of the route follow a wide gravel-covered fitness trail. Along this stretch, you’ll cross Pärjänjoentie and Syötteentie via wooden ski bridges. The route also passes by Luppovesi, where Syöte’s public beach is located.

After crossing Syötteentie, the trail narrows into a gravel path, which continues for 400 meters before reaching a junction. From there, turn left onto the ski bridge crossing Syötekyläntie. The ascent and descent of the bridge are steep in profile.

Syötekyläntien latusilta - Myllyn laavu

After crossing the bridge, the route follows the Iso-Syöte–Kelosyöte ski trail base for 6.2 kilometers. This section begins with a boardwalk crossing over the Syötesuo mire, after which the climb to Pikku-Syöte begins. The ascent gains 95 meters over approximately two kilometers. After the climb, the route passes the lower station of the Pikku-Syöte ski slopes and continues across Pikkusyötteentie into a short uphill, followed by a 1.4-kilometer descent to Kelosyöte. During the descent, the route passes under Näköalatie through a tunnel, with a total descent of 70 meters.

At Kelosyöte, you’ll reach a junction where the Pitämivaara loop and the Toraslampi trail diverge. From the junction, turn right and follow the Kelosyöte ski trail base that runs along the shore of Kovalampi. From the lakeshore, there’s one hill to climb, after which you make a sharp right turn onto the Mylly loop trail base. Follow this to Myllynlaavu, where you can take a break. This section is two kilometers long, with a sandy and easy trail surface. There are few elevation changes, although there is a steep descent just before Myllynlaavu.

Myllyn laavu - Portinojan laavu

Myllypuro is crossed at the shelter via a ski bridge, after which the route soon diverges from the Mylly trail and heads toward the Säkkinen ponds. At this point, the wide ski trail base changes to a narrow needle-covered path, which is mostly easy with a sandy surface. However, there are a few rocky and technical sections, especially right after leaving the ski trail. Säkkinen brook is crossed via a boardwalk, after which the route crosses a forest road and arrives at the shore of the Säkkinen ponds. Here, the pine forest gives way to spruce, and the trail becomes wetter and more root-covered. After passing the ponds, the route ascends Pitämävaara from the east, reaching a junction where the Pitämävaara loop separates from the mountain biking trail leading to Taivalkoski. The 2.5-kilometer section between the Säkkinen ponds and the junction includes 65 meters of elevation gain.

After the junction, the route follows the municipal border between Pudasjärvi and Taivalkoski. This section is characterized by steep and short descents immediately followed by steep and short climbs. After about one kilometer, the trail turns right and begins descending from Pitämivaara toward the Portinoja shelter. The path starts as a fairly easy needle-covered trail but becomes noticeably rockier and more technical lower down the hillside. The descent covers 85 meters over approximately 1.7 kilometers. The final part of the descent is steep and is followed by a short, steep, and rocky climb. Just before reaching the Portinoja shelter, the trail becomes easier and transitions to a gravel surface. The distance between the Mylly shelter and the Portinoja shelter is 8.2 kilometers.

Portinojan laavu - Huuhkasen laavu

At the Portinoja shelter, you can take a break for snacks and use the toilet. After the shelter, the trail continues as a gravel path that is occasionally root-covered, until it turns back into a sandy natural trail in the Portinmännikkö area. After crossing Portinmännikkö, the route descends to a forest road, beginning a 1.6-kilometer road section. This ends with a left turn and a descent followed by a climb to Ahvenvaara. At this point, the trail once again becomes a needle-covered path.

At Ahvenvaara, the route intersects with the Harjujen Kierros trail. If your legs are feeling tired, you can shortcut back to Syöte by turning right at the junction and following the Harjujen Kierros. Otherwise, continue forward and begin a fast-paced descent from Ahvenvaara. The terrain in this section is rolling, with elevation changes reaching up to about 35 meters. After crossing the Huuhkanen bridge, there is a short boardwalk section followed by a steep sandy climb. The route passes the Huuhkanen shelter, where you can take a break and enjoy a campfire. Note that there is no toilet at the shelter. The distance between the Portinoja and Huuhkanen shelters is 8.1 kilometers.

Huuhkasen laavu - Syötekyläntien latusilta

After the shelter, the trail continues as a sandy, needle-covered path through rolling terrain. The uphills and downhills are not long, but some are quite steep. After the second crossing of Näköalatie, the terrain becomes flatter and the trail wetter. This section includes small mires and ditches, which are crossed via boardwalks. Upon reaching Valkamantie, turn right and follow the road to the bridge crossing the Naamankajoki River, after which the route crosses Syötekyläntie.

After crossing Syötekyläntie, the trail climbs up to Pytkynharju, gaining 25 meters of elevation over 200 meters. The path is also partly rocky and technical. At the top of the ridge, the terrain levels out, alternating between rocky ascents and descents. After riding 1.5 kilometers along the ridge, the route joins the Syöte Loop at a junction, where you turn right. This junction is followed by a fast descent on a gravel-covered trail that leads to a boardwalk section. After crossing the boardwalks, the trail climbs a steep hill that becomes steeper toward the top. Immediately after the climb, there is a steep descent and a stream crossing via a bridge.

After crossing the stream, the 500-meter Riihisuo section begins, which is traversed via triple-plank boardwalks and gravel-covered trail. The boardwalks include widened passing spots.

After Riihisuo, the route continues mostly along a gravel-covered trail through spruce forest before reaching the same junction where the trail previously split before the ski bridge crossing Syötekyläntie. The final section of the route follows the same path as the beginning.

End pointSyötteen luontokeskus, Erätie 1, 93280 Syöte

End point