Hiking & outdoor recreationLength10,3 km
The Vastuuniemen kierros is a shorter version of the Koskikierros. This route variation focuses on the southern parts of the hiking area. Adding a bit of spice and a slight increase in difficulty and atmosphere to the Vastuuniemen kierros is the crossing of the water by rowboat. The crossing boats are available from May until the end of October. At the beginning and end of the season, information about the crossing boats can be checked on the Ruunaa Hiking Area's Current Information page.
The construction project at the Neitikoski parking area will be completed during Midsummer week, after which work will move to Siikakoskenniska
During Midsummer week, final touches will be made at the Neitikoski parking area, such as surface sweeping and patching of the old pavement. At the same time, the boat launch area at Kirppuvirta will also be finalized. From midweek onwards, work will shift to Siikakoskenniska, and access to the Siikakoski shoreline through the construction site will be restricted during the construction period.
Read more
Route marker in the terrain
Circle trail
The trail can only be used during the snow-free seasonThe crossing boats are available from May until the end of October.
Camping permitted
Campfire site
Dry toilet
Contact information
The route starts counterclockwise from the parking area at the end of Siikakoskentie, where there is also a campfire site. The route ends at the same place. The Vastuuniemen kierros Trail is marked with a yellow circle on the signposts. All hiking trails in Ruunaa are marked in the terrain with yellow paint markings.
The path follows the banks of Siikakoski and reaches the suspension bridge crossing the river, which is 0.8 km away. After the suspension bridge, you can either follow the fishing trail along the riverbank or the main route. Both paths lead to the next Murroopuro campfire site, which is about a kilometer away. The fishing trail turns left immediately after the bridge, while the main route continues up the riverbank and then turns left. 50 meters upstream from the bridge is the Horka lean-to shelter on the riverbank.
0.5 km from the campfire site, below Murrookoski, is the Murroonsuvanto lean-to shelter. 0.1 km from the lean-to, it is again possible to take the fishing trail along the riverbank (1.3 km), which passes through Murrookoski and also has the Murroonkangas campfire site along the way. The main route goes straight through the pine heaths to the next junction, 0.6 km away. Turn left at the junction. The route continues for 0.5 km to the water crossing point at Vastuuniemi on Murroojärvi, where the Murroojärvi lean-to shelter is located on the east bank before the crossing.
The rowing distance at the crossing point is about 120 meters in one direction. Crossing takes about half an hour when rowing alone, as you need to row across the river three times. First, row from the east bank to the west bank and tow the boat on the west bank. Return to the east bank and leave the second boat for the next crosser. Then row back to the west bank, from where the journey continues.
The Vastuuniemi Trail can be continued as the Rapids Trail on the east side of Murroojärvi by turning right at the boat crossing junction. The route can also be continued as the Rapids Trail on the west side of Murroojärvi after the water crossing. Follow the Vastuuniemi Trail for 0.6 km, but turn right at the junction. Four kilometers ahead is the next junction, where the Karhunpolku trail also joins the Koskikierros.
From the crossing point, the route continues for 0.6 km along the road, then turns left. At the next junction, 0.9 km away, turn left again and continue for 2 km, after which you have the option to choose between two routes. The main route (11 km) continues straight, along the lake shore, through Murrookoski, and on to Siikakoski, then back to the starting point. The shorter route (10 km) turns right, crossing bogs and pine heaths, leading directly to the Siikakoski parking area. The rest stops along the main route from the junction are: Niskalahti campfire site 0.3 km, Murrookoski lean-to 0.8 km from the previous stop, Uittopato campfire site on a small island 0.8 km from Murrookoski lean-to shelteri , Siikakoski lean-to 0.3 km from Uittopato campfire site. From Siikakoski lean-to shelter, it is 1 km back to the starting point.