Hiking & outdoor recreationLength7,8 km
Duration(2-3 h)
Degree of difficultyEasy
Tunturiaapa Nature Trail leads you through forests to the most beautiful mire in Pyhä-Luosto National Park. Birdsong, the colors and scents of the vegetation, and watery mire pools reflecting the sky captivate visitors, while a stunning view of the fells opens across the mire towards the park’s southernmost peaks. The trail consists mostly of flat, easy-to-walk gravel paths and duckboards over the mire, with stairs in steeper sections. In dry summer or autumn weather, sneakers are suitable; during spring floods, rubber boots or waterproof hiking shoes may be needed. In winter, the Tunturiaapa Nature Trail serves as a snowshoeing route. There are two rest areas along the trail, accessible with a stroller to a reasonable extent. Along the path, you will find information boards about the area's nature and geology.
Route marker in the terrain
Circle trailPartial circle trail. Can be walked in both directions; the trail description is clockwise.
Campfire siteAlways check for any wildfire warnings in effect before making a fire.
Camping permittedCamping is allowed in the immediate vicinity of marked campfire sites.
Dry toiletRemember to bring toilet paper.
No water pointThere is a signposted spring near Tiaislaavu lean-to shelter; boil the water before use.
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 winter maintenanceThe trail is a snowshoeing trail in winter. Part of the trail is in winter also a maintained multi-use trail.
Contact information
Starting pointVisitor Centre Naava parking area
The trail begins with a 0.7 km paved walkway along Pyhäntie road marked with blue squares on poles. Brown metal signs direct you towards the national park.
At the Kerontie road junction, the trail turns into the terrain and becomes a wide path. Signposts show the names of rest areas or destinations. The trail name also appears on several signs. Blue square markers are primarily on trees.
After 0.2 km, you enter the national park, and the gravel path runs through varied pine forest terrain for 0.9 km.
At a signposted junction, turn towards Tiaislaavu lean-to shelter and Tunturiaapa. The easy trail continues through gently rolling forests for 0.9 km. As you approach the mire’s edge, the forest thins. Reaching the Tiaislaavu rest spot, you cross a 70 m wide plank walkway with a fine view of Ukonhattu fell.
Tiaislaavu
Tiaislaavu lean-to shelter near Tunturiaapa mire.
From Tiaislaavu lean-to shelter, the nature trail follows the forest edge of the forest surrounding the mire. About 400 meters ahead, a separate duckboard trail leads onto the mire, accessed via short metal-grated steps. These steps do not have treads suitable for dogs, but dogs can walk alongside the steps. The one-way boardwalk trail across the bog is 0.5 km long. If you prefer not to enter the mire, continue along the main trail.
As you approach the mire’s center, the outer fen transitions to a wetter bog, marked by watery pools and drier ridges. At the end of the duckboard trail, there is a viewing platform where you can rest and admire one of the most iconic and beautiful views in the national park, with the southernmost Pyhä-Luosto fells rising as a panoramic backdrop. Return along the same route back to the forest edge and the nature trail.
At a signposted junction, the nature trail continues into the forest towards Isokuru gorge and Oravalampi pond. Alternatively, you can return to Tiaislaavu lean-to shelter via a gravel path along the forest edge.
The nature trail continues as a wide, easy path through the forest for 0.8 km, occasionally dipping into a lush, spruce-filled hollow with a small stream. A metal-grated walkway (with a narrow section for dogs) spans this area, with short metal-grated stairs at both ends (no wooden steps for dogs, but dogs can walk alongside).
At a signposted junction, turn right towards Isokuru and the Visitor Centre Naava. The broad, easy path follows the slopes of Ukonhattu for 0.5 km.
At the south end of Isokuru, descend approximately 30-meter-long, steep metal-grated stairs with a narrow section for dogs. At the base, the trail continues as a wide plank walkway for 50 m, then turns left towards Isokuru gorge, running alongside a rocky slope for about 90 m, before reaching a signposted junction with a widened walkway and a bench; opposite the bench, a long staircase ascends a steep slope.
To extend your hike, you can continue on the walkway further into Isokuru gorge and return; for example, the distance to Pyhänkasteenputous waterfall and back to the staircase base is about 2.8 km.
Continue on the Tunturiaapa Nature Trail by climbing the approximately 200 metal-grated steps (with a narrow wood-covered section for dogs). The ascent is the most demanding part of the trail, but a scenic resting platform halfway offers a break. At the top of the stairs awaits the second rest spot of the trail.
Isokuru laavu
Isokuru campfire shelter.
For the shortest return to the starting point at the Visitor Centre Naava (about 2 km), continue along the gravel trail through the forest towards Tiaislaavu lean-to shelter, away from the fells.
To complete the full nature trail, continue past the rest area along a broad gravel trail beside the fell. This section passes through old-growth forests with towering pines and silver-gray deadwood.
After 0.7 km, you reach a signposted junction where the trail makes a sharp right turn. The gravel section descends gently through pine forest for 0.5 km. The surrounding terrain of Isokurunkangas features kettle holes, remnants of the Ice Age.
After the descent, you return to a familiar signposted junction from earlier in the hike. Here, the circular section of the nature trail ends, and the remaining stretch follows the same easy path and walkway as the outward journey, with signs pointing towards the Visitor Centre Naava.
End pointVisitor Centre Naava parking area