Hiking Trails
At Hämeenkangas, there is a trail network marked with symbols that is dozens of kilometres long. The trails run along paths and dirt roads and are either easy (blue circle) or intermediate (red square). If you are not very familiar with the Hämeenkangas area you should always have a good map with you.
Starting Points for Trails
The easiest starting points for summer hikes are the Jämi aviation and tourist centre or Kuninkaanlähde parking area. These points are also starting points for ski trails, as is Viidentienlaavu lean-to shelter on the south side of Niinisalo garrison. Address information:
- The Jämi aviation and tourist centre, Jämikeskus, Jämintie 648, Jämijärvi
- Kuninkaanlähde parking area, Kuninkaanlähteentie 442, Kankaanpää
- Viidentienlaavu, parking area, Kivistökankaantie 352, Kankaanpää
Nature Trails
The nature trail in the Hämeenkangas area has been marked with cone symbols in the terrain. If you are not very familiar with the Hämeenkangas area you should always have a good map with you.
- The esker nature trail, 4.5 km, presents the former uses of Hämeenkangas as well as the natural features and history of the area. The starting point is the Jämi Aviation and Tourist Centre. The nature trail runs through the gorgeous landscape of Soininharju Esker. The trail is easy, for the most part, and you can walk it in trainers. There are some differences in altitude along the trail. A path branches off from this trail. The path goes to the Koivistonvati ‘suppa' depression.
- Services: Jämi-Jukola lean-to shelter and the Niinikota Lapp ‘kota' hut.
- Sights: The small-leaved linden forest on Niiniharju Esker is a remnant of the heat wave after the Ice Age. Soininharju Esker – the highest point in Hämeenkangas.
- The Niinikota Lapp ‘kota' hut is suitable for the disabled.
Circle Trails
In the Hämeenkangas area, there is a comprehensive trail network marked with symbols in the terrain. The following is an example of a circle trail that you can make of the trails in the area:
- Koivistonkierros Trail, 4.5 km. The trail starts from the Niinikota Lapp ‘kota' hut and runs along Niiniharju Esker in the pine-dominated forest towards the Koivistonvati ‘suppa' depression and returns along the esker's northern slope. From this trail, there is a connection to the esker nature trail.
- Services: Starting and finishing point: Niinikota. The Koivistonvati cooking shelter and camping site, the Leirikoululaavu lean-to shelter, a dry toilet at Koivistonvati, a spring/well.
- Sights: The small-leaved linden forest on Niiniharju Esker is a remnant of the heat wave after the Ice Age. Koivistonvati – the largest ‘suppa' depression in the Hämeenkangas area.
- The Niinikota Lapp ‘kota' hut is suitable for the disabled.
Other Trails
Hämeenkangas provides marked trails for horse riding, Nordic walking and running.
Cross-country Skiing Trails
There is a network of over 100 km of ski trails in Hämeenkangas. The difficulty level of the cross-country skiing trails vary from easy to demanding and they can be skied using both classic and freestyle skiing. Some of the ski trails are lit. Most of the trails are in the area surrounding the Jämi aviation and tourist centre, the Viidentienristeys area and the Kuninkaanlähde area and they are all connected. There is also a connecting trail to Kankaanpää and a trail called Pirkan hiihto (pirkankierros.fi) from Niinisalo all the way to Tampere. At the Viidentienristeys crossroads, there is a skiing track where dogs are also allowed.
At the Jämi aviation and tourist centre the ski season continues long after the snows have melted. In Jämi 'the World of Snow' visitors can ski and enjoy other snow sports year-round. During the ski season there is a ski lift at Hämeenkangas.
Biking Trails
Two national cycling routes cross at Hämeenkangas. These are route 44 which heads south to north and route 23 heading east to west. The routes are marked on the Fillari GT2 cycling map. The local cycling route marked with symbols in the terrain runs along the Tour de Pirkka track from the Jämi Aviation and Tourist Centre to Kuninkaanlähde Spring.
