Hepoköngäs Water Fall
One of the Finland's highest natural waterfalls, fall measures 24 metres in height.
- From the parking area there is a 600 metres long trail, which of 300 metres is covered by boards. At the end of the trail there is a lookout platform, from which there is a great view of the waterfall and the river valley. Place is also accessible.
- Another lookout platform is located lower in the terrain, so that the waterfall can be seen from downwards. An accessible trail, another 300 metres, leads to this platform.
- An accessible dry toilet and an information board can both be found at the parking area.
- Next to the first lookout platform there is an accessible campfire shelter, firewood shed and a dry toilet.
The Hepoköngäs waterfall changes its form in different seasons. During spring
Hepoköngäs Waterfall has in the past been a popular place for locals to gather during mid-Summer. Today people gather at the falls mainly in spring when there is a lot of water running down the steep rocks. Another popular visiting time is on Finland's Independence Day at which time the waterfall is illuminated.
"Hepo" is one of the Finnish nicknames for a horse. A horse could be an initiator for the waterfall's name: the fall is like a horse tail, and by the fall there is a rock, which reminds a horse head.
Log floatings in Heinijoki
In the early 1900s log floating was practiced along the River Heinijoki, which flows through the Hepoköngäs area. In the rocky and winding river wood broke and splintered and log floating was not profitable. Log floating ended here in 1941.
In the 1960's there were discussions of building an artificial pool over the fall and build a power station. Luckily, these plans were not implemented and the fall can still run free.
Hepököngäs is not the highest natural waterfall in Finland. The highest is Korkeakoski Falls at Maaninka in Eastern Finland. Its total drop measures 46 metres.
