Kauhaneva-Pohjankangas National Park Trails

Kauhaneva-Pohjankangas National Park is ideal for both a day trips and camping. Two circle trails of different types introduce visitors to the diverse nature of the area.

Circle trails

Kauhalammin kierros, 2.7 km circle trail

In the snow-free season, walking time 2 hours.
An easy trail.

Kauhalammin kierros trail brings you to the very essence of the mire. The trail introduces visitors to the geology, nature and cultural history of raised bogs and is one of the finest duckboard paths in Southern Finland. Magnificent mire landscapes can be admired from a viewing tower on the way.

Starting points
The trail has two official starting points: 
Starting point 1, address: Nummikangas Kyrönkangas museum road, Kauhajoki (pdf, julkaisut.metsa.fi, in Finnish) 
Coordinates: (WGS84) N62° 12.9374' E22° 26.8403' 
Starting point 2, address: Salomaa Kyrönkankaantie 357, Karvia (pdf, julkaisut.metsa.fi, in Finnish)
Coordinates: (WGS84) N62° 11.6893' E22° 26.9694' 

Hiking structures
Campfire sites, dry toilets and wells in Salomaa and Nummikangas. The water in Salomaa well should be boiled before drinking. There is also an area for tents and an accessible dry toilet in Salomaa. Please bring your own toilet paper. 

Sights
Kauhaneva-Pohjankangas National Park is one of the most unspoilt wilderness destinations in Southern Finland with its mires and arid pine heaths. The best views over Kauhaneva raised bog can be enjoyed from the viewing tower in Nummikangas.

Route description
The trail is marked with signposts. From Salomaa parking area, the trail follows a forest path to a campfire site. The trail continues with a duckboard section of 1.6 km across the open mires of Kauhaneva. The landscape gradually becomes lusher and contains more open water. The final part of the trail passes through a wooded area where, instead of duckboards, visitors walk along forest paths and Kyrönkangas summer road. If you wish, you can take a detour to the nature tower located a short distance from Nummikangas. The trail can also be walked in the opposite direction. In case of flooding, waterproof footwear is recommended on the section between Kauhalammi and Salomaa.

Katikankanjoni, 2 km circle trail

In the snow-free season, walking time 1 to 2 hours.
A challenging trail.

Katikankanjonin polku trail leads visitors to a mysterious ravine eroded by flowing water and shaded by spruce forests. Over 9,000 years, streams have gouged their way through the sandy heath and carried away enormous quantities of soil. What remains is a network of 20-metre canyons with exceptionally steep walls.

Starting point 
Address: Katikankanjoni parking area, Kiviluomantie 461, 61950 Juonikylä (Kauhajoki) (pdf, julkaisut.metsa.fi, in Finnish)
Coordinates: (WGS84) N62° 14.3616' E 22° 19.4232'

Hiking structures
Katikanluoma lean-to shelter, campfire site and dry toilet. Please bring your own toilet paper.

Sights
Katikankanjoni canyons and steep slopes. Kolmentuulenlakki sand ridge.

Route description
The trail is marked with signposts. It takes in the slopes and valleys of Katinkankanjoni. While the path has been levelled, there are a few extremely steep slopes on the way. Rather than steps, a rope is provided for support on these sections. The trail goes through dry heath terrain, with duckboards to take visitors across a few wet areas. The trail crosses Katinkaluoma stream along sturdy bridges. 

Cycling trails

National cycling trail no 44 goes along Kyrönkangas summer road through Kauhaneva-Pohjankangas National Park. Kyrönkangas summer road is an unpaved museum road. National cycling trail no 47 leads to nearby Lauhanvuori National Park. Trail 47 joins route 44 in Kantti village, Karvia. The national cycling trails are marked with brown signs of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency.