Lauhanvuori National Park is home to the tallest point in Western Finland, which offers breathtaking views across the area. Maintained ski trails make the park a great destination in the winter too.
Parts of the park are closed to the public during certain times of the year. Please respect the signs!
Sights and Scenery
The observation tower on top of Lauhanvuori hill has views across wooded hillsides and dozens of miles of sprawling Ostrobothnian countryside, all the way to the coast. There are various geological treasures dating back to the Ice Age in the sunny pine woods on the hillsides and the dense spruce forest on the summit: ancient shorelines and vast boulder fields, the most magnificent of which, Kivijata, stretches across 800 metres.
There are also huge granite boulders on the lower slopes which have been left behind as the bedrock has weathered over the millennia. The best known of these rocks is Aumakivi, which is located in the southwestern corner of the park along the trail leading from Lauhanvuori to Lauhansarvi Nature Tourism Centre via Lake Spitaalijärvi.
Skiing
The park is excellent for skiing. There are cross-country ski trails running through the sunny pine woods (3 km, 5 km or 10 km) which join up with the ski trail network surrounding the park. The trails are maintained by Isojoki (isojoki.fi, in Finnish) and Kauhajoki (kauhajoki.fi, in Finnish) local authorities.
The best places to access the trail network are the intersection of road No 44 and Lauhanvuorentie road and Lauhansarvi Nature Tourism Centre. Ski trail maps are available on the websites of local authorities and from tour operators in the winter. Thanks to its topography, the park generally has snow even when the surrounding areas do not.
Other Activities
- Snowshoeing: Snowshoeing is another great way to explore the park in the winter.
- Nature Trail: Rantapolku Nature Trail (2.6 km) runs around the summit of Lauhanvuori hill and introduces visitors to the area's geology and flora as well as the effects of human activity.
- Pick Berries and Mushrooms: Treat yourself to the park's wild berries and mushrooms!
- Walk on Marked Trails: The park's terrain makes it an excellent destination for day trips. There are around 10 kilometres of marked trails as well as a wheelchair-accessible route (0.5 km) along the shores of Lake Spitaalijärvi. Kauhajoki (kauhajoki.fi, in Finnish) and Isojoki (isojoki.fi, in Finnish) local authorities also maintain several trails in the vicinity of the park.
- Mountain biking: The national cycling route No 47 passes through the park. The network of cycle paths follows old roads and connects Lauhanvuori National Park to Kauhaneva-Pohjankangas National Park. Mountain biking is allowed according to everyman's rights, except in the restricted areas. Always stay on clearly visible tracks and pay attention to other hikers.
- Swimming: There is no official beach in the park, but there is a jetty along the shores of Lake Spitaalijärvi which makes a good spot for swimming.