Isojärvi National Park Trails

Starting Points for Trails

Kannuslahti Accessible Trail, 500 m / each way

A demanding accessible route symbol. Toilet for the disabled symbol.

Time required: 1 h, no winter maintenance
Demanding accessible nature trail.

Behind the Heretty cabin, there is a flat and wide forest trail leading to the shore of Lake Kurkijärvi. There is a pleasant rest stop at Kannuslahti.

A family is eating at a campfire. An open outdoor kitchen can be seen in the background.

Starting point

Heretty summer café, Kylämäntie 1335, Kuhmoinen (pdf 1.7 MB, julkaisut.metsa.fi)

Trail description

Trail markings: Follow the signs for the Kannuslahti rest stop

The demanding accessible trail at Kannuslahti starts from behind the Heretty Café, in the corner of the sauna. The surface of the trail is hard and fairly flat. There are loose stones, leaves, needles and cones in places. There is a stream across the trail at one point. The trail width is at least 120 cm wide for its entire distance. In two places, the trail narrows to 80 cm due to rocks. There are several hills along the trail, with inclines ranging from 9% to 22%. The longest hill is 30 metres long. The trail slopes to the side (5-7%) in a few places for a short distance. The trail passes through coniferous forest and is also used by mountain bikers. Before the Kannuslahti Bridge, turn left from the intersection towards the Kannuslahti rest stop.

Hiking structures

Kannuslahti has accessible services, which include a cooking shelter, campfire site and dry toilet. One of the dry toilets can be accessed with a ramp that leads straight to the toilet door and has a 5% incline. The toilet seat has handrails, but looking in from the doorway, the only free space is on the left side of the seat. Bring your own toilet paper. You may need your own light source in the toilet, also during daylight hours. The firewood shed is not accessible. The trail leading to the rest stop has a side sloping and lengthwise incline of 5-12%. The trail narrows to 80 cm in some places due to rocks. Check out Heretty's accessible services on the accessibility page.

Heretty Nature Trail, 3 km Circle Trail

Walking time 2 hours, no winter maintenance
Demanding trail: height differences, rocks and roots on the trail

On Heretty nature trail, you can be amazed by a large boulder resting on three small stones and have your picnic at the idyllic Kannuslahti rest stop on Kurkijärvi Lake.

An adult and a child are examining road signs at an intersection.

Starting point

Heretty summer café, Kylämäntie 1335, Kuhmoinen (pdf 1.7 MB, julkaisut.metsa.fi)

Route description

Trail markings: green squares
Walking direction: anti-clockwise

Heretty nature trail starts at the corner of the sauna behind the summer café. The trail passes through forest terrain with height differences and there are lots of rocks and roots on the path. The last kilometer of the trail is fairly easy. Kannuslahti cooking shelter, which can be reached by a path leading a hundred metres off the trail, is an ideal place for a picnic.

Heretty Nature Trail brochure (pdf,  3.8 MB, julkaisut.metsa.fi)

Hiking structures

Heretty: summer café, information shelter, rental huts and their sauna, well, accessible toilet
Kannuslahti: cooking shelter, campfire site and toilet
Please bring your own toilet paper.

Sights

Eight nature trail boards (pdf 3.8 MB, julkaisut.metsa.fi) with information on the history of forest use and nature in the area.

Majavapolku, 3.8 km Circle Trail

Walking time 2 hours, no winter maintenance
An easy trail

Majavapolku is the easiest circle trail in Isojärvi National Park. The trail takes you past old beaver dams to the shores of Isojärvi Lake.

Summery lake landscape, with rocks and broadleaf trees in the foreground.

Starting point

Kaatvuori parking area, Huhtalantie, Kuhmoinen (pdf 1.7 MB, julkaisut.metsa.fi)

Route description

Trail markings: blue circles
Walking direction: anti-clockwise

Majavapolku trail makes for easy walking as it follows old forest roads. As the trail avoids Kaatvuori and Kettuvuori hills, the height differences are minor.  The rest stop at Kalalahti can be reached by a 250-metre path leading off the trail. At Kalalahti, there is a lean-to shelter and a campfire site on the rocky outcrop and another campfire site lower down.

Hiking structures

Kalalahti: lean-to shelter, campfire site, toilet
Please bring your own toilet paper.

Sights

Beaver dams in Kalakorpi.
Lakeshore sceneries of Isojärvi at Kalalahti.

Please note

The yard of Huhtala crown tenant farm is well worth a visit before or after your walk.
Tip: You can rent a rowing boat at Kalalahti (shop.isojarvioutdoors.fi).

Hevosenlenkki, 6 km Circle Trail

Walking time 3 hours, no winter maintenance
Demanding trail: height differences, rocks and roots on the trail

Hevosenlenkki trail takes in the scenery around Lakes Hevosjärvi, Kuorejärvi and Kurkijärvi. It challenges you with its height differences and invites you to look for traces of beavers.

Lichen in the foreground. In the background, a blurred hiker looking out over the lake.

Starting point

Heretty summer café, Kylämäntie 1335, Kuhmoinen (pdf 1.7 MB, julkaisut.metsa.fi)

Route description

Trail markings: blue diamonds
Walking direction: anti-clockwise

In the past, Heretty hut provided accommodation for men working on logging sites and their strong horses. To commemorate these Finnish working horses, the six-kilometre circle trail is called Hevosenlenkki (the Trail of the Horse).  The trail passes through highly variable terrain: sometimes you walk along an old forest road, while at other times the path is narrow and very rocky. The final section follows a cycling trail connecting the huts of Heretty and Lortikka, which was levelled by lumberjacks of the bygone days. Kuorejärvi lean-to shelter slightly after half way is an ideal place to stop and rest. Towards the end, Kannuslahti cooking shelter is also a nice place for stopping.

An adult and a child are walking across a bridge.

Hiking structures

Heretty: summer café, information shelter, rental huts and their sauna, well, accessible toilet
Kuorejärvi: lean-to shelter, toilet
Kannuslahti: cooking shelter, campfire site and toilet
Please bring your own toilet paper.

Sights

Beaver dams at Hevosjärvi

Savottapolku, 10 km Circle Trail

Walking time 4 to 5 hours, no winter maintenance
Height differences and rocky paths make for slow walking, so allow enough time for your excursion.

On Savottapolku trail, you follow in the footsteps of lumberjacks on the old cycling trail between the huts of Lortikka and Heretty. You also get to know the hilly terrain of Isojärvi Lake.

Two hikers are sitting on a cliff in front of a windbreak by a lake

Starting point

Heretty summer café, Kylämäntie 1335, Kuhmoinen (pdf 1.7 MB, julkaisut.metsa.fi)
If you are staying at Lortikka rental hut, you can also start your walk along Savottapolku trail from that point by following white diamonds towards Heretty. Please note that there is no access for cars to Lortikka except for those renting the hut.

Two hikers are sitting on the top of a hill, admiring the open forest landscape.

Route descriptionTrails are marked with different figures in different colour on tree trunks.

Trail markings: white diamonds
Walking direction: anti-clockwise

Savottapolku trail starts at the corner of the sauna behind the Heretty summer café. This trail features height differences, steep terrain and rocky ground. If you follow the markings and start off anti-clockwise, you will face the most difficult terrain in the first part of the trail and finish off along an old cycling trail levelled by lumberjacks. You should allow plenty of time for this walk. The best place for a rest stop is Vahterjärvi lean-to shelter roughly half way round the trail.

Tip: At Vahterjärvi, you can choose Jätkän polku trail marked with red triangles. This will give you a total distance of approx. 20 km and take 8 to 10 hours.

Savottapolku Trail brochure (pdf, 850 KB, julkaisut.metsa.fi)

Hiking structures

Heretty: summer café, information shelter, rental huts and their sauna, well, accessible toilet
Vahterjärvi: lean-to shelter, toilet
Lortikka: campfire site, well, toilet, rental hut
Kannuslahti: accessible services, which include a cooking shelter, campfire site and toilet
Please bring your own toilet paper.

Sights

Beaver dams at Hevosjärvi
Latokuusikko herb-rich forest
The trail passes by Lortikka hut, which used to provide accommodation for men working on the logging site. Today it serves as a rental hut.

Please note

Sturdy footwear is recommended. 

Two hikers are following a trail down a steep slope.

Jätkän Polku, 11 km Circle Trail

Walking time to 5 hours, no winter maintenance
Height differences and rocky paths make for slow walking, so allow enough time for your excursion.

Jätkän polku trail brings you to Lortikka hut in the footsteps of old-time lumberjacks and takes you up and down hills. You also get a chance to admire the beautiful Isojärvi Lake which has given the park its name.

A group of hikers are walking on a path, pine trees are growing on som nearby cliffs.

Starting point

Kaatvuori parking area, Huhtalantie, Kuhmoinen (pdf 1.7 MB, julkaisut.metsa.fi)

Route description

Trail markings: red triangles
Walking direction: anti-clockwise

Jätkän polku trail takes you through variable terrain. Initially, it follows an easy path as far as the old lumberjacks’ hut at Lortikka. The building today serves as a rental hut, so please do not go too near if the hut is occupied. A campfire site and toilet for all visitors are found at the southern end of Lortikka pond. From Lortikka to Vahterjärvi and on to Kalalahti, you walk through rocky and rugged forest terrain typical of Isojärvi. The trail is challenging, and you should allow enough time for your walk. The lean-to shelters of Vahterjärvi and Kalalahti are ideal for rest stops. 

Tip 1: You can rent a rowing boat at Kalalahti (isojarvioutdoors.fi, in Finnish).
Tip 2: Before or after your excursion, the yard of Huhtala crown tenant farm is well worth a visit.

Hiking structuresA cell phone held in one hand is taking a picture of a tree that has been gnawed down by a beaver.

Lortikka: rental hut, campfire site, well and toilet
Vahterjärvi: lean-to shelter and toilet
Kalalahti: lean-to shelter, campfire site, toilet
Please bring your own toilet paper.

Sights

Beaver dams in Kalakorpi.
Lakeshore sceneries of Isojärvi at Kalalahti.

Please note

Sturdy footwear is recommended.

Isojärvi Mountain Biking Trail, 16 km Circle Trail

 Cycling time 2 to 5 hours, no winter maintenance

For more than a half of the distance, the trail follows easy paths or unpaved roads. However, it also contains technically challenging sections due to the height differences, rocky areas and tree roots on the path. Please take the weather conditions and your own skill level into account. Push your bike if necessary and make sure you are at all times prepared to avoid walkers, who use the same trail but travel more slowly. As the trail is not suitable for ordinary bicycles, you will need a mountain bike or a fatbike. Watch out for cars on the last three kilometres, which follow Kylämäntie road.

Isojärvi mountain biking trail treats you to a great overview of Isojärvi National Park: you follow in the footsteps of lumberjacks of the past and see old logging huts, beaver dams, Isojärvi Lake and a heritage landscape managed by sheep at Huhtala farm.

A child is biking towards the camera on a fat bike along a forest path. Adult cyclists are following.

Starting point

Heretty summer café, Kylämäntie 1335, Kuhmoinen (pdf 1.7 MB, julkaisut.metsa.fi)
Tip: If you want to take the road part first, you can start from the parking areas of Huhtala or Kaatvuori (Huhtalantie road, Kuhmoinen).

Route description

Trail markings: yellow diamonds
Cycling direction: anti-clockwise

Isojärvi mountain biking trail (MTB) starts behind Heretty summer café. For the first 500 metres, the trail follows an easy, level and wide path with a gravel surface. Kannuslahti cooking shelter is a great spot for stopping and maybe just admiring the scenery. From Kannuslahti bridge to Lortikka, the trail goes along a cycling trail levelled by lumberjacks with their shovels in the 1950s. This is not an actual road as such, and short sections of duckboards, partly steep hills as well as rocks and tree roots on the trail create a challenge. After Lortikka the trail is slightly easier, however with ups and downs. Kalalahti lean-to shelter set amidst the lakeshore scenery of Isojärvi is an ideal place for your picnic.  From Kalalahti to Kaatvuori parking area, the trail follows an old forest road and continues along an unpaved road past Huhtala crown tenant farm. From Huhtalantie road, the trail branches off to an old forest road through the sheep pen. Cyclists cross the electric fence using a flyover at both ends of the pen. After the sheep pen, you follow the old forest road, then roll along the unpaved Kylämäntie road for the last three kilometres. Please watch out for cars on this section.

Brochure containing a map of Isojärvi mountain biking trail (pdf 0.9 MB, julkaisut.metsa.fi)

Hiking structuresA tree that is more than half chewed through by a beaver is still standing. In the foreground there is a fat bike.

Heretty: summer café, information shelter, rental huts and their sauna, well, accessible toilet
Kannuslahti: accessible services, which include a cooking shelter, campfire site and toilet
Lortikka: rental hut, campfire site, well and toilet
Kalalahti: lean-to shelter, campfire site, toilet
Please bring your own toilet paper.

Sights

Heretty hut
The path between Heretty and Lortikka follows a bicycle trail levelled by lumberjacks in the 1950s. In places, you can still see holes in the ground beside the trail where soil was dug out for the path.
Lortikka rental hut started life as a logging hut which provided accommodation for lumberjacks. Please do not go too near if the hut is occupied.
Beaver dams in Kalakorpi
Lakeshore sceneries of Isojärvi at Kalalahti
Huhtala crown tenant farm

Please note

Biking in Isojärvi National Park is only permitted on this marked mountain biking trail and on the roads.

Stairs have been built over an electric fence. Next to the stairs there is a ramp for bicycles.