Karkali Strict Nature Reserve Trails

Hiking Trails

Starting Points for Trails

The trail begins and ends at the parking area of Karkali Strict Nature Reserve. Visitors by boat or canoe can start the trail from the landing place on the southern shore of the Cape Karkalinniemi.

Circular Trails and Nature Trail

• The trails of Karkali Strict Nature Reserve are ½, 1, 2 and 6 km long. In total, there is a 6-km-long trail which consists of successive loops of different length. There are duckboards on some parts of the trail. The short loops in the beginning are easy to walk, but the longest loop goes into difficult terrain along the rocky shore in the end of the Cape Karkalinniemi, and over a few hills. Most of the trail is in the forest, but there are also sections which go along the shore, over the rocks and through a meadow in the forest.
  • Services: There is a dry toilet at the parking area, and a table and benches. The only landing place and swimming place in the area are located along the longest two loops. There are picnic tables and benches near the end of the cape, near the foundation stones of the summerhouse of Archbishop Johansson.
  • Sights: The ruins of Lepola Croft along the trail, near the parking area. The unique natural features of the herb-rich forests of Karkali are worth seeing as such. Along the longest loop of the trail, there are the ruins of Kukinhuone Croft, and near the end of the cape, on top of a hill, are the foundation stones of the summerhouse of Archbishop Johansson. There was a nice view from the hill over the lake landscape towards the church of Karjalohja, but it has been overgrown.
• A nature trail called "Hanski-Hakin luontopolku", about 2 km , starts from the parking area of Karkali Strict Nature Reserve. Along the trail, there are ten information boards about the diverse natural features of the herb-rich forests of the Cape Karkalinniemi. You can learn about the rich set of tree species of the area, about the domain of the meadow flowers, about the inhabitants of the large aspens (Populus tremula), and about the birds who give morning concerts in the spring. The nature trail is quite easy to walk, and mostly situated in even terrain. Hiking this trail takes about 1 - 2 hours.

Canoeing Routes

Karkkila - Tammisaari canoeing route goes across Lake Lohjanjärvi. It comes from Karkkila along the River Karjaanjoki. On the lake, you can choose a route which goes past the strict nature reserve. On the southern shore of the Cape Karkalinniemi, there is a landing place for boats. From this landing place, you can get to the marked trail which goes round the strict nature reserve.