The park area has 27 kilometres of marked trails. Uiton kierto (7 km) and the Autionkierto trail (3.4 km) continuing from it are circle trails, as is Tiilikan kierto Trail (18 km).
Starting Points for Trails
- The Sammakkotammi information point (Valtimontie 1095, Rautavaara) is a good place to start exploring the national park.
- The Pohjoisniemi parking area is also a good place to set off on the trails. The address of the forest road leading to Pohjoisniemi is Kajaanintie 1655, Rautavaara.
- Uitonkämppä rental hut is the best place to start the Autionkierto Circle Trail, but visitors arriving from the Pohjoisniemi direction can also start at Tiilikanautio tenant farm.
- The smaller road leading from main road 87 to the Pohjoisniemi trailhead is not ploughed during the winter, but space for a few cars is cleared at the crossroads. Visitors can ski along the road to the park from there.
Uiton kierto Trail, 7 km Circle Trail
A pleasant trail that goes around two small lakes. The campfire site at the rental hut halfway along the trail is a convenient place to take a break. You can recall the days of the log floaters at Uitonkämppä rental hut.
When there is no snow on the ground, hikers should reserve at least 3 hours to complete the trail.
Fairly easy.
Starting Point
Sammakkotammi information point. Address: Valtimontie 1095, Rautavaara.
PDF brochure for Tiilikkajärvi National Park (julkaisut.metsa.fi).
Hiking Structures
There is a campfire site, well and composting dry toilet in the yard of Uitonkämppä rental hut as well as a pier from which visitors can go swimming. The national park has no official swimming beach. Water from the well should be boiled before use. Bring your own toilet paper.
Trail Description
The recommended hiking direction is clockwise around Sammakkojärvi Lake.
The first section of the trail to Uitonkämppä rental hut is quite hilly. You can see the Sammakkojärvi and Autiojärvi lakes and the river from the trail. When approaching Uitonkämppä rental hut, visitors cross two bridges with spectacular views of the surroundings. The trail from Uitonkämppä continues back to the starting point through easy terrain, which is mostly mires with duckboards and dry heath forest.
Connection
From the northern part of Uiton kierto Circle Trail, visitors can leave the trail and walk 400 m to Venäjänhiekka Beach, which has a campfire site, camping area and a composting dry toilet. There is a connecting trail from Venäjänhiekka Beach to Tiilikan kierto Circle Trail.
From Uitonkämppä, we recommend continuing along Autionkierto Circle Trail to Tiilikanautio tenant farm, which is about 1 km away. During warm weather, visitors to Tiilikanautio should take into account the fact that adders (Vipera berus) have been seen on the grounds every year.
Tiilikan kierto Trail, 18 km Circle Trail
Explore the entire national park! Rowboats are now available for crossing Selkäsalmi Strait. Spend a whole day enjoying this magnificent trail or stay overnight at the unforgettable Venäjänhiekka Beach or Koseva camping areas.
The trail is open between 15 May and 30 October when the crossing boats are in use. You should reserve one day to complete the trail.
This is a moderately challenging trail, depending on your pace and fitness level. The crossing boats require rowing skills.
Starting Point
Sammakkotammi information point. Address: Valtimontie 1095, Rautavaara.
An alternative starting point is Pohjoislahti parking area, where you can choose a trail length of 11 km or 18 km. The address of the forest road leading to Pohjoisniemi is Kajaanintie 1655, Rautavaara.
PDF brochure for Tiilikkajärvi National Park (julkaisut.metsa.fi).
Hiking Structures
Just a short distance off the trail, Venäjänhiekka Beach has a campfire site and camping area as well as a composting dry toilet. Bring your own toilet paper.
Koseva has an open wilderness hut, camping area, campfire site and composting dry toilet. There are also composting dry toilets at the Pohjoisniemi parking area, Koirakivi campfire site and Tiilikanautio tenant farm. Bring your own toilet paper.
There is a campfire site, well and composting dry toilet in the yard of Uitonkämppä rental hut as well as a pier from which visitors can go swimming. The national park has no official swimming beach. Water from the well should be boiled before use. Bring your own toilet paper.
Trail Description
The recommended hiking direction is clockwise.
When leaving Sammakkotammi information point, follow Uiton kierto Circle Trail along the western side of Lake Sammakkojärvi until you come to the arch bridge. Instead of crossing the bridge, continue straight until you come to Kalmoniemi headland. You can also take some time to visit the beautiful Venäjänhiekka Beach or even spend a night in the camping area. A crossing boat at the tip of Kalmoniemi allows you to row across Selkäsalmi Strait to Pohjoisniemi. The trail continues through magnificent esker landscapes past Koseva’s tiny open wilderness hut and camping area to the Pohjoisniemi parking area. After this, the trail quickly turns back, following the eastern shore of Tiilikkajärvi Lake. Right after the Koirakivi campfire site, you’ll come to Tiilikanautio tenant farm, where you can decide whether to take a side trip (approx. 2.2 km) to Autionkierto Circle Trail or go directly to Uitonkämppä rental hut. From there, you return to Sammakkotammi along Uiton kierto Circle Trail.
Please Note
During warm weather, visitors to Tiilikanautio should take into account the fact that adders (Vipera berus) have been seen on the grounds.
In Pohjoisniemi, there are old signposts along the Tiilikan kierto Trail. Pohjoislahti and Pohjoisniemi signs point in the direction of the Pohjoisniemi parking area. The old signposts will be replaced with signs pointing to Pohjoisniemi parking area. Couple of new Tiilikan kierto signposts will also be added along the trail in the near future.
Connection
This trail connects with Autionkierto Circle Trail.
Sights
Uitonkämppä rental hut and Tiilikanautio tenant farm as well as Venäjänhiekka Beach.
Autionkierto Trail, 3.4 km Circle Trail
Walk along duckboards through mire landscapes to the nostalgic old yard at Tiilikanautio tenant farm. Tiilikanautio tenant farm is always open.
When there is no snow on the ground, reserve approximately 1 hour to complete the trail (2 hours in total).
The terrain is easy.
Starting Point
Uitonkämppä rental hut is the best place to start the Autionkierto Circle Trail, but visitors arriving from the Pohjoisniemi direction can also start at Tiilikanautio tenant farm. The distance to the start of the trail is approximately 3.5 km, and it’s a good idea to reserve about 1 hour for this section.
PDF brochure for Tiilikkajärvi National Park (julkaisut.metsa.fi).
Hiking Structures
There is a campfire site, well and composting dry toilet in the yard of Uitonkämppä rental hut as well as a pier from which visitors can go swimming. The national park has no official swimming beach. There is also a dry toilet in the yard at Tiilikanautio tenant farm. Water from the well should be boiled before use. Bring your own toilet paper.
Trail Description
The recommended hiking direction is clockwise.
Most of the trail is duckboards, because the route travels through mire landscapes. When leaving Uitonkämppä tenant farm, the trail leads north and follows the eastern shore of Tiilikkajärvi Lake. After 1 kilometre, the trail reaches the edge of the forest and visitors can see Tiilikanautio tenant farm on the top of a small hill. The farm yard is fenced, but there is a gate near the dry toilet. About 1 kilometre after the gate, you come to a crossroads where the trail turns right and back towards Uitonkämppä rental hut.
Please Note
During warm weather, visitors to Tiilikanautio should take into account the fact that adders (Vipera berus) have been seen on the grounds.
Connection
This trail connects with the Uiton kierto and Tiilikan kierto trails.
Sights
Uitonkämppä rental hut and Tiilikanautio tenant farm.
Pumpulikirkko trail, 1.3 km one way
The Pumpulikirkko trail takes visitors from easily accessible heaths to the bottom of a cool canyon and, finally, to the base of a rugged giant’s kettle.
During the snow-free season, hiking time is approximately 0.5 hours one way.
Parts of the trail run in rocky terrain.
Starting point
Address: Konttikangas parking area, Pumpulikirkontie 320. Guided car or bicycle route from Metsäkartano Youth Centre.
Hiking structures
There are no campfire sites or toilets along the Pumpulikirkko trail.
Trail description
The Pumpulikirkko trail starts from the Konttikangas parking area and runs mostly in relatively flat and easy terrain. The trail is marked with orange spots painted on trees. There are duckboards over wetland areas along the trail. Before arriving at the Pumpulikirkko (Cottonwool Church in English) giants kettle, the trail winds its way along the Konttipuro stream at the bottom of the canyon. The shores of the stream may be flooded in springtime. Moreover, snow melts slowly in the shadowy canyon, storing reminders of the winter even until early June. Access to the church is through a rugged, rocky stretch of a few dozen metres. Visitors shall also follow the same route back.
Things to note
Protect the harsh beauty and valuable species of the Pumpulikirkko area: stay on the trail and admire the church without climbing on or inside the giant’s kettle.
Canoeing Routes
There are no marked canoe routes in the park.
Tiilikkajärvi National Park waters are included in the Tiilikka-Älänne Canoeing Route (70 km). North Savo Regional Environment Centre restored the upper course of the River Tiilikanjoki in the autumn of 2002. During this process the current of rapids was slowed with rock barriers. This means that kayakers will have to e even more vigilant and careful than before. From Älänne visitors can continue their canoe trip through Korppinen and Syväri all the way to the Saimaa water system. This route however is very demanding as there are great changes in altitude.
