Punkaharju Snowshoe Park

Snowshoeing allows you to enjoy winter nature experiences in the ridge areas of the Punkaharju nature reserve. The trails are Nature Reserves trails with terrain signs, so walking on the trails is easy! You can see all the trails on the Winter Trails map. The trails are not maintained.

1. Kokonharjun path 3 km

A great hiking trail in Tree Arboretum. Kokonharju is a magnificent natural area where you can spot, among other things, the longest pine trees in Finland. The first half of the trail runs high on the ridge top in a landscape formed by a magnificent tree canopy. Bring your picnic lunch and take a coffee break at the benches found on the ridge top. Halfway through the trail, you descend into the valley section of the primeval forest, where the impact of the towering trees is even stronger. We recommend making a small deviation from the trail and visiting the Suuret Puut trail (big trees) in the valley.

The route loops clockwise and partly follows the Hakin Kierros route, which is a popular cross-country ski trail, so be aware of other hikers.

• Terrain markings: Kokonharju trail signs and orange paint marks on trees.
• Difficulty: Moderate, some elevation changes
• Starting point: Puistometsäntie 10.

2. Takaharju Route

A wonderful route that takes you to the beautiful Takaharju viewpoint, from which you can enjoy a photogenic view in the direction of Valkialampi. From the viewpoint, descend and continue along the paths next to the pond in the forest towards the Topeliusen Polu intersection. The distance to the intersection is 0.8 km, and you can hike back to the starting point southwards either along the scenic path running over Takaharju or along the Topeliusen Polu visible on the shore of the lake.

We recommend hiking the route counterclockwise. You can easily add more length to the route by continuing in the direction of Topelius path, looping around Lammasharju.

Terrain markings: Nature Reserve general signs.
Difficulty level: Moderate, a few steep hills
Starting point: Kruunupuisto, Vaahersalontie 44.

3. Kuikonniemi & Mustaniemi

The starting point of the Kuikoniemi military history route is a parking area along the ridge road. Kuikoniemi was part of the 1,200 km long Salpalinja fortification chain built on the eastern edge of Finland in 1940-1941 and 1944. Renovated trenches can be found along the path. The Kuiko Salpa route is 0.7 km long.

From the same starting point, you can also reach Mustaniemi on the other side of the road, which is worth walking along the shore paths and admiring the lake scenery. The Mustaniemi loop is about 1 km long.

Terrain markings: Kuikon Salpa signs
Difficulty level: Easy
Starting point: Punkaharjun ridge road 223, by the summer kiosk

4. & 5. ROUTES AROUND KARJALANKALLIO LAAVU

Hakin helpompi 1,4 km & Karjalankallion huilaus 1,2 km.
Start at snowshoe trip from Karjalankallio-laavu and enjoy the Puruvesi lake scenery. These two Nature Reserve routes run partly on the Hakin Kierros trail (a ski trail in winter) and partly on the roads of the tree arboretum park, so we recommend snowshoieng in the forest side, especially when you come to the road sections on the forest side.

On the nature trails in Punkaharju Research Park, the forest nature with its sounds and scents enchants and soothes. Information boards along the route tell about the well-being effects of nature. There are benches and a resting place along the way. The easy routes are suitable for hikers of all fitness levels.

Terrain markings: Guide signs
Difficulty level: Easy
Starting point: Karjalankallio parking lot, Puistometsäntie 284