Hepoköngäs waterfall, Accessible, Paljakka

Arrival and parking

The route starts from the Hepoköngäs parking lot at Hepokönkääntie 22. There are no designated accessible parking spaces in the parking area. The same car park is also used for escorted transport. The parking area is flat and asphalted. The route starts at the edge of the car park.  At the starting point you find an information board about the nature trail. There is also an accessible dry toilet at the starting point.

Accessibility description of the route

The route is classified as a demanding accessible nature trail. As this is an out and back route, on the return journey, the ascents of the route description become descents and vice versa. The route is signposted but not waymarked. The flat route is graveled with black pebble ash and therefore clearly distinguishable from the rest of the environment. The width of the route is more than 1.5 m over the entire length. Wheelchair users are recommended to use a nose wheel or to be accompanied by an assistant.

The initial 300 m of the route from the car park to the rest area, can be classified as accessible. It runs through an old, protected spruce forest with a maximum gradient of 5 % longitudinal and 5 % lateral on a level track. The part of the track leading down to the viewing platform below the waterfall, classifies the route as a demanding accessible route. This part departs a short distance before the rest area. Right at the beginning of this part, there is a bridge over 1.5 metres wide with cross-board spacing of about 0.5 centimetres. The bridge has a guardrail on both sides. After a short, flat section, the track descends to the bottom of the waterfall. The length of the demanding serpentine hill is about 150 m, and the maximum longitudinal gradient is 14 %. The maximum lateral gradient is 5 %. A guardrail is provided along the course of the hill section. There is a rest area at the top of the hill and four wider areas building passing places. The surface of the route may be eroded by run-off water. The viewing platform at the bottom of the falls is flat and the depth and width of the open space is over 1,5 m. The viewing platform has guard rails and a protective edge.

Rest area and other structures

The Hepoköngäs rest area features a lean-to with fireplace, a woodshed, a dry toilet, and a viewing platform - all of them accessible. The rest area and its surroundings are pebble-ashed and flat. The fireplace is located inside the open shelter, which is easily accessible. The seating frame is fixed but does not impede mobility with an assistive device. The fireplace is elevated. The wood store of the rest area is located behind the lean-to. A 1,5 m wide ramp with a slope of 8 % leads to the wood store. The ramp has handrails, but there is no platform at the top of the ramp, which makes it difficult to open the doors. The double doors open in the middle and have a width of more than one metre.

A ramp similar to the one to the wood storage leads to the accessible dry toilet which is located right next to the woodshed. The door width to the accessible toilet as well in the rest area as at the parking area is 95 cm. The absence of handles makes it difficult to close the door. The toilet seat is positioned in the middle of the space, about 35 cm from the rear wall, with handles on either side of the seat. There is about one metre of free space on each side of the toilet seat. The depth and width of the free space in front of the seat is approximately two metres. The lighting in the toilet comes through a window. Therefore, the amount of light is affected by the weather and the time of day.

The viewing platform is flat, and the depth and width of the free space is more than 1.5 metres. The viewing platform has guard rails and a protective edge.

Things to note in addition to the general accessibility description of the route

There is no advance material in sign language produced for the route.

Things to note in addition to the general accessibility description of the route

No prior information has been produced for the route in Braille or audio file.

The route may occasionally have branches bending over the path.

The route signposts are clear and have good colour contrast.

Access to the lean-to is limited due to the sloping roof. 

The lack of colour contrast makes it difficult to use the constructions of the route.

Things to note in addition to the general accessibility description of the route

No advance material in plain language has been produced for the route.

In terms of length and clarity, the route is safe and there is no risk of getting lost.

There are guard rails on the viewing platforms and on the demanding part of the route.

A rest area allows independent activity.