UKK trail from Rönkkö to Sports Institute 12 km, Vuokatti

This section of the UKK trail begins at the Rönkkö lean-to shelter along highway 6, also known as Vesikkotie. Immediately after passing under the road, the path starts to ascend toward Rönkönvaara. After the steepest climb, the route follows a gravel road for a short distance but soon diverges back into the forest. Ahead is the steep climb of Koljolanvaara along the edge of a nature reserve. The climb is challenging but rewarded with beautiful views westward to Jormasjärvi. The rocky and root-filled path leads toward Porttivaara. From Porttivaara, the path descends to Porttimäki and a kota shelter built on the site of a former, now lost farmyard. From the hill, there are magnificent views eastward toward Kiantajärvi.

After Porttimäki, you climb a steep hill to Ilveskallio and Lehtovaara. From the summit of the hill, the area of old forests begins again. The path goes through the ridge nature reserve toward Möykynlampi, where there is a reservation hut by the lake shore. The beautiful lake high in the depression between the hills is a great rest spot. There is a pier by the reservation hut for swimming. From the lake, the route continues to Möykynvaara and then further to Matovaara. Here the route again passes through a nature reserve for a short distance. From the hill, the path descends to Kettumäki, where there is a kota shelter.

From the rest spot, the trail continues toward Keima and the rocky ridge summits with views opening east and west toward Sapsojärvi and Sotkamo. After the twisted pine landscapes of Keima, the path descends into a small valley, then climbs steeply through a nature reserve toward the summit of Pieni-Pölly. An observant traveler might notice wave marks on the rocks at the summit that are nearly 2 billion years old. From the summit, the path descends into a valley on the isthmus between two bogs and a lake. In the middle of the wilderness forest, among the rocky hummocks, there is a lake said to be bottomless. On the southern shore of this lake, there is a kota shelter for a rest stop.

From the valley, the route climbs steep, winding stairs up the ridge of Iso-Pölly to the summit. From the summit, views open northward toward Naapurivaara and eastward toward the center of Sotkamo and lakes Kianta, Sapso, and Pirttijärvi. Next to the route, there is a viewing platform, and behind the chairlift, there is a viewing tower. The route continues after about 100 meters along a road back through the forest. A steep downhill begins, and after some distance, the path moves to the edge of a ski slope. Behind the lower station of the lift, the path continues as a wide ski track along the snowboarding tunnel, through holiday settlements toward the Sports Institute and endpoint.