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· Vuokatti-Sotkamo
Hiukka nature and culture trail 2.4 / 4 km, Sotkamo - Vuokatti
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Hiukka nature trail, SotkamoPhoto: CC BY-ND, Vuokatin kuvapankki
Easily accessible nature trail from Sotkamo centre, particularly suitable for families as a day trip destination because of its length and scenery. You can choose either a 2.5-kilometer or 4-kilometer route, both marked on the ground. A rather narrow path winds at first mainly through pine forest. Illustrated information boards along the route tell the walker about the area's plants, animals, and history. The presence of animal figures peeking from the forest adds some excitement. The return section of the route runs along the high beach cliff of Sapsojärvi, offering spectacular views of Sapsojärvi and the Vuokatti hills. There are benches and picnic tables at the end of the route, so it is worth bringing snacks. The circular route starting and ending at Hiukka bathing beach is easy to walk on almost everywhere, both in terms of terrain and surface.
Author’s recommendation
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Rest stops
Hiukka Beach, Accessible, SotkamoSafety information
The route is marked with the nature trail symbol: a white cone on a green background. However, be careful at path junctions to stay on the route.
The sandy beach cliff is steep, so be cautious at the edge.
Tips and suggestions
Hiukka is a unique recreational area with a pesäpallo stadium and beautiful sandy beaches. In addition to the nature trail, Hiukka has a well-maintained outdoor trail network with routes of 2.5, 3 and 5 kilometers. There is a children's playground, beach volleyball and tennis courts, as well as a petanque area on the shore. The café is open during summer. Changing rooms, showers and toilets are located in the café building.
Berry picking and mushroom hunting are allowed. Lingonberries, blueberries, crowberries and chokeberries grow in the area.
Put trash in rubbish bins or take with you what you brought.
Roadbook
Map of the Hiukka nature and culture trail (the nature trail is marked with a green dashed line on the map).
The starting point of the trail is at Hiukka sandy beach, which is itself worth seeing: a 200 m long, shallow sandy beach. There is an information board at the start with the route map and checkpoints of the nature trail. You can choose a 2.5 or 4 kilometer route, walking clockwise. The route mainly goes along a rather narrow path through varied pine forest terrain, but sometimes there is a wider trail base. At the beginning of the route is the steepest climb up to the base of the water tower. On the ridge top are also the foundations of an old ski jump. At this point, the shorter 2.5 kilometer route turns sharply right down towards a small bog pond and back to Hiukka. The longer 4 kilometer route continues straight ahead along the edge of the Sotkamo cemeteries. The path crosses a wider trail, where you walk about 200 meters left (east), until the nature trail continues as a path turning right southwards towards Sapsojärvi. The return path goes back to Hiukka with breathtaking views along the Hiukkanharju beach cliff. After about 800 meters of walking, the path turns right and circles around a small bog pond. The pond is crossed via boardwalks and you return to the beach path. The path climbs a pine mound where you can rest and enjoy a picnic at a table-bench combination. After this, the return path to Hiukka is downhill with a few hundred meters to go.
Hiukka Beach, Accessible, Sotkamo
Sotkamo farmers market, Sotkamo Finland
The church of Sotkamo, Sotkamo Finland
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
By bus: From Kajaani and Joensuu to Sotkamo centre's Matkahuolto station, then about 500 meters on foot to Hiukka bathing beach, where the route starts. Walking route: Torikatu-Hermanninpolku-Urheilukatu-Tervatie.
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Directions
By car / bicycle from Vuokatti: about 10 kilometers to Sotkamo centre. Follow signs to "Hiukka bathing beach". At the Neste service station intersection, turn right and follow the signs.
From Kuhmo direction: Drive through Sotkamo centre. At the Neste service station intersection, turn left and follow the signs.
Parking
Free parking at the P lot of Hiukka bathing beach.Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Hiukka nature trail
Book recommendations for this region:
Equipment
You can manage with running shoes or low walking shoes.Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions