MTSZ
MTSZ térképportál
Turista Magazin
TuristaShop
Kéktúra
Gerecse50
A kéktúrázás napja
recommended route
Cross-Country Skiing
· Vuokatti-Sotkamo
Porttimäki challenging 19 km ski loop, Vuokatti
-
Porttivaara trail, VuokattiPhoto: CC BY-ND, Vuokatin kuvapankki
A challenging but scenically very rewarding trail on the peaks of the Vuokatti fell ridge. In midwinter, the trail goes through snow-laden trees. The views open to several lakes.
The Porttivaara loop trail goes from one fell to another on the Vuokatti fell ridge: Matovaara, Möykynvaara, Lehtovaara, and Porttivaara. Especially at the highest points, skiers can admire the snow-laden ancient trees of nature reserves and lake views opening here and there. On the west side, the landscape is dominated first by Nuasjärvi and then Jormasjärvi. On the east side, the trail opens views to Kiantajärvi and in the direction of Sotkamo center to Sopsojärvi.
Midway on the trail, between Porttivaara and Lehtovaara, is the site of the old Porttimäki farm and nowadays the Porttimäki Kota. In front of the kota are old meadows and some remains of buildings.
There are several rest places along the route: Kettumäki Kota, Möykynlampi resting place, Porttivaara Kota, Heikkilä trail café, Ainola lean-to shelter, and ski slope restaurants at Vuokatti slopes at the very beginning of the trail.
The Porttivaara trail is very suitable for a day trip. The length from Vuokattiareena parking lot is 20.5 km and as a circular route 19 km.
Author’s recommendation
You can also start the route from Kattikeskus, at the foot of Vuokatti's western slopes.
The trail can also be skied shorter starting from the Heikkilä trail café.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Show elevation profileRest stops
Vuokatti Sport resort, Vuokatti FinlandHeikkilän Pirtti Ski Café, Vuokatti Finland
Safety information
A fast and long descent from Porttivaara, brake in time. Also other fast descents.
Note that the trail is two-way in places.
Tips and suggestions
At the start point of the trail in Vuokattihalli there are dressing and washing facilities, a swimming pool, and a café.
Porttimäki Kota
Roadbook
The Porttivaara route starts from the corner of the Vuokattihalli parking lot towards the Vuokatti fells, the so-called upland area. The route passes behind the Vuokatti Sports Institute's sports hall to the ski trail bridge, from where the route heads to the right diagonally forward. The first section of the route from the sports institute to Koulurinne and the former hostess school of Sotkamo is 3.5 km. The route is two-way, gently sloping, and ascending. After the yard area of the hostess school, there is a trail junction where you turn left to the Kettumäki / Möykky / Porttimäki loop. The trail continuing straight ahead is the 26 km track of Vaarankylä. The trail climbs more steeply through a beautiful spruce forest for about a kilometer to a junction, where the left trail leads to the Kettumäki Kota, and the right continues to the Möykky and Porttivaara loop. Kettumäki Kota (4.7 km from the start) is almost immediately after the junction and is a nice resting place after the uphill beginning. The Kota has a fireplace, an outdoor table-bench combination, a woodshed, and an outdoor toilet.
After Kettumäki, the trail continues one-way southwards, over three fells, to Porttivaara. The route features fast descents and gradual climbs. After five kilometers, the awaited resting place awaits at Porttivaara, the Porttimäki Kota situated over 300 meters above sea level. The view is worth all the effort. This is a good place to rest properly.
The return trip towards the Vuokatti Sports Institute begins with a demanding descent: a steep descent about one kilometer long. The trail joins the illuminated trail of Vaara coming from Rekikesti; from the junction, there is a climb of just over one kilometer to Heikkilä's cabin. There is a trail café at Heikkilä.
The last stage of the return is a 6-kilometer descent-heavy trail from Heikkilä to the Vuokatti Sports Institute. The return trail runs in upland terrain, along the edge of fields, through spruce forests and birch groves. Note that the trail is two-way for 2.4 km from Heikkilä to the Kettumäki junction. After Kettumäki, the descents are fast and quickly bring the skier to the Pyykorpi junction, where the trail is again two-way to the sports institute. A few hundred meters after Pyykorpi on the left in the spruce forest is Ainola lean-to shelter.
Break Sokos Hotel Vuokatti, Vuokatti Finland
Vuokatti Sport resort, Vuokatti Finland
Hotel Aateli, Vuokatti Finland
Hotel Vuokatti & Suites
Kettumäki hut, Vuokatti Finland
Porttimäki hut, Vuokatti Finland
Heikkilän Pirtti Ski Café, Vuokatti Finland
Ainola hut and lean-to-shelter, Vuokatti Finland
Lehmilampi hut, Vuokatti Finland
Kattivankkuri Caravan site, Vuokatti Finland
Vuokatti - The Cross-country skiing paradise
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
In winter season, skiers are served by the free Vuokatti SkiBus https://vuokatti.fi/saapuminen/
The road passing by Vuokattihalli (road no. 76) is served by buses between Kajaani and Sotkamo. The bus stop is at the sports institute junction.
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
Follow the signs/markings of the Vuokatti Sports Institute.Parking
Free parking at the Vuokattihalli parking lot.
Alternatively, you can also start the route at Kattikeskus at the foot of Vuokatti's western slopes (address Ilkantie 8, 88610 Vuokatti), where there is also free parking. There are also free parking spaces at Koulurinne, in the yard of the former hostess school of Sotkamo (address Emäntäkouluntie 10, 88610 Vuokatti), and it is possible to start the route from there.
Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Vuokatti online trail maintenance status
Author’s map recommendations
Equipment
Equipment for either classic or skating skiing styles.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions