Hiukka-Pöllyvaara winter cycling route 13.5 km, Sotkamo - Vuokatti

The Hiukka-Pöllyvaara winter cycling route is marked in the terrain with blue and white winter cycling signs, and the circular section of the route can be ridden in both directions. The route is regularly maintained with a snowmobile and a grooming machine. 

The winter cycling route starts from the beach of the Hiukka outdoor area. Initially, the route goes on the ice of Lake Sapsojärvi along the edge of the Hiukka ridge section, all the way to Rytilahti, about 3.2 kilometers. Rytilahti has a parish camp center. From its shore, you move beside the sauna onto a yard road leading to a larger main road. After crossing the road, the route continues over rolling pine forest terrain and descends to the wilderness-like shore of Lake Pitkälampi. From the end of the lake, the route climbs steeply to the intersection of the Pöllyvaara loop, where there are clear guide signs. 

In the route instructions, the circular section is described to be ridden counterclockwise. The beginning of the circular section is easy and relatively flat, but ahead Pöllyvaara offers a challenging and long climb. The ascent is about 50 meters, after which you are almost at the highest point. On the right side of the route, there is a large gravel extraction site, beside which the route climbs a bit higher. 

From Pöllyvaara, the route continues down a long straight and fast descent, after which it turns left into younger pine forest passing through kettle holes on narrow ridge crests. There are also some slightly more technical sections on this part. Gradually, the terrain around flattens, but continues as pine forest towards Juuvinmäki, where there is one of the route's starting points. The route returns through rolling forest terrain towards the end of Lake Pitkälampi, where the circular route ends and returns back on the ice trail leading to Hiukka.