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Hiking Trail
· Kuhmo
Iso-Palonen trail 14,5 km, Iso-Palonen - Maariansärkkä, Kuhmo Finland
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Iso-Palonen viewPhoto: Metsähallitus, CC BY-ND, Eeva Pulkkinen
Here, amidst the eskers, the wild forest reindeer has found a sheltered feeding and breeding ground. In this same environment, hikers can also find a place where they can break loose from their everyday routines, let their minds rest and enjoy the offerings of nature.
The esker formation crossing the reserve has been an important area for the migration of the wild forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) as well as providing it with a grazing ground.
Friendship Park Nature Reserve consists of five separate nature reserves mainly located in the municipality of Kuhmo. The area is a popular hiking destination. There is a total of about 30 km of hiking trails, along which you can find several maintained resting places.
Sights: You can see hunting pits, bases of tar-burning pits and remains of trenches dug during the Second World War along the trail.
Author’s recommendation
Iso-Palonen is also a good winter hiking destination for skiing and snowshoeing, but the trails are not maintained.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Rest stops
Saunaniemi campfire site and a lean-to shelter, Iso-Palonen Kuhmo FinlandTammalammenpuro campfire site and a lean-to shelter, Iso-Palonen Kuhmo Finland
Papinsalmi campfire site, Iso-Palonen Kuhmo Finland
Safety information
Own drinks and snacks are recommended, since there are no cafés or shops in Iso-Palonen - Maariansärkkä.
In the summer, hikers should protect themselves from mosquitoes (clothing, insect repellent).
Duckboards crossing mires and wetlands may be slippery when wet.
Tips and suggestions
Open flame is not permitted even at a campfire site if a forest fire warning has been issued.
Berry and mushroom picking is allowed in the area. There are lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus), bog bilberries (Vaccinium uliginosum) and crowberries (Empetrum nigrum) in the area. In mires, you can find cloudberries (Rubus chamaemorus) and cranberries (Vaccinium oxycoccus).
Fishing is allowed with a rod and line.
Walking outside the routes is permitted, but it is advised to stay on paths.
Campfire Sites and Lean-to Shelters:
- Tammalammenpuro: a campfire site and a lean-to shelter
- Saunaniemi: a campfire site and a lean-to shelter
- Papinsalmi: a campfire site
Drinking Water
- It is recommended that you bring your own drinking water.
- The waters in the area are natural waters. You may use the water at your own risk. Boiling the water before drinking it is recommended since water quality varies from one area to another.
Waste Management
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There are no waste-bins in the nature reserve. Avoid taking unnecessary waste into the area.
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Biodegradable waste should be placed in a toilet or composter, and small amounts of clean paper and cardboard can be used as kindling in a campfire. Read more about Hiking without littering.
Toilets
There is a dry toilet near every campfire site and lean-to shelter.
Camping and Lean-to Shelters
You are allowed to camp temporarily near lean-to shelters and campfire sites.
Roadbook
Iso-Palonen Trail, about 13 km. From the Valkeiskangas parking area and around Lake Iso-Palonen. The trail is marked in the terrain with blue paint marks.
Services: lean-to shelters with campfire sites at the Tammalammenpuro Brook and the Saunaniemi Point of Veräinen. There is also campfire sites at the Papinsalmi strait.
The route starts from Valkeiskangas parking area. After 800 meters, there is a turn left into the ring route around lake Pieni-Palonen. About 100 meters from here, the Iso-Palonen return route joins route. Immediately after this, we cross the Papinsalmi bridge. The scenery opening to left is lake Pikku-Palonen and to right lake Iso-Palonen. After the bridge, in the esker, the Pieni-Palonen trail joins back again from the left.
At the bottom of the Laajalahti bay, the route departs both right and left. If you do not wish to depart to Saunaniemi campfire site and lean-to shelter, you can continue straight ahead. The trail leads left and joins back to our route after a few hundred meters. The route leading to the right leads to the Lake Veräinen and Saunaniemi lean-to shelter. There are plenty of ancient hunting pits. The beach is a sandy beach suitable for swimming.
From the lean-to shelter, the path returns to the shore of Iso-Palonen lake and, after 800 meters, joins the shortcut from the north. The route rises to Valkeisenkangas boreal forest hill and looks upon the beaches of Valkeisenlampi pond. From here, the trail runs on the southern side of lake Iso-Palonen through pine forest eskers and mires to Rapalampi pond and further to Rapakankangas hill, which is the highest point of the route.
From Rapakangas hill, the trail leads back to the shore of Iso-Palonen and then turns north along the western end of the lake. The route turns back to the east and crosses the Myllylammi brook. Thereafter is the Tammalammenpuro campfire site and lean-to shelter by the lake. This site is nine (9) kilometers from the the starting point.
From the lean-to shelter and shore, the path leads towards Palosenkangas hill and then to the southern shore of Lake Säynäjärvi. After the bridge of Säynäjäpuro brook, we come back to Iso-Palonen and Papinsalmi strait, where the next campfire site is located. Soon afterwards, the path joins the return path to the starting point, which is the same route as here when entering the circle.
Kalliojoki canoeing route starting point
Tammalammenpuro campfire site and a lean-to shelter, Iso-Palonen Kuhmo Finland
Papinsalmi campfire site, Iso-Palonen Kuhmo Finland
Public transport
The area cannot be reached by public transport.Get Timetable to destination
Directions
From Kuhmo: take the Kuhmo - Suomussalmi road (No. 912) and drive along 35 km's. Turn right (to the east) to a forest road leading to Iso-Palonen. Drive for about 8 km and you will find signposts to the parking areas of the hiking trails. The parking areas are the Matokangas parking area on the western side of Lake Iso-Palonen and the Valkeiskangas parking area on the northeastern side of Lake Iso-Palonen.
The forest road leading to Iso-Palonen is not snowploughed in winter.
Coordinates
Book recommendations for this region:
Equipment
The paths are mostly easy terrain. Trekking does not require special equipment. At the wet mires there are duckboards. There are bridges over the small rivers and in the ridge areas there are stairs. In dry weather, you can even walk along with jogging shoes. Nevertheless, proper hiking shoes are recommended.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions