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Thematic Trail
· Suomussalmi
Patokoski outdoor route 3.7 km, demanding accessible, Suomussalmi
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Patokoski fitness route, SuomussalmiPhoto: Arto Heikkinen, Outdoors Kainuu
The Patokoski outdoor route following the old riverbed of Emäjoki offers a historical cultural environment and primeval forest wilderness right in the heart of the municipality center.
The Jalonuoma dam embankments along the Patokoski outdoor route are a locally significant cultural and natural environment in the municipal center. The beginning of the route, now serving as a recreational fishing spot, Jalonuoma is originally a closed riverbed due to the construction of a power plant, with a park-like southern shore followed by an accessible walking and fishing bridge. Following Jalonuoma, the route opens views to the majestic Sonnikallio, whose rock cliffs rise vertically from the water towards the sky. Along the riverbed section of Kynäkoski and Patokoski, parts of the stone tracks used for towing tar boats can still be seen. The river basin at the halfway point of the route features a primeval forest with mossy stones. The final part of the route passes by the statue of Suomussalmi writer Ilmari Kianto and offers views of the open lake of Kiantajärvi. Along the route, there are regularly spaced table-bench combinations, but no campfire sites.
See the accessibility description on the accessibility tab.
Author’s recommendation
Jalonuoma is also an accessible fishing destination, with the most sought-after catch being rainbow trout. The Jalonuoma local fishing spot is maintained by the Suomussalmi Fly Fishers Association.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Show elevation profileSafety information
The wooden surfaces of the bridges along the route may be slippery when wet.
Tips and suggestions
The route is an accessible fitness route up to the fishing pier of Jalonuoma.
Roadbook
The route is a gravelled and wide walking path all along. The beginning of the route is an asphalt surface light traffic lane and the bridge sections have wooden surfaces. The route starts from the Jalonniemi parking area towards Jalonuoma along the light traffic lane through an underpass tunnel. After about 150 meters, the route turns left from the light traffic lane to a bridge crossing Jalonuoma and the surface of the route changes to gravel. After the bridge, the route turns right following the park-like shore of Jalonuoma to a footbridge and then continues along a walking/fishing bridge to the end of the stream bed. After the underpass, the route continues along the side of Sonnikallio to the crossing of Kynäkoski, after which the route turns left following the opposite bank of the river to Patokoski. The route returns the same way back to the footbridge, which can be bypassed on the way back along the walking path by the shore of Jalonuoma. From the bridge crossing Jalonuoma, the route continues straight towards the shore of Kiantajärvi and turns left after the underpass. After the bay of the marina, the route turning right heads towards the shore. From the Ilmari Kianto statue, the route turns left following the shore of Kiantajärvi back to the starting point.
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
There is regular bus service to Suomussalmi. Check schedules on the Matkahuolto website.
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
The starting point of the route is Jalonniemi House, located along highway 5 near the center of Suomussalmi. It is also easy to start the route from other parking areas close to the route.
Parking
Coordinates
Reasonably usable, but not completely accessible.
Arrival and parking
The Patokoski outdoor trail parking is located at Jalonkaarre 6, Suomussalmi. There is a designated accessible parking space in the parking area. In addition, there are many parking spaces in the flat asphalt parking area. The same car park is also used for escorted transport. The route starts at the edge of the car park and is signposted at the starting point. There is an accessible toilet in the Jalonniemi building next to the parking area.
Accessibility description of the route
The route is a partial circular route, which has been classified in the survey as a demanding accessible route. The route is signposted but not marked. The route has several crossing points. The width of the route is more than 1.5 m over the entire length. Longitudinal gradients range from 5 to 20 % and lateral gradients from 3 to 5 %. The main surface material of the route is rock ash. The surface of the route is mainly hard and flat. For wheelchair users, the use of a nose wheel is recommended.
The initial part of the route is on asphalt, passing through an underpass tunnel and climbing briefly uphill at a gradient of 6 %. The footbridge over the river has a flat wooden surface and a width of more than 2,5 m. After the bridge, the track turns right downhill at 5% gradient towards a footbridge and fishing pier built on the shore. The width of the 150 m long pier is 1,5 m. The cross-board spacing of the planks is less than 0,5 cm. The platform has a protective edge and guard rails. The top edge of the guardrail can be opened in a few places for fishing. The platform has three widenings with a width of 2,5 m. There are also seats at the rest areas. At the end of the platform, there is a 30-metre-long uphill with a longitudinal gradient of 8 %. The route is easily accessible up to this point, and leads left in a loop back to the initial path (see third paragraph).
The track straight ahead to the underpass continues as a demanding accessible route. The tunnel has a free height of more than 2.2 metres and a width of more than two metres. The more rough and uneven surface of the passage has a width of about two metres and is subject to erosion by run-off water. After the tunnel there is an uphill slope of about 35 m with a maximum gradient of 15 %. The route continues downhill with a maximum gradient of 20 % and continues with small ascents and descents. After crossing Kynäskoski, the even route turns left and continues for a short distance on a softer, grassy track. From the Patokoski bridge, the route returns along the same track back to the wooden footbridge.
From the pier, the route continues gently uphill back towards the starting point, but continues past the Jalonuomi footbridge to an underpass tunnel with a clearance of over 2.2 metres and a width of over 2 metres. The tunnel is surfaced with asphalt and has a gradient of 8% up and down. After the tunnel, the route turns left following the shores of Lake Kianta on flat terrain. Just before the Jalonniemi house, there is a wooden pier on the right, which leads to a lake view. The pier is 1.5 metres wide and the free space at the end of the platform is 1.5 metres deep and 1.5 metres wide. The cross-board spacing of the planks is less than 0,5 cm. At the end, the route climbs back to the starting point uphill at a gradient of 4 %.
Rest area and other destinations
There are table-bench combinations along the route and at the end of the trail. The table-bench combinations are fixed and the table level does not rise significantly above the frame structures.
A viewing platform is provided at the Sonnikallio rock wall, which can be challenging to access for wheelchair users. The gravel platform has a lateral slope of more than 5%. The platform has a guardrail.
Completely accessible and fully usable.
Things to note in addition to the general accessibility description of the route
No advance material in plain language or in sign language has been produced for the route.
Reasonably usable, but not completely accessible.
Things to note in addition to the general accessibility description of the route
No advance information on the route is available in braille or as an audio file.
There is no Braille signage at the starting point of the route.
The wooden bridge over the river Jalouoma has good colour contrasts, but the lack of colour contrasts makes it difficult to see the footbridge and fishing pier.
The underpass tunnels of the route are poorly lit and do not have colour-contrast lines.
Reasonably usable, but not completely accessible.
Things to note in addition to the general accessibility description of the route
No advance material in plain language has been produced for the route.
The lack of route markings makes it difficult to navigate on the route and there is a risk of getting lost.
Equipment
Normal clothing and footwear suitable for outdoor activities.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions