Sininen saavutus Mountain Biking Trail (IMBA EPICS) 50 km, Hossa National Park

The Sininen saavutus Trail runs in almost all parts of the national park, utilising its extensive network of trails. Only the Ala-Ölkky and Julma-Ölkky areas are not located along the trail. The trail runs by the Värikallio area. From the Lihapyörre area, it runs along the same trail from which branches off a connecting trail to Värikallio. Please note, in summer it is not allowed to cycle to Värikallio. Leave your bike for a while and have a walk to the Värikallio Cliffs.

You can cycle the entire circle trail in one day, if you already have some mountain biking experience. In other words, you do not need to be particularly experienced. However, the trail is long and its technical elements are demanding in places. As regards its technical elements, the trail as a whole is intermediate. On a long trail, the weather is important. In rainy weather, the trail becomes a couple of categories more demanding on its technical sections, because of the wet roots. Likewise, the final part of the trail in the area of Jatkonvaara Hill and Huosiharju Esker may be very challenging, especially if you want to cycle along trails all the way. Of course, you can also set off from elsewhere than from the visitor centre, even though it is the official starting point. You can also shorten the trail at many points.

There are plenty of rest stops and lean-to shelters along the way, so you can make this trail a multi-day trip, but it is possible to tour the trail as a day-trip as well. Or why not make it a night time adventure, when the Arctic midnight sun lights the trail during the mid-summer.

Initial Part Starting from the Visitor Centre   

The initial part of the trail runs along the yellow trail, all the way to a trail that connects Lake Syvä-Suottajärvi and the Hakokoski Rapids. From there, the trail continues along the shores of Lake Syvä-Suottajärvi to Lake Puukkojärvi. You can visit the open wilderness hut close by. There are also a campfire site and a dry toilet by the open wilderness hut. The trail continues along the shore of Lake Puukkojärvi to Talassalmi. The Puukkojärvi lean-to shelter is located in this section. From Talassalmi, continue along the shores of Lake Talasjärvi, to Laukunsalmi. At Laukunsalmi, you will arrive at crossroads of trails, from where you can branch off to the Laukkujärvi Open Wilderness Hut.

The trail turns to the left towards Laukunsalmi and runs across a bridge, to the southwestern shore of Lake Laukkujärvi. After pedalling about 250 metres, turn to the left and ascend to a skiing trail base that runs along the esker, and continue to the Lihapyörre parking area. From there, the trail continues along a more stony connecting trail (that runs to the Värikallio Cliffs), until it branches off from the connecting trail and continues straight towards Laurintyrnänlampi Pond and Levälammet Ponds. This trail section consists of small-scaled, more technical root-filled terrain, where bikers are able to test their biking techniques.    

Towards Lake Kokalmus   

After crossing Pistonlehdontie Road, the trail continues from the southwestern side of Kirkasvetinen Pond to Kaunislampi Pond. This is also a more technical, root-filled section. After Kaunislampi Pond, the trail becomes easy and continues towards Valkeisenvaara Hill and Lake Kokalmus. By the Kokalmus reindeer shed, the trail turns to the right towards the Kokalmus lean-to shelter.

The trail running along the shore of Lake Kokalmusjärvi is undulating, even though there are also some roots on the terrain. After Kuikkalahti, there will be several duckboard sections that can be cycled. Thereafter, you will arrive at a reindeer shed that is located close to the Kokalmus lean-to shelter. After bypassing it, you will arrive at a lean-to shelter that is located at a tip of a small peninsula in the Korealahti Bay.    

Towards the River Aittojoki, via Syrjäharju Esker 

From the bottom of Korealahti Bay, turn to the right and start ascending, along a maintenance road, until you arrive on a forest road that runs to Pistonlehdontie Road. The trail continues along the road for about 5.5 km until you arrive at Alakoski, River Aittojoki, on the western side of Variskangas. Before the bridge across River Aittojoki, turn to the left onto a small, undulating trail along the riverside. By the pond on the edge of a mire area, you will be able to enjoy the loud mating concert of birds when pedalling towards the shore of Lake Lavajärvi. Before Likolahti, turn to the left and continue to the Syrjäsalmi lean-to shelter and to Syrjäharju Esker.  

After crossing the Syrjäsalmi bridge, you will ascend to Syrjäharju Esker. The stony trail takes you, along the narrow ridge, to the east, and you will see the Iso-Nimetön watercourse on your right side. Thereafter, the trail turns and descends to the right just before Nimettömänsalmi. The undulating trail that runs along the shores of Pikku-Nimetön goes across streams and bypasses moister sections. Then you will arrive at the Joukovirta lean-to shelter. After the Joukovirta lean-to shelter, the trail takes you to the shore trails of Lake Joukojärvi and to the side of Virtasalmi. Thereafter, there is a fairly steep ascent. Continue along a trail that goes towards a former reindeer roundup pen. The trail descends towards Poroaidanlampi Pond. After riding round the pond, there will be a brisk ascent, and you will arrive at the trail section on the western side of Lake Lounat-Valkeinen. This trail is much more stony and unlevel all the way to the shore sections on the western side of Lake Lounaja. After the Rytipuro duckboards, you will arrive at a trail that connects Lake Kokalmusjärvi and Lipposensalmi. Next, you will arrive at the Lipposensalmi bridge and an idyllic lean-to shelter. 

From Lipposensalmi towards the Visitor Centre 

The trail continues along the southern side of Lipposenniemi to the shore trail of Lake Lounatkapea. Thereafter, it turns to the left to a small-scaled, more technical trail that takes you onto Jatkonvaara Hill. You will arrive at the top of Jatkonvaara Hill after a two-kilometre ascent. Thereafter, the trail starts descending towards Pistonlehdontie Road, connecting to the white trail. After crossing Pistonlehdontie Road, continue towards the Huosivirta parking area. In case you still have energy, you can also pedal the final section along the Huosiharju Esker trails to the visitor centre. Most bikers probably choose the Jatkonsalmi road section. 

Alternative Trail towards Hossalaislammet and further on to Huosivirta 

From the Lipposensalmi lean-to shelter, you can also continue (along the Kokalmuksen kierros Trail), along the shore trail on the eastern side of Lake Pitkä-Hoilua, to the Hossalaislammet parking area. This way, you will not have to cycle the long ascent to the top of Jatkonvaara Hill. The trail along the shore of Lake Pitkä-Hoilua is small-scaled, undulating and root-filled. After bypassing the Pitkä-Hoilua campfire site, you will cross several streams, and at the end, you will cycle through an old storm damage area. From the Hossalaislammet parking area, you can continue to the east, along Pistonlehdontie Road, to Huosivirta. From the road that runs to the Pitkä-Hoilua parking area, turn to the left and cycle along the skiing trail base that goes by the road side for one kilometre. The final section runs along Pistonlehdontie Road until you arrive at the crossroads of the road and the trail that comes from Jatkonvaara Hill. Turn to the left onto a trail that takes you to the Huosivirta parking area. This option is a bit longer, but not as demanding as the section that runs to the top of Jatkonvaara Hill.