People have travelled these lands before. The heroes of the Kalevala and many artists set out to face challenges that changed them forever. Now, these same trails await you.
Lieksa’s trails are open to all explorers — you’ll find everything from an easy day trip with the family to a week-long hike in the silence of the wilderness. But the trail is just the starting point. What you find along the way — your own mind, the rhythm of nature, a moment without haste — that is the true destination.
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78 tours

Ruunaa Karttulenkki 42 km
Hard
2 h 15 min
38.4 km
A 42-kilometer long versatile cycling route in the Ruunaa landscapes



Frontline route – war history along the Rukajärvi road
Easy
40 min
2.5 km
The route is a circular path about 2.5 kilometers long, starting at the Änäkäinen recreational area parking lot. The trail takes travelers to the Winter War and Continuation War defense lines where you can still see battle trenches, firing positions, and restored dugouts.

Koli 103 km
Hard
6 h
103.8 km
Koli 103 km offers a versatile overview of the Koli tourism area, Koli National Park, and the lake landscape of Pielinen as well as the ever-changing hill scenery. A look at the route profile also hints at how the trip feels on your legs and what it might offer to the eyes and other senses.

Siikakoski small loops in Ruunaa
Medium
1 h 30 min
4.7 km
Kleine Wanderungen am Siikakoski in Ruunaa

Lake Musta Mäntyjärvi – large pike fishing in the peace of nature
Lake Musta Mäntyjärvi is an independent fishing destination in the vicinity of Lieksa’s Patvinsuo national park. The lake’s fish species consist of traditional Finnish fish; pike and perch. In terms of these fish, upper measurements are observed at the lake, which means that there are a lot of large individuals swimming among the pike and perch. Traditional individual fishing permits are not sold at the lake.


Kuusipolku – A Treasure of Ancient Fairytale Forests in Patvinsuo National Park
1 h
2.6 km
The Spruce Trail is a fairytale trail hidden in the old birch forests, with plenty to explore and wonder about. The trail runs along the edge of the dike and the surrounding vegetation is very different from other nearby trails, and the route is demanding because of the altitude differences and the rudimentary paths. You can explore Lieksa’s tourism services and attractions at www.lieksatravel.fi/en


Ylemmäisen lenkki Koli Freetimelta, 12,5km
Medium
1 h 20 min
12.5 km
Ylemmäisen lenkki Koli Freetimelta, 12,5km

Koli National Park
Koli National Park is one of the most famous national parks in Finland, located in North Karelia. It is known above all for its national landscape: the views of the Pieliski River from the Ukko-Koli, Akka-Koli and Paha-Koli dunes. The Koli landscape is one of the most symbolic views of Finnish nature, and the area combines a combination of endangered nature, old forests, traditional landscapes and cultural history.

The beautiful trio of Koli, 3.5 km
40 min
3.7 km
On this route, you avoid the steepest hills of Koli and encounter three culturally and historically valuable courtyards in Koli National Park. The route mainly runs on wide and gravelled tracks. There is also some elevation change, but only moderate compared to the steepest hills in the area.


Nature trail to the Räsävaara observation tower
Medium
30 min
0.9 km
The observation tower at the top of Räsävaara offers stunning 360-degree views of the Koli and Pielinen landscapes. The Räsävaara tower is easily accessible and is excellent for families and those interested in art history, as the path also passes by the painting site of Eero Järnefelt’s Metsälampi artwork. At the start of the path, there is a campfire site and a lean-to shelter for refreshments.


Ruunaa camping area
The Ruunaa hiking area is a state-run hiking area in Lieksa, North Karelia, known especially for the sparkling rapids of the Lieksan River, rafting, fishing, canoeing and wilderness landscapes of lakes and forests. Ruunaa is located near the eastern border and its strongest attraction is the camping around the water: rapids, suspension bridges, lodges, fishing spots and trails of several lengths.


Jongunjoki canoeing route, Kuhmo Jonkeri – Lieksa Nurmijärvi
16 h
62.9 km
Winding between Kuhmo, Kainuu and Lieksha, North Karelia, in areas of scenic beauty, you will find an exciting canoeing route that invites canoeing and outdoor enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the stunning Finnish landscape. The route meanders through calm waters, forests and beautiful coastal landscapes, providing an ideal setting for adventure and relaxation.



Thematic trail about Architecture and historical buildings in Lieksa
2 h 15 min
9.2 km
On a self-guided walking or cycling tour of around 7 km, you can discover the architectural architecture of the city. The streets of the town are a nice place to stroll around and see beautiful buildings and a piece of the history of Lake Pielisjärvi and Lieksa.

Olkikoski ring route
2 h 20 min
40.4 km
A scenic cycle route in varied terrain, with ridges, bogs and ponds along the way, crossing and passing close to a bear trail in places. Break and swimming areas along/near the route. On the way, you can learn about the military history of the Rukajärventie, e.g. at Änäkai and other signposts along the Kivivaarantie.


Finland’s longest lit ski track in the beautiful scenery of Koli
6 h 20 min
24.9 km
Experience the stunning scenery of Koli National Park and the fresh winter air by skiing on Finland’s longest lit ski track. The crisp frost makes your cheeks blush and your mind refreshed. On the ski trip, you will experience fast downhill slopes and even challenging uphill climbs. The snacks slipped into your backpack taste unbelievably good in the heart of nature!

Jongunjoki lake trail
1 h 30 min
7.7 km
In the magnificent lake scenery of Jongunjoki, a ski trail of about 10 kilometers invites you to ski. Dogs can also be taken along for hiking on this trail! The route can be accessed from the Kivivaara intersection parking lot. It is advisable to ski across the fields and cross Kuhmo’s road at the woodshed shown in the picture (it is a safer place). If you ski around both lakes and the fields on the route, the loop is about 10 km long.


Uusi virkistysreitti Juuassa, 18,2 km
1 h 35 min
18.1 km
The newest recreational trail in Juuja will be marked in summer 2025, and it is a route of about 18.2 kilometres of paths and roads ideal for all types of users. The trail is open to a wide range of users, from hikers to cyclists, and there are delightful rest stops along the way by the shores of clear ponds.






Patvinsuo National Park
Patvinsuo National Park is a wilderness national park located in the Lieksha and Ilomantsi regions of North Karelia. Its landscape is dominated by wide open swamps, old forests, quiet lakes and the long sandy beaches of Lake Suomunjärvi. According to Metsähallitus, all of Finland’s large carnivores are found in Patvinsuo, but in practice they are more often seen by hikers as tracks than as animal sightings.


Ukko-Koli demanding accessible route
Easy
Accessible
10 min
0.4 km
Ukko-Koli anspruchsvoller zugänglicher Weg

Pankasaari rotation
36 h
73.8 km
The “continuation” of the Jongun River canoeing route, around Pankasaari. Most of the paddling is on a calm river and lake paddling, passing the Reposuo-Kalliolahdensuo nature reserve. About 5 km is upstream, then downstream again on a calm river, a couple of small rapids/streams and a small lake. Parts of the route include bear trail rest stops along the way. Rental equipment available.



Gravel Route of Champions in Koli, 75 km
Hard
5 h
74.5 km
The Gravel Route of Champions in Koli is a 75-kilometer cycling route, in the same scenery where iconic master painters, writers and composer artists such as Eero Järbefelt, Juhani Aho and Jean Sibelius sought inspiration long ago. In the ir footsteps, Finland’s top gravel cyclists competed for the national championships in 2024.

Koli-Lieksa took home the prize at the 2023 Scandinavian Outdoor Award competition!
The jury was impressed by the four-season concept designed for a wide range of target groups. The region combines various types of accommodation, responsible nature tourism, and a commitment to integrating local communities through growth that meets the area’s needs.
Come and enjoy the best outdoor and hiking opportunities in Scandinavia!


































