The Valkmusa bog and its bird tower

Park in the Vastilantie car park, in front of the park’s information board.

(S/E) From the car park, with your back to the road, turn left to go down the few steps and onto the boardwalk. Follow the single path through a sparse birch forest for about 1.2 km, until you emerge onto the bog.

(1) Emerge from the birch trees onto the vast, open bog. Walk alongside a pond bordered by a bench, then continue along the footbridge across the flat expanse, amongst the dwarf pines.

(2) Reach the observation tower. Climb up onto the platform to take in a sweeping panorama of the bog, its pools and the forest edge. Head back down and continue along the boardwalk that winds across the bog, then return to the birch forest and finally to the car park (S/E).

The boardwalk can be slippery in wet or frozen conditions. During the thaw and after rain, the bog is waterlogged. Sturdy footwear is recommended.

In winter, the area is accessible on skis and the trail is not cleared of snow. Check accessibility and equipment requirements before setting off out of season.

Access is via the Vastilantie road in Pyhtää. A bus stop serves the trail car park. Dry toilets are available at this car park.

Bring water with you: there are no water points along the route. On the eastern edge of the park, outside this circular area, the Moronvuori day shelter offers a picnic area, a camping spot and a shelter where you can light a fire.

(2) The observation tower overlooks the peat bog and its mosaic of pools: it is the ideal spot for birdwatching. In spring, waders such as the Eurasian curlew and the wood sandpiper can be seen passing through. The park is also renowned for the courtship displays of black grouse, the presence of the osprey and, in autumn, the flights of migratory birds.

Valkmusa protects one of the largest and most diverse domed peat bogs on Finland’s southern coast. This spongy, fragile, waterlogged habitat is covered with lingonberries and cranberries in autumn. The park is also known for its rich variety of butterflies, including the butterfly featured on its coat of arms.