Pieni Karhunkierros Trail

The start is in the small village of Juuma at a car park (Stella Polaris Adventures Rafting Centre).

(S/E) Head towards Pieni Karhunkierros.

(1) About 200m from the start is the Niskakoski suspension bridge, which offers a fantastic view. Cross the bridge and follow the path south for about 500m.

(2) You’ll arrive at Oulanka Base Camp, where you’ll find toilets and a warm place to sleep. Continue along the path, which turns left and leads to an old mill, now used as a day camp, with a barbecue area.

(3) Just past the building, take the path on the right and follow it for about 2 km. You will come to a shelter, the Siilastupa shelter.

(4) Opposite this shelter, you can see a rapid on the River Jyrävä. Continue along the path for just under 4 km. Cross the Harrisuvanto bridge, then you will find a fire pit and an open shelter.

(5) Return to the path to reach a junction. Leave the path on the right and continue straight on to the Kallioportti site, with magnificent viewpoints overlooking the Kitkajoki River.

(6) Continue on and further ahead you will cross a boardwalk through the wetlands. You will arrive at Pyöreälampi, where there is a campfire site with a view of the lake of the same name.

(7) Return to the path and you will then come to the Myllykoski suspension bridge, very close to the shelter you saw on the way there.

(3) Turn right and follow the same route back as on the way there (S/E).

(3) Siilastupa shelter, where you can sleep; there is a wood-burning stove inside and wooden bunks that can accommodate up to 12 people, as well as dry toilets and a barbecue area.
There are several shelters along the route, one of which is equipped for overnight stays.

We completed this route during the cold season; I recommend you bring shoes with crampons, or even studs, as the path is very slippery.

Bring a change of clothes, as some sections of the trail are muddy.

There are also several dry toilets along the route.
However, we didn’t come across any water points during our walk.

In case of bad weather, I recommend doing the route in an anti-clockwise direction (Juuma – Jyrävä – Harrisuvanto – Kallioportti – Myllykoski – Juuma).