Gravel Bike
|Lieksa
Gravel route into the Wild - from Koli to Lieksa 90.0 km
This unforgettable route takes you across Finland's fifth largest lake. You'll get to admire unique wooden architecture, conquer quiet gravel roads, and enjoy genuine wilderness.
Description
Your adventure begins with a ferry crossing over the magnificent Pielinen – one of Finland's iconic "thousand lakes". Breathe fresh air during the one-hour crossing. Next, you will find the Paateri Church – a wooden masterpiece sculpted by artist Eva Ryynänen. Explore the church, studio, and her former home, which now functions as a museum.
Back on the route, you will encounter secluded forest paths and steep gravel climbs until you stop by the shore of Murtojärvi to experience genuine wilderness. Ride along Kontiovaara's ridge road – a nine-kilometer gravel paradise shaped by the ice age and rewarded with stunning views.
Along the way, you will see a rare architectural gem: the power plant designed by Alvar Aalto. End your route with fresh coffee and pastries at a traditional bakery that has delighted visitors since 1927.
Location & Parking
Free parking at Lieksa railway station and Koli parking areas.
Directions
1. On access road head northwestFollow for 38 m – overall 38 m
2. Straight on Cycleway.Follow for 66 m – overall 104 m
3. Right and follow Cycleway.Follow for 1.10 km – overall 1.21 km
4. Right and follow Cycleway.Follow for 998 m – overall 2.21 km
5. At the intersection Straight on Rantatie, 5046.Follow for 140 m – overall 2.35 km
6. At the intersection Left on off-grid segment.Follow for 5.75 km – overall 8.10 km
7. Straight on Vuonislahti - Koli.Follow for 4.08 km – overall 12.2 km
8. Straight on Access Road.Follow for 33 m – overall 12.2 km
9. Right on off-grid segment.Follow for 181 m – overall 12.4 km
10. Straight on Tolkintie, 5075.Follow for 256 m – overall 12.7 km
11. Left on Vuonislahdentie, 5071.Follow for 244 m – overall 12.9 km
12. Turn right at the fork and follow Vuonislahdentie, 5071.Follow for 393 m – overall 13.3 km
13. Sharp right on Kirkkolantie.Follow for 561 m – overall 13.9 km
14. Left and follow Kirkkolantie.Follow for 1.72 km – overall 15.6 km
15. Left and follow Kirkkolantie.Follow for 92 m – overall 15.7 km
16. Right on Tytönniityntie.Follow for 325 m – overall 16.0 km
17. Right and follow Tytönniityntie.Follow for 76 m – overall 16.1 km
18. Left on Paaterin polku.Follow for 645 m – overall 16.7 km
19. Straight on Street.Follow for 55 m – overall 16.8 km
20. Right on Paateri.Follow for 557 m – overall 17.3 km
21. Straight on Street.Follow for 54 m – overall 17.4 km
22. Right and follow Singletrack (S1).Follow for 67 m – overall 17.5 km
23. Turn around and follow Singletrack (S1).Follow for 121 m – overall 17.6 km
24. Straight on Paateri.Follow for 1.72 km – overall 19.3 km
25. Right on Pohjantie, 15835.Follow for 2.59 km – overall 21.9 km
26. Left on Kylätie.Follow for 1.32 km – overall 23.2 km
27. Right on Vuonisjärventie, 15837.Follow for 575 m – overall 23.8 km
28. Left on Vehkalampi.Follow for 1.56 km – overall 25.3 km
29. Straight on Emontie, 15838.Follow for 6.89 km – overall 32.2 km
30. Left on Jaakonvaarantie, 5200.Follow for 506 m – overall 32.7 km
31. Right on Salonkyläntie, 15850.Follow for 5.10 km – overall 37.8 km
32. Turn right at the fork and follow Salonkyläntie, 15850.Follow for 925 m – overall 38.8 km
33. Turn left at the fork and follow Salonkyläntie, 15850.Follow for 2.64 km – overall 41.4 km
34. Sharp left on Sempsintie.Follow for 1.38 km – overall 42.8 km
35. Right on Vaskikalliontie.Follow for 2.84 km – overall 45.6 km
36. Left and follow Vaskikalliontie.Follow for 633 m – overall 46.3 km
37. Right and follow Vaskikalliontie.Follow for 455 m – overall 46.7 km
38. Right on Lipintie.Follow for 702 m – overall 47.4 km
39. Left on Luhovaarantie.Follow for 3.08 km – overall 50.5 km
40. Left and follow Luhovaarantie.Follow for 1.87 km – overall 52.4 km
41. Left and follow Luhovaarantie.Follow for 1.09 km – overall 53.5 km
42. Straight on Kontiovaarantie, 15858.Follow for 10.7 km – overall 64.2 km
43. Left on Pareentie.Follow for 311 m – overall 64.5 km
44. Turn left at the fork and follow Pareentie.Follow for 92 m – overall 64.6 km
45. Left and follow Pareentie.Follow for 3.44 km – overall 68.0 km
46. Right on Maksimontie.Follow for 1.13 km – overall 69.2 km
47. Turn right at the fork and follow Maksimontie.Follow for 4.16 km – overall 73.3 km
48. Straight on Path.Follow for 458 m – overall 73.8 km
49. Straight on Isonvaarantie.Follow for 597 m – overall 74.4 km
50. Left on Hattuvaarantie, 522.Follow for 1.81 km – overall 76.2 km
51. Right on Road.Follow for 19 m – overall 76.2 km
52. Left and follow Path.Follow for 1.22 km – overall 77.4 km
53. Straight on Pankakoskentie, 15867.Follow for 762 m – overall 78.2 km
54. Straight on Cycleway.Follow for 833 m – overall 79.0 km
55. At the intersection Right on Heittopellontie.Follow for 303 m – overall 79.3 km
56. Right on Ruukintie, 15866.Follow for 987 m – overall 80.3 km
57. Left on Ojalantie.Follow for 662 m – overall 81.0 km
58. Turn left at the fork on Asutustie.Follow for 2.35 km – overall 83.3 km
59. Straight on Yläkanavantie.Follow for 2.44 km – overall 85.8 km
60. Turn right at the fork on Street.Follow for 894 m – overall 86.7 km
61. Right on Alakanavantie.Follow for 71 m – overall 86.7 km
62. Right and follow Alakanavantie.Follow for 112 m – overall 86.8 km
63. Left on Cycleway.Follow for 115 m – overall 87.0 km
64. Left and follow Singletrack (S0).Follow for 445 m – overall 87.4 km
65. Left and follow Singletrack (S0).Follow for 905 m – overall 88.3 km
66. Left and follow Cycleway.Follow for 395 m – overall 88.7 km
67. Turn right at the fork and follow Street.Follow for 23 m – overall 88.7 km
68. Turn left at the fork and follow Street.Follow for 260 m – overall 89.0 km
69. Left and follow Cycleway.Follow for 67 m – overall 89.1 km
70. Right and follow Singletrack (S0).Follow for 268 m – overall 89.3 km
71. Turn left at the fork and follow Cycleway.Follow for 28 m – overall 89.4 km
72. At the intersection Left and follow Cycleway.Follow for 86 m – overall 89.4 km
73. At the intersection Left on Hyttilänkatu.Follow for 96 m – overall 89.5 km
74. Right on Cycleway.Follow for 129 m – overall 89.7 km
75. Left on Koulukatu.Follow for 162 m – overall 89.8 km
76. Right on Koski-Jaakon katu.Follow for 70 m – overall 89.9 km
77. At the intersection Straight on Cycleway.Follow for 217 m – overall 90.1 km
78. Slight right on Koski-Jaakon katu.Follow for 356 m – overall 90.5 km
79. At the intersection Left on Street.Follow for 142 m – overall 90.6 km
80. Turn left at the fork and follow Path.Follow for 200 m – overall 90.8 km
81. Right and follow Cycleway.Follow for 90 m – overall 90.9 km
82. At the intersection Sharp left on Hovileirinkatu.Follow for 81 m – overall 91.0 km
83. Left on Street.Follow for 21 m – overall 91.0 km