Karhunpolku, Hiking route in Lieksa

Karhunpolku is a hiking trail surrounded by pristine and beautiful nature in Lieksa, North Karelia. It is part of the extensive Karjalan Kierros trail network and runs from the wilderness of Patvinsuo National Park through the Ruuna hiking area to the Kuhmo border. Karhunpolku follows our eastern border and the shores of our canoe routes.

Allocate sufficient time to enjoy the beautiful scenery and explore the sights. Along the hiking trail and nearby, there are well-maintained rest areas, restored battlefields, and several fishing areas. Tourism companies offer support for your gear and provide hikers opportunities to rest, enjoy a sauna, eat well, or try various activities. You can find Lieksa tourist services on the Lieksa map service.

The recommended time to hike the entire route is 6 - 8 days. The terrain varies both in landscapes and elevation differences. The wettest places have boardwalks. The route is marked in the terrain with orange paint marks.

• Open fires are forbidden during forest or grass fire warnings and in strong winds. 
• Be careful – do not leave a fire unattended. The last to leave, make sure the fire is extinguished.
• The route includes some very demanding sections, such as steep climbs and descents. 
• On rainy and wet days, boardwalks, stones, and roots can be very slippery.
• Carry first aid supplies with you.
• General emergency number: 112 (Also download the free 112 Suomi app on your phone).
• Note that there may be dead zones for mobile phone reception.
• Check the Finnish Meteorological Institute warnings!

Connections to hiking routes: Order transport service or taxi

See access via Patvinsuo: luontoon.fi/patvinsuo

See access via Ruuna: luontoon.fi/ruunaa

Access via Teljo and Jongunjoki: You can reach Lieksa from Joensuu by train (vr.fi) and bus (matkahuolto.fi).

Further connection: Transport services for the Lieksa hiking routes

Karhunpolku is a long hiking and mountain biking route. The route is marked in the terrain with orange paint marks and signposts. Mostly the route is easy or moderately challenging, but occasional rocky areas, steep climbs to ridges, and descents increase the difficulty level of the route.

Karhunpolku can be divided into several daily hikes according to your preferences. In the northern part of Karhunpolku, between Teljo and Ruuna, the high ridges and needle paths offer great lake and ridge scenery and lots of elevation changes. In the southern part, between Patvinsuo and Ruuna, there is a lot of beautiful old forest, open swamp landscapes, and fewer steep hills compared to the Ruuna-Teljo section.

The entire route is long, and it is advisable to allow about a week to complete it. You can also hike the route in the opposite direction if you wish.

Route description from Patvinsuo to Teljo:

0 km At Patvinsuo, it is worth taking an extra day. Circle Suomujärvi, visit the bird watching tower, enjoy the sauna at Suomun nature hut lakeside sauna. You can stay in the nature hut communal accommodation (9 beds, cooking facilities) or in Suomun house. Explore the national park exhibition. The nature hut rents saunas, canoes, and boats.

3 km Kurkilahti, campfire site, swimming beach. Route features magnificent old pine forest.

14.8 km Kangas-Piilo campfire site. Route has boardwalks.

16.8 km Ahokoski lean-to.

21.3 km Hukkalammi campfire site. Route with ridge scenery.

23.7 km Kirkisensalmi lean-to.

25.8 km Pitkäjärvi wilderness hut + small wilderness hut in the yard. Accommodation for about 13-14 people. Sauna. Marked route around Pitkäjärvi in very beautiful ridge scenery. After Kirkisensalmi, a lean-to in a beautiful place.

28.5 km Valkealammi restored battlefield. Campfire site, restored dugouts and tank obstacles. Route partly on a small road (dugouts closed due to collapse danger).

29.5 km Connecting path to Loma-Kitsi (7.8 km).

30.5 km Kaatiinlampi campfire site. Route along beautiful ridge, pleasant oaks, forest management work done in the area.

36.1 km Särkkäjoki campfire site. Lean-to. Route continues first along a road and then along the beautiful Särkkäjoki ridge.

41.6 km The path goes down from the ridge, crosses a road and a gravel pit, and continues towards Ruuna. The route goes along a village road before descending to the Ruuna nature reserve at Itkiinpohja and Ruunaanjärvi shore. There are boardwalks at the shore.

49.3 km Rantakangas campfire site.

51.8 km Marinkangas campfire site.

55.3 km Haapavitja suspension bridge, lean-tos on both sides of the river. You can hop on a whitewater rafting boat here if you have arranged this in advance with the operator.

56.0 km Haapavitja II, lean-to.

61.0 km Ruuna Hiking Center. Visit Neitikoski. The route continues on boardwalks and trail, passing some wetlands.

64.6 km Connecting path to Ruuna Tourism (4.5 km).

68.8 km Naarajoki. Summer café Ruuna Cottage. The route continues as a new trail to the next campfire site. By mountain bike along old route road.

73.8 km Niskanlahti lean-to. On the route first a tiring uphill part and then an opening ridge section.

83.3 km Piilonen lean-to. From Piilonen lean-to take the road about 5 km to Villin Pohjola Olkikoski reservation hut.

88.3 km Connecting path to Nurmijärvi village. THE CONNECTING PATH HAS NOT BEEN MAINTAINED FOR YEARS – MARKINGS ARE INSUFFICIENT – RISK OF GETTING LOST without a proper map. Along the connecting path is Villin Pohjola Puuruu reservation hut.

92.3 km Jynkä campfire site by the pond. The route continues as ridge scenery. From the south end of Jynkälampi, gravel road about 3 km to Villin Pohjola Häähnijoki reservation hut.

95.5 km Connecting path to Nurmijärvi village

97.5 km Änäkäinen, Winter War battlefield, trenches, tank obstacles, and a large three-level cave – cave closed due to collapse risk. Änäkäinen is also a Metsähallitus fishing area; rental boats available (keys at Café Annukka, tel. 040 964 1083). At Saarijärvi’s end is a lean-to; on the isthmus between Änäkäinen and Saarijärvi is a kota hut. Allocate at least 3 hours for Änäkäinen. The route continues with ridge scenery.

104.0 km Campfire site and lean-to by Jongunjoki shore. The route continues as a village road and trail in the ancient forest area. From the ancient forest, a marked trail leads to the Jongunjoki shore at Pälvekoski. Pälvekoski has a nice kota hut in a beautiful location near a suspension bridge. Marked spring at the north end of Hämönlampi, signposted from the trail.

115.5 km Valamajoki wilderness hut. The hut has 6 beds and outside a campfire site, wood shed, and toilet.

120.7 km Aittokoski, kota hut and campfire site. The route continues along the shore, occasionally wet.

125.3 km Viharinkoski. Lean-to and marked spring.

127.3 km Otroskoski wilderness hut, sleeping platforms in 2 floors for 10-15 people, lakeside sauna, campfire site, wood shed, and toilet. The route continues as a trail and forest road. The hut was renovated in 2010.

133.0 km Teljo. Teljo bridge and campfire site 500 m towards Lieksa. The route continues to Kuhmo as the Petra trail along Jongunjoki upstream.

Maintenance of Karhunpolku is managed by Lieksa Sports Department. If you notice windthrows on the trail or issues with campfire sites and lean-tos, contact the sports facility caretakers: jaa.halli@lieksa.fi or phone 040 104 4775. Welcome to Karhunpolku and happy hiking!

The route description was drafted on 6.7. 1995 and updated in 2021. The description is a summary of the Karhunpolku route description found on the Lieksa map service.

Rubber boots or sturdy hiking shoes. Crossing some wetlands requires rubber boots or removing your shoes.
Bring enough warm clothing. Clothes made of natural materials are best. It is advisable to bring insect repellent.
You do not necessarily need a compass. A GSM phone works quite well in the area, and the trail is well marked.