Mäkrä Trail - hiking in the national landscape of Koli National Park

The most popular day hiking route of Koli National Park leads you to the park’s most magnificent views and natural sights. Along the way, you pass through the diverse nature of the national park. From Koli’s most famous scenic cliff, you hike down through spruce forests to the old forest meadows, which were former settlement sites, and then climb back up to Mäkrävaarä, from where the views enchanted the first artists who visited Koli more than a hundred years ago. Perhaps the artist Eero Järnefelt fell deepest in love with Koli’s landscapes; the pine he painted can still be found on the hilltop and has earned the nickname "Järnefelt’s pine."

You can have a snack break, for example, at the Ikolanä campfire site. Ikolanä is one of the route’s three meadows, which are still managed in the traditional way by mowing and hay harvesting. Their flower displays are often at their best in early July.

• Open fires are forbidden during forest or grass fire warnings and in strong winds.
• Be careful - do not leave fire unattended. The last person to leave, make sure the fire is extinguished.
• On rainy and wet weather, duckboards, stones, and roots can be very slippery.
• Carry first aid supplies with you.
• General emergency number: 112 (also download the free 112 Finland app on your phone).
• Note that there may be mobile phone coverage black spots.
• Check the Finnish Meteorological Institute's warnings!
• Plan and adjust day trips according to your condition.

https://www.luontoon.fi/koli/ohjeetjasaannot

From the Joensuu–Kajaani road no. 6, it is 9 km to the village of Koli and 12 km to Ukko-Koli. Turn from road no. 6 at the Kolinportti service station to road no. 504 (right when coming from Joensuu, left when coming from Kajaani). There are signs to Ukko-Koli at the village of Koli.

You can reach Koli by public transport and ride-sharing taxi. In summer, Koli is also accessible by water.

https://www.luontoon.fi/koli/kartatjakulkuyhteydet

When arriving at Ukko-Koli, leave your car in the parking area. Continue to the Upper Yard either on foot along the road (300 m), by climbing the stairs (150 m), or by traveling with the comfortable free rack railway.

The figure-eight shaped circular route offers some variation possibilities. It is marked in the terrain with numbered intersection signs and blue paint spots. It is advisable to familiarize yourself with the route in advance and take a map with you.

The route is marked on the intersection signs with a black circle. The recommended direction of travel is clockwise.

The route starts from the yard area of Koli Nature Centre Ukko and Break Sokos Hotel Koli, passes by Koli's highest peaks down to Mäkränä and Purolänä, from where the climb to Mäkrä, or Mäkrävaarä, begins. From the hilltop, the route continues down towards Ikolanä, where there is a campfire site and a toilet. From Ikolanä, the route returns to Mäkränä, where you can choose from three route options back to the starting point.

A more detailed route description can be found on the luontoon.fi website.

Take a map, phone, water bottle, and perhaps a small snack with you. We recommend sturdy-soled shoes, such as trail running shoes or hiking boots.