Matkalampi Trail, Liperi's Kinttupolut

On the Matkalampi Trail, you enjoy Liperi's Kinttupolut most beautiful needle trails and varied terrain.

One highlight of the route is the paths of the Kotisalo nature reserve by the Hovatta-named pond, where there is also a small swimming pier. The nature heritage foundation, private individuals, and companies fund the nature reserve, which is especially known for its ancient pines, among which you can hear a woodpecker tapping on the dead trees. In a good blueberry summer, you will find delicious blueberries beside the trail. You can learn more about the Kotisalo nature reserve from the accompanying introduction video.

The Matkalampi Trail is altogether 16 km and includes in addition to needle trails, ski track bases, cart roads, cobblestone ridge trails, a few gravel road sections, and beautiful trail by Sompalampi shore, where you also find another of the route's lean-tos.

The Matkalampi Trail is mostly easy to walk apart from a few rocky spots.

• On rainy weather, stones and roots are slippery.
• Small first aid kit

Drive from Joensuu along highway 9 towards Kuopio about 13 km, exit at Ylämylly junction and park at the parking spot of your choice.

There is regular bus service from Joensuu to Ylämylly, from where it is less than a kilometer to the Matkalampi Trail.

Check schedules at Joensuu region public transport website https://jojo.joensuu.fi/.

Free parking at the official starting points of the route:

• Honkalampi beach, address Honkaranta 2e
• Matkalammentie 1 (next to Sompalampi lean-to)
• Pärnävaara outdoor center, Urheilutie 5A (3-7 km from here to Matkalampi Trail)
• In Ylämylly center several auxiliary services and parking lots (shops, restaurants, service stations, cafes)

The Matkalampi Trail is marked on the terrain with blue color. It is easy to follow the route due to good guidance, but you can download a gpx file if you wish or print the Kinttupolut trail map. On the terrain, you can easily see your location from the guide maps at the trail intersections. On the gravel road sections (2 x about 1.5 km), route markings are scarcer, but the trail branching off from these is clearly visible.

• Appropriate clothing and gear
• Ample drinks and snacks