Pärnä Trail, Liperi Kinttupolut

The Pärnä Trail is the shortest but hillier route of Liperi's Kinttupolut trails, located right next to the Pärnävaara Sports Center. The route circles almost around the top of Pärnävaara, from where there are the best views of the surroundings.

It is recommended to start the Pärnä Trail from the lower parking of the Pärnävaara Sports Center (Urheilutie 5A), from where heading clockwise leads immediately after a short ski track section to pleasant and narrow needle trails. After the first kilometre, the route passes the "base station" of Pärnä Bike Park, where the downhill trail network ends and there is a freely accessible grill shelter in the park. The path continues for about half a kilometre along narrow trails until the biggest climb of the Kinttupolut trails towards the summit of Pärnävaara is ahead. The climb on the ski tracks is about 75 metres. Near the summit, you can stop to look at the scenery at the nature reserve. The route continues back along Pärnä Trail to the sports center, and what remains is practically downhill along ski tracks.

• Stones and roots are slippery when wet.
• Small first aid kit
• 112 app installed on your phone

Drive from Joensuu about 10 km along highway 9 towards Kuopio, exit at junction 21 and then follow the signs for the Pärnävaara Sports Center to the destination.

There is regular bus service from Joensuu to Jyrinkylä, from whose terminal stop (Jyrinlenkki) it is a 900 m walk along Urheilutie to the Pärnävaara Sports Center, where access to the trail is best.

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

Free parking at the lower or upper terraces of the Pärnävaara Sports Center. Departure to the trails is more convenient from the lower terrace parking.

The Pärnä Trail is marked on the terrain with black color. The parking lot is located at the lower parking area of the Pärnävaara Sports Center, from where heading left or clockwise on the Pärnä Trail (black guide color) is the more sensible direction. At intersections of routes in the terrain, guide maps make it easy to see your location. The trail is easy to follow thanks to good signage.

• Weather-appropriate clothing and equipment
• Sufficient drinks and snacks
• Other equipment according to the length of the hiking trip (sleeping bag, tent, etc.)