Pärnä Trail, Liperin Kinttupolut

The Pärnä Trail is a short but rather hilly route right next to the Pärnävaara Sports Center. The route circles almost the summit of Pärnävaara, from where there are the best views of the surrounding area.

It is recommended to start the Pärnä Trail from the lower parking of the Pärnävaara Sports Center (Urheilutie 5A), from where, heading clockwise, you first get on a short ski track base section and then onto pleasant and narrow conifer needle trails. After the first kilometer, the route passes the "lower station" of Pärnä Bike Park, which is the endpoint of the downhill trail network and has a grill shelter. The route continues for another half a kilometer along narrow paths until the biggest climb of the Kinttupolut trails towards the summit of Pärnävaara is ahead. Along the ski track bases, you gain about 75 meters of elevation. Near the summit, you can stop to enjoy the views, go down the Pärnä Bike Park trails or continue the Pärnä Trail back to the sports center. Essentially, only downhill remains.

• On rainy days stones and roots are slippery.
• Small first aid kit
• 112 emergency app installed on your phone

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

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

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

Free parking at the lower or upper terraces of the Pärnävaara Sports Center. Starting from the lower terrace parking is more convenient for the routes.

The Pärnä Trail is marked in the terrain with black color. The parking lot is located at the lower parking area of the Pärnävaara Sports Center, from where going to the left, i.e. clockwise on the Pärnä Trail (black guide color) is a more sensible direction. In the terrain, at the intersections of the routes, guide maps make it easy to see your location. The route is easy to follow thanks to good guidance.

• Weather-appropriate clothing and equipment
• Enough drinks and snacks
• Other equipment depending on the hiking trip length (sleeping bag, tent, etc.)