Pogostan kierros mountain biking route

Pogostan kierros is a route circling Pogosta, the church village of Ilomantsi, following the Taitajan taival, Rajan polku, Susitaival, and Kulkijan polku. In Finland’s easternmost municipality Ilomantsi, waters, mires, forests, and glacially formed ridge landscapes offer a rewarding experience. The route goes through magnificent ridge scenery, quiet wilderness areas, and sometimes also village landscapes. This long loop route invites travelers to admire North Karelian nature. The route includes much easy-to-travel terrain, but the steep ridge ascents and descents as well as rocky sections occasionally increase the route’s difficulty level.

Pogostan kierros is a long hiking trail suitable for mountain biking and hiking, marked in the terrain with orange signs and guideposts. Along the route are several lean-tos, campfire sites, wilderness huts, as well as tourism and accommodation services. You can also find all resting places, tourist companies, and nearby routes on the map service.

From the Särkkäjärvi wilderness hut on Pogostan kierros, you can continue on Susitaival towards Patvinsuo, from where the journey proceeds via Karhunpolku through Ruuna to Teljo. Together these three routes form a hiking trail network about 300 kilometers long.

• Free parking

You can start the route, for example, from Petkeljärvi, Möhkö, or Ilomantsi's Parppeinvaara, from where a 7 km long connecting path leads to the route. The fastest riders complete the loop in a single day, but it is recommended to divide the route into two or three parts if you want to enjoy the scenery and cultural sights along the way at a relaxed pace.

Taitajan taival 26 km (Road 522 Hatuntie - Petkeljärvi)

The route starts from Hatuntie, turning onto Ilolinnantie and following it until it turns diagonally left onto a path. The path is technically easy. The route reaches a gravel road, from which it continues straight onto a wide path. On the left is Linnalampi lean-to, from where you can admire beautiful waterscape views by the Koitajoki River. The route continues as a wide path, turns left after an ascent, and then crosses Harjutie to the left. Here starts a narrow easy path in gently undulating terrain. There is one steep sandy descent on the path. After the path, the route reaches Putkelantie and continues on the gravel road to an intersection where it turns left onto Karvilantie. Initially, the route runs on a gravel road. At the Y-intersection, the route turns right toward the ridge. The ridge offers a needle-covered path, occasionally technical terrain. There are steep ascents and descents, rocky areas, and some roots.

Hiislampi lean-to is at the intersection of Pogostan kierros and Ilomantsi connecting trail. The path continues until it crosses a road. After crossing the road, the route continues through similar ridge landscapes with further ascents, descents, and rocky sections. After crossing Möhköntie, the terrain becomes technically easier. From Tetrijärvi lean-to, you have views of the lake. The route continues steeply uphill on the ridge (this can be bypassed by taking a path turning right instead of the ridge ascent). Sometimes the path is wide and easy, and sometimes narrower and more technical. There are occasional rocky sections along the route where caution is advised. From the Keltasilmä lean-to, again beautiful lake views open in both directions. The route continues from the lean-to towards Petkeljärvi National Park, mostly on easy terrain. The national park area offers magnificent old forest scenery and mostly easy or moderately difficult paths. There is one more challenging rocky section on the path. The route passes very close to Petkeljärvi nature hut, which can be visited if desired.

Rajan polku 14 km (Petkeljärvi - Möhkö)

The route follows a gravel road for a while, from which it turns left onto a path following Kuikka circuit. This path is initially easy but becomes rockier and more challenging as you ascend the ridge (this section can be bypassed by continuing straight on the gravel road instead of turning right onto the path). In spring, the northern part of the path can be submerged in shallow spots near Petkejärvi’s shore. The route reaches a road, after which it turns right shortcutting via a path to a parking lot and then to Möhköntie. The route continues on a paved road and then turns left onto Rajavaarantie gravel road. The gravel road offers rolling terrain until the route returns to the same road. The route only travels on Möhköntie briefly, then turns left into the forest onto a narrow easy path. The path crosses a forest road and continues easily to a gravel road. The route continues along the gravel road and then turns right onto an easy path. After the path section, the route returns to the gravel road and continues to Möhköntie to a bridge crossing Koitajoki River.

Southern Susitaival section 24 km (Möhkö - Särkkäjärvi wilderness hut)

In Möhkö, accommodation, café services, and a museum are available among other things. After Möhkö, the journey continues along Susitaival, which traverses varied forest and mire terrain, occasionally offering stunning ridge views. The beginning of the route alternates between easy paths and gravel roads. From Möhköntie, the route first turns left onto Jokivaarantie, then right at the first intersection, and then continues right onto a path. The path crosses Viinivaara road and gently ascends. From the forest, the path detours briefly to a gravel road, follows it, then turns left. The path is mostly easy. The route reaches Korkeakankaan road and turns left. The route continues on an easy path crossing several mires on boardwalks. The route comes to a gravel road, continues briefly on it, then turns left onto a path. This section starts with a path before reaching a steep rocky part which can be challenging especially with a heavy load. After this, the route continues on boardwalks. The route follows roads, then turns left onto a wide path. The route reaches an intersection (from here you can turn right to visit the Öykköstenvaaran war historical area with a covered campfire site and toilet). The main route turns left from the gravel road, then right onto a path and starts ascending the ridge. The ridge has some more challenging rocky parts but also easy and moderate trail sections. While traveling on the narrow ridge, you can admire beautiful lake views. The path continues through gently rolling ridge landscapes.

You can detour to the northern Pitkäjärvi wilderness hut by turning right at the path junction towards the shore, while the main route ascends left up the ridge. The main route continues on ridge terrain for a while and then drops steeply down. It continues on a path soon turning to a gravel road. At this point, the route follows the road, turns left, continues to a turning point, and then proceeds on a forest path. The path is easy or moderately difficult, bordered by dwarf shrubs. The route crosses the road and reaches Kontiovaara, where at the path junction the route turns left, while turning right leads to Kontiovaara lean-to. The route descends from Kontiovaara along a path, crosses a gravel road, and continues towards Kivilampi. The path has some boardwalk sections but is mostly easy travel. From Kivilampi, the route crosses a boardwalk bridge and continues on occasionally boardwalked path. The route reaches Kivilammentie, then turns right and from an intersection turns left onto a gravel road. The route continues on the gravel road, eventually turning right onto a road and then quickly left onto a path towards the ridge. The ascent to the ridge is steep and partly sandy. The path on the ridge is mostly easy to travel. The narrow ridge path offers beautiful ridge scenery, with mires and ponds beautifying the landscape on both sides of the ridge. The route descends steeply from the ridge to a clear-cut, then continues through a sapling area to the Särkkäjärvi wilderness hut.

The descent from the ridge is steep. After the descent, the route crosses moist terrain, so waterproof shoes may be needed. The Särkkäjärvi wilderness hut is located just after a steep small descent, right on the shore of Särkkäjärvi.

Kulkijan polku 24 km (Särkkäjärvi wilderness hut - Hatuntie)

Kulkijan polku connects the southern section of Susitaival to Taitajan taival, mostly following gravel roads and easy paths. From the Särkkäjärvi wilderness hut, the route continues as a gravel road, then at an intersection first turns right onto a gravel road and then left, turning into a path. From the forest, the route reaches a forest road and continues right to Leppärinne road. From there, the route turns right and immediately left into the forest. The route passes through a birch grove, then turns right onto a wide path continuing straight to Viinivaara road. The route turns left and follows Viinivaara road until it turns right onto a forest road and shortly afterward right onto a grassy path. The path turns right onto a gravel road, continues, then turns left onto Viinivaara road. From Viinivaara road, the route turns left onto Pyytallintie. This section is mostly downhill until the road rises to a turning point slightly uphill and then turns down to the left. By the gravel road is Kiieskangas lean-to. The trip continues on the gravel road until the route turns right onto a forest road-type path. From the turning point begins a narrow path bordered by dwarf shrubs. The route returns briefly to a gravel road, continuing left. The route continues on the right edge of the turning point and turns right diagonally into the forest. This section is narrow path. The path turns left and straight ahead opens a straight path gently descending crossing a small road and continuing straight. This section includes some ditches with a well-maintained small wooden platform over them. The trip continues in the forest for a while until reaching a gravel road. The gravel road continues over Hatuntie onto a path. The route continues on the gravel road then turns right onto Hatuntie. By Hatuntie is the Kallioniemi war memorial. The route continues on Hatuntie for a while until turning onto Ilolinnantie, from which the route continues as Taitajan taival.