Prelude Trail | Lieksa South

On the Kaskenkyni trail, the road is the star of the show! The day also offers plenty of scenery and nature – in Lieksa, it’s hard to avoid them. But above all, this route is a gravel rider’s smorgasbord, spiced with uphill climbs. Although there are as many as 15 kilometres of tarmac, you’ll find gravel in all its forms, and a significant proportion of it is on the coarser side. The route roars like the Pankakoski Prelude and is dedicated to the composer of the piece, Heino Kaski, who set out on his journey from here.

Highlights of the route:

• Crossing the Soko River via a small bridge (7.5 km)
• The Ulkkasärkät sand dune field (43 km)
• The Lieksajoki dam (72.5 km)
• The hydroelectric power station and suspension bridge designed by Alvar Aalto (74 km)

The route is extremely demanding due to its varied road surface and numerous steep climbs, with a difficulty rating of 5/5. The total ascent is 881 metres, which is significantly above average. In addition to the large hills, the route features a considerable number of short, successive hills.

The route is rideable from May to October, with the best conditions from early June to around mid-September.

Hotel accommodation is available in the centre of Lieksa, and there is a campsite and holiday cottage accommodation near the town centre. The centre of Lieksa also has food shops, cafés and restaurants. You can find them on the website https://lieksatravel.fi/en . There are no service points, toilet facilities or places to refill water bottles along the route.

Internet connection: A working internet connection is available throughout the route – you can always call for help by dialling 112 or using the 112 app.Please follow Metsähallitus’s Code of Conduct for Hikers.

Drive north from Joensuu on Highway 6 towards Kontiolahti and Kajaani. At the Uuro junction, turn onto Main Road 73 towards Lieksa and Nurmes. Continue along Main Road 73 via Eno, Uimaharju and Ahveninen to Lieksa. You can get to Lieksa town centre by bus www.matkahuolto.fi and by train www.vr.fi. You can park your car and charge your electric car in the car parks of the large shops nearby. Car parks in Lieksa are free of charge.

The route takes a whole day to complete and is considerably more challenging in terms of distance. The starting point is in the centre of Lieksa, and the route initially heads south. There are a few sections along the way that require particular attention.

First point: At around 7.5 kilometres, Karjosillantie ends at a junction leading to a farmyard. From here, the route continues straight on as a path, which may be heavily overgrown with hay in summer. About thirty metres further on, the path leads to a bridge. The bridge is narrow, has no railings and is partly waterlogged. Cross it with extreme caution and make sure you walk your bike across the bridge! If you are unable to cross the bridge, return to the start of Karjosillantie, turn onto Joensuuntie (Country Road 73) and cycle along the hard shoulder for about half a kilometre southwards. A road called Tuomipuro branches off to the left, which will take you back onto the route. If you are able to cross the bridge, continue along the path that runs along the edge of the fields. The path is heavily overgrown and narrow for a while, so you should push your bike along these sections.

Second point: At kilometre 14, you reach the summit of the day’s first major climb. From here, over a distance of about 20 kilometres, there are several particularly steep and uneven descents, which should be tackled with caution.

Third point: After about 46.5 kilometres, you turn off onto a small, heavily overgrown side track. At over three kilometres, this is exceptionally long and includes both steep ascents and descents.

Fourth point: At around 73 kilometres, the route leads into an extremely steep descent, which ends in a tight right-hand bend onto the dam wall of a power station. This is followed by a left-hand bend through a tight S-bend onto a narrow suspension bridge. Ride this section with the utmost care, as there are many pedestrians on the route.

Recommended equipment: A gravel or mountain bike, with a minimum tyre width of 35 mm. The route has been test-ridden with 40 mm tyres.

Very demanding - very good fitness and previous training are essential.