Long Distance Hiking
|Ilomantsi
Susitaival is an approximately 95 km long hiking route through ridge, forest, and mire landscapes in North Karelia, from Ilomantsi's Möhkö to Lieksa's Patvinsuo National Park.
Susitaival is a long hiking route from Möhkö to Patvinsuo National Park. Bright coniferous forests, rugged ridges, beautiful waters, and vast mire landscapes invite travelers to explore the wilderness nature of North Karelia.
The southern section of Susitaival from Möhkö to Särkkäjärvi wilderness hut shares the same route with the Pogostan kierros. At Patvinsuo, Susitaival connects with the Karhunpolku, which continues 140 km north via Ruunaa to Teljo. Together these three routes form an approximately 300 km long hiking network.
Susitaival is marked on the terrain with orange paint marks. The route features four hand-pulled ferries that assist hikers in crossing bodies of water.
The southern end of the route is the village of Möhkö, which offers food and accommodation services, and the northern end is Patvinsuo nature cabin services. Along the route there are several lean-tos, wilderness huts, and campfire sites. All rest stops, tourism companies, and nearby routes can also be found in the map service.
The route can be started, for example, from Ilomantsi's Möhkö or from Lieksa's Patvinsuo National Park.
Möhkö-Särkkäjärvi wilderness hut 24 km
In Möhkö there are accommodation, cafe services, and a museum available. After Möhkö the journey continues along Susitaival, which runs through varied forest and mire terrain occasionally offering stunning ridge views. The beginning of the route is paced by alternating easy paths and gravel roads. From Möhköntie the route first turns left onto Jokivaara road, from which it turns right at the first intersection and then continues right onto a path. The path crosses Viinivaara road and gently ascends at the same time. In the forest, the path occasionally deviates to a gravel road and then turns left along it. The path is mostly easy. The route reaches Korkeakangas road and then turns left. The route proceeds on an easy path and over boardwalks through a few mires. The route reaches a gravel road, which it follows for a while before turning left back onto a path. This section begins with a path followed by a steep rocky part which can be somewhat challenging, especially with a heavy load. After this, the route continues over boardwalks. The route goes along roads, then turns left onto a wide path. The route reaches a gravel road junction (from here you can optionally turn right to visit the Öykköstenvaaran war history area, which also has a covered campfire site and toilet). However, the main route turns left from the gravel road. The route turns right onto a path and begins to ascend towards the ridge. On the ridge, there are more demanding rocky sections but also easy and moderately difficult paths. While walking on the narrow ridge, you can admire beautiful lake views. The path continues through rolling ridge landscapes.
You can detour to the northern Pitkäjärvi wilderness hut by turning right at the path junction along the shore, while the main route ascends left upwards. The main route continues through the ridge terrain for a while longer and then descends steeply. The route continues on a path, soon turning into a gravel road. Here the route follows a road, turns left to a road and continues on it to a turning point, where it continues into the forest on a path. The path is easy to moderate with surrounding low shrubs. The route crosses the road and arrives at Kontiovaara, where at the path junction the route continues left, while a lean-to shelter is located to the right. The route descends from Kontiovaara along a path, crosses a gravel road and continues towards Kivilampi ponds. The path includes some boardwalk sections but is mostly easy to walk. From Kivilampi the route crosses a boardwalk and continues on an occasionally boarded path. The route reaches Kivilampi road, then continues right and from the junction left along a gravel road. The route continues on the gravel road, eventually bending 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 along the ridge is mostly easy. The narrow ridge path offers beautiful ridge scenery with mires and ponds embellishing the landscape on both sides. The route descends steeply from the ridge to a logging clear-cut, from which the path continues through a young forest to the Särkkäjärvi wilderness hut.
Särkkäjärvi wilderness hut-Naarva 36 km
The route continues north from Särkkäjärvi wilderness hut along a path. There is easy walking path in varied forest and ridge terrain with some rockier sections. After the Teponsärkä shelter located at the edge of a gravel pit area, the route dives into the forest, from where it returns to a gravel road before crossing Hatuntie road. After crossing Hatuntie the route continues on mostly easy forest paths on ridges, with short gravel road sections between. Hepojoki river can be crossed dryshod via a bridge. Before Kaunisjärvi lean-to shelter the path ascends quite steeply onto the ridge, where the path is rocky in places. The route briefly returns to a road, from where the way to Kaunisjärvi lakeside lean-to is signposted. After the road the route turns left onto a path that continues as an easy or technically simple forest path. The path climbs onto the ridge between Louhilampi and Pyörälampi ponds, from where there are magnificent views. The path on the ridge is rocky in places. The ridge landscapes remain behind as the route continues towards a forest road that leads to Isonpalonkangas. After crossing Hattujärventie the path goes through more open young forest before rolling ridge terrain. There are a few short but steep ascents and descents on the ridge. The path is occasionally demanding but mostly easy to walk.
After Luotolampi ponds, the path climbs Luotolamminsärkät ridges, which offer challenges in the form of elevation differences and rocky sections. Before Jorho the route returns to a gravel road, from which it continues as a trail. From the path there are beautiful views of Harkkojärvi pond. The route descends to a sandy shore and continues through Jorho wilderness hut onwards on an easy path. The route has two water crossings which can be passed dryshod using hand-pulled ferries. After the second ferry crossing the path slowly ascends towards Pahakalansärkki ridges where splendid hill landscapes open out. On the ridges the path is easy and scenic until it turns steeply left down to a road. The route continues briefly on the road and then passes through a gravel pit area, climbing up along the edge of the gravel pit and forest. The route continues in varied terrain to Petrokangas lean-to, after which it winds through pine forest. It is advisable to pay attention to the signs here to avoid getting lost on forest machine tracks. The route eventually turns left onto a gravel road. The gravel road continues about 2.5 km until the route turns right onto a path. The path is mostly easy to walk. When ascending Naarva, the mire changes to forest and the soil becomes more fertile. The route continues on easy walking paths and cart tracks through a nature reserve. At Naarva splendid Northern Karelian hill landscapes open out.
Naarva-Patvinsuo 31 km
From Naarva the route descends on a path to a gravel road, which is followed about 3.5 km to Köpönvaara. From there the route continues as mostly easy forest paths via Piippulampi ponds to Korkeakangas, where there is a steep descent to a mire. After the mire the path is sometimes slow walking and shrub-covered (cyclists can bypass this section on roads). After crossing the mire there is a short stretch of gravel road from which the route turns left onto a path leading to the shores of Lutinja and Saarikoski. This section is mostly easy but partly wet. After travelling a short stretch along the east side of Lutin river, you reach a ferry which takes you dryshod across the river. The beginning of this section is mostly easy. Long sleeves and pants may be needed because the path is lined by high shrubs and vegetation with branches reaching the path. Along the path there are several places that can be very wet in early summer or other wet periods. The path continues as a wider forest path and bends away from the river, continuing mostly as an easy forest path. In this area there are some ditch crossings.
The route reaches a gravel road, from which it first continues left onto a path and then on the right side of the road as a path. The route continues again on the road, then dives into forest on a path. For crossing Suomunjoki river there is a ferry at the river shore. After crossing the river, the route continues on a wide path and reaches Suomunjoki lean-to. From the lean-to the route continues along a forest road to a parking lot, from which the route turns sharply slightly diagonally left onto a forest path. The route crosses a road continuing as an easy path towards Patvinsuo. As Patvinsuo approaches, the number of boardwalks increases. Majaniemi campfire site on Koitere shore is about one kilometer from the route with signposts at the path junctions. After the route to Majaniemi and the Susitaipale junction, the terrain is mostly easy to walk. The route continues through forest and mire environment. Teretinniemi lean-to is right by the path. After the lean-to you can visit the surroundings from the Teretinniemi birdwatching tower. The path and boardwalks continue all the way to Kurkilahti parking lot. Kurkilahti has a cooking shelter and a swimming place.
Map and/or GPX track on device (the route is marked on the terrain with orange paint marks)
Appropriate clothing and equipment
Fire making tools
Sufficient drinks and snacks
At Patvinsuo’s Teretinniemi there is a birdwatching tower and an information board about the area's birds. You can study the birds by observing them from the birdwatching tower or along the route.
Please note that after heavy rains, flooding of the route is possible.