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A full-day adventure ride through the western Taiga wilderness of Hossa National Park, Finland.


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Map Key

31.8

Miles

51.2

KM

85%

Singletrack

924' 282 m

High

707' 215 m

Low

1,081' 330 m

Up

1,082' 330 m

Down

1%

Avg Grade (1°)

16%

Max Grade (9°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

Features Commonly Bikepacked

Family Friendly Lots of rather easy / intermediate sections and possibilities to take shortcuts using roads. Campfire sites to have lots of breaks. Other activities like picking berries and swimming are possible.

The trail is open during the summer and fall season, normally from June to October.

In Hossa, the mobile phone coverage is fairly good, but there may also be dead zones due to landforms.

Please, check instructions and rules at Nationalparks.fi!

Overview

The wildlife of Hossa National Park is best experienced by biking on the Sininen Saavutus Trail, which runs as a 32 mile (50 km) circular route through western Taiga forest spotted by eskers and glimmering waters. The mysterious rock paintings at Värikallio cliffs tell you stories from the shamanistic world thousands of years ago.

The trail offers a variety of challenges but also a wealth of flowy natural trail sections to make up for a whole day's adventure (unless you want to experience the arctic midnight sun and ride through the night). The plentiful campfire sites, 14 of them in total, on beautiful sandy lakeshores allow for dipping into the crystal clear waters of the National Park for a quick refreshment.

Need to Know

Since Hossa National Park is very remote area, services offered by the partners of Hossa National Park are very useful.

It is a good idea to have enough energy and food as well as drinking water on the trail. There are natural springs and streams along the trail, but the quality of water cannot be ensured. A trail map, tools to make a campfire, first aid kit and a bike repair kit are necessary.

The trail offers plenty of possibilities for wildlife photography, so a camera is recommended. During July and August, the lake water is warm enough to swim, which is highly recommended!

Hossa Visitor Centre is a great place to get ready on your bike adventure. Purchase a trail map, rent a fatbike, have a hearty meal and head out on the trail!

Description

Trail markings: blue signs
Starting point: The trails travel counter-clockwise from the Houssa Visitor Center

The Sininen Saavutus (a.k.a "Blue Feat") Trail runs in almost all parts of the National Park, utilizing its extensive network of trails.

From the Visitor Centre to the glimmering lakes:
This initial part of the trail is a beautiful section running along the shores of four interconnected lakes with crystal clear waters and sandy beaches. The ride is mostly flowy intermediate trail with plenty of twists and turns. After the lake section, the trail ascends to run along a wooded pine heath with more technical challenges in terms of stony terrain. Here, it is possible to branch off to the right to visit the ancient Värikallio Cliffs rock paintings. Leave your bike on top of the stairs and walk to the cliffs.

Towards Lake Kokalmus:
After the branch to the Värikallio cliffs, the trail continues crossing Pistonlehdontie road. This is a more technical, root-filled section with beautiful small ponds by the trail. Soon the trail becomes easy and continues towards Lake Kokalmus. On this section there are two historical reindeer sheds, revealing the old lifestyles of the area. The trail running along the shore of Lake Kokalmus is undulating with some roots on the path and several duckboard sections that can be cycled. Thereafter, you'll arrive at a lean-to shelter on a scenic spot with a sandy beach.

Along rivers, lakes and eskers to Lipposensalmi:
At the campfire site, the trail starts ascending along a maintenance track and soon continues on a forest road. The trail continues on the road for about (3.4 mi/5.5 km) until you arrive at River Aittojoki. Before the bridge on the left starts the next section of small, undulating trail along the riverside. By the pond on the edge of a mire area, you'll be able to enjoy the loud mating concert of birds when pedaling towards the shore of Lake Lavajärvi. Continue to the Syrjäsalmi lean-to shelter for a break, and pedal on to the scenic Syrjäharju Esker.

Next follows an ascent to Syrjäharju Esker. On top, the stony trail takes you along the narrow ridge, to the east, and you'll see the Iso-Nimetön watercourse on your right side. After a descent, the undulating trail that runs along the shores of Pikku-Nimetön goes across streams and bypasses short duckboard sections. Then you'll arrive at the Joukovirta lean-to shelter.

After the shelter, the trail takes you to the shore trails of Lake Joukojärvi. After a fairly steep ascent, continue along a trail that goes towards a historical reindeer roundup pen. The following section is much more technical all the way to the shore sections on the western side of Lake Lounaja. After a bridge, you'll arrive at a crossing of a trail that connects Lake Kokalmus and Lipposensalmi. Turning right you arrive soon at an idyllic lean-to shelter, again on a peaceful sandy beach.

Final challenge of Jatkonvaara hill:
A rather easy trail continues east along the scenic shores of Lake Lounaja. After 0.9 miles (1.5 km), it turns to the left to a technical trail that takes you onto and across Jatkonvaara Hill. You'll arrive at the top of Jatkonvaara Hill after 1.25 miles (2 km). Thereafter, the trail starts descending towards Pistonlehdontie road. After crossing the road, continue towards the Huosivirta parking area. In case you still have some unspent energy, you can pedal the final section along the Huosiharju Esker trails. However, most bikers will be satisfied with the Jatkonsalmi asphalt road section.

Find out more at Nationalparks.fi Biking Trails in Hossa!

History & Background

Hossa is an old Sámi hunting ground. The rock paintings at Värikallio Cliffs are at least 3,500 years old. The oldest dwellings found in the National Park are almost 10,000 years old. Water routes have allowed people to travel through the Hossa area from the Lake Ladoga to the Arctic Ocean and from the Gulf of Bothnia to the White Sea. The series of rock paintings at the Värikallio Cliffs are the largest prehistoric paintings in Finland.

Hossa National Park was established in 2017 to celebrate Finland's centenary of independence.

Contacts

Shared By:

Veikko Virkkunen

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Photos

Sininen Saavutus Trail offers a plenty of flowy sections. Photo: Metsähallitus
Oct 3, 2017 near Taivalk…, FI
Lakes and eskers of Hossa National Park. Photo: Hannu Huttu / Metsähallitus
Oct 3, 2017 near Taivalk…, FI

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