Vuokatin Vaellus - Event info

The 21-kilometer Vuokatin Vaellus hiking route follows the UKK trail and crosses a total of 13 major hills, offering hikers breathtaking views of hills, forests, and lakes. The hiking route is challenging and falls into the difficult category in terms of difficulty.

The route starts from the old Teerivaara village school, where a bus transports hikers from the event centre. From Teerivaara, the route passes by Takkula’s house and crosses a forest road. After the road, from Parkuanvaara, the route continues through a large clear-cut area.

From Martinvaara, the trail continues through the dam of an artificial pond for about half a kilometer to a forest road. After this, the path diverges into a forest trail. Between Satulavaara and Kekäleaho, there are old field clearings that have partially turned into forests. From Kekäleaho, the route continues to the old forest cottage of Isoaho and from there towards Ansavaara. From Ansalampi, the route continues along the lower edge of Tolhovaara for about a kilometer, and after about five kilometers of hiking, you will reach Tolhovaara’s support point, where water and juice are available. At this point, the hiker can choose either an easier or a more challenging route to Rönkön laavu.

From Rönkön laavu, the path passes under the Joensuu-Kajaani highway, and the ascent begins towards Koljolanvaara. On Koljolanvaara, you are back in the forest and on a proper trail. The steepest rock sections have been facilitated with wooden stairs. However, the hiker needs intact knees and ankles to reach the 300-meter contour line and the enchanting old-growth forest.

From Koljolanvaara, the path heads to 340 meters in Porttivaara, from where you descend on the north side through the sapling area to the ruins of an old farm. At the former Porttimäki farm, you can learn about the history of residents August and Hilma Tikkanen and take a restroom break. Near the ruins, there is also an old quarry site for extracting oven stones.

From Porttivaara, you descend into a glen and climb through Ilveskallio to Lehtovaara. Along the way, you traverse enchanted forests, production forests, and ski trails. After 14.5 kilometers of hiking, you reach Möykynlampi. At Möykynlampi, there is a small cottage, a toilet, and a support point offering coffee, tea, juice, buns, sausages, and sandwiches.

From Möykynlampi, the route continues to Möykynvaara and Matovaara, where you can find Kettumäen kota where a toilet is located. 

From Kettumäki, you continue to the top of Keimavaara and from there to the path to Pieni Pöllyvaara. Although Pieni Pöllyvaara is part of a nature reserve, you can still see a 323-meter radio mast erected on the slope. From Pöllyvaara, the route descends to the shore of a small pond and climbs from there a steep and rocky path to the top of Vuokatinvaara. Now, at an elevation of 326 meters above sea level, you encounter the Vuokatinvaara service point, where water, juice, chocolate and salt are available. At the summit, Vaaran Tupa also serves hikers.

The last two kilometers of the route goes near the Vuokatti skiing hills all the way back to the Vuokatti Areena.