Maastopyöräreitti 9, Kulmakuru Saariselkä

The trail is not marked in the terrain and can be characterised as a wilderness trail. Several rivers and other waterways must be crossed by wading and there are also mobile phone blind spots. You need a map, a compass and orienteering skills. The trail is only recommended for highly experienced mountain bikers and should always be taken in groups of at least two persons. Despite its demanding nature, Kulmakuru trail is a dream come true for experienced mountain bikers. The trail is not suited for gravel bikes. There are two demanding river crossings along the trail. In normal conditions, the water comes up to the knee.

The trail begins at the starting point for Saariselkä trails. First you ride through the Saariselkä centre on cycle paths and pass under highway 4 next to the Neste service station. After the underpass, you turn left to a gravel road and then westwards to the right to a road along the fence surrounding a driving practice track. The road gradually narrows into a forest track.

When taking the trail anticlockwise, you turn right to a snowmobile track after passing the driving practice track. After about one kilometre, the snowmobile track diverges to right and our route continues towards left across a mire. At this point, the trail narrows into a path-like ATV track and climbs towards the first side peak of Kuusipää.

You then ride downhill for about 40 metres, cross a small stream and make a gentle climb before descending to a power line. At the power line, the trail changes into a gravel road again. Along the power line, you can make a side trip by turning right to Alajoenlampi pond (distance 200 metres). You ascend from Alajoenlampi on a narrow gravel road, which ends at a junction. The trail now turns left and almost immediately, you make a descent to cross the Riekko-oja ditch.

After you have crossed Riekko-oja and made a climb, the road branches into two. Continue rightwards. The junction marks the start of a quick descent on a road and a vehicle track. About one kilometre after the junction, you arrive at another branch from where you continue for just over one kilometre to River Tolosjoki.

The road ends at a turning place from where a small path leads to the river. Ride along the river for about 40 metres upstream to a location where you can cross the river diagonally to left. The river is between 30 and 40 metres wide and depending on the time of the year and the flow, it can anything between knee-deep and thigh-deep. On the opposite side, there are stones on which blue markers and a blue arrow have been painted.

When crossing the river, keep your shoes on because the bottom is rocky and the stones can be very slippery. A tip: when crossing the river, carry the bike transversely in relation to your own direction of travel. This lowers the resistance generated by the river’s current.

When on the other side, ride on the small path along the river upstream for about 200 metres until the path gradually ascends to the river bank and towards Kulmakuru. This climb is one of the most demanding in the area. There are red wooden posts along the path which runs on a ski track base. However, you should not follow them too slavishly because they may take you to really wet places.

After a steep climb, you arrive at the foot of Harripää and in Kulmakuru. The Kulmakuru gorge is two kilometres long, and characterised by steep walls and boulder fields. As its name suggests (kulma = angle), it makes an angle of 90 degrees, and the views are truly magnificent. After Kulmakuru, the trail descends towards River Tolosjoki. The descent is one of the greatest singletrack experiences in the Saariselkä area. The downhill section ends at Pikku Harrijoki campfire hut.

About 100 metres south of the hut, the trail reaches a vehicle track junction where you turn left. Two smaller paths diverge from the track to the right but by following the widest track, you will easily stay on the right route. A short climb is followed by a long descent towards River Tolosjoki. Two kilometres from the hut, you pass a small gold prospector’s claim. The track the narrows quickly into a small path meandering along the stream or sharing the same streambed in a small gorge. At this point, the path quickly turns dangerously difficult and the final part of the descent is characterised by a steep boulder field. The path ends at River Tolosjoki, which you should now follow upstream for about 200 metres. You have arrived at the ford when you spot a small river on the opposite side. You should cross River Tolosjoki as soon as you have passed the river on the opposite side so that you can get to the right path. Here the river is slightly narrower (less than 30 metres wide).

On the opposite side, there is an ascending path, which soon takes a right bend into a steep climb and becomes a narrow ATV track. The ATV track again goes into a gentle descent. After a descent of 800 metres, a narrow shortcut to the left takes you back to the snowmobile track going northwards.

The snowmobile track takes you northwards to a location where you can cross Laanioja. Shortly before the crossing, the track descends steeply to the ditch and becomes extremely rocky, wide and meandering. After crossing Laanioja ditch, you ride towards northeast along Kaunispäänoja ditch in a small valley where the path is both wet and grassy in places. You cross Kaunispäänoja twice. After the last stream crossing, you are again on dry land and after a gentle climb of about 500 metres you arrive at the location behind the driving practice track where the trail diverged. To return to Saariselkä, take the same route as in the opposite direction.