Arrival

We recommend arriving at Koli National Park via the paved Kolintie (no. 504), even if your navigator suggests otherwise.

• Turn onto road no. 504 from Highway 6 at the Neste Kolinportti junction.
• Jerontie (road no. 15735) and Rantatie (road no. 5046) are narrow, winding gravel roads and are particularly challenging in winter, during thaw periods, and for large vehicles like motorhomes, even in summer.
• Tip for winter arrival: Weather permitting, an ice road crossing Lake Pielinen from Koli to Vuonislahti opens in mid-winter (koli.fi).

Avoiding seasonal crowds

• P1–P3 (Ylä-Kolintie 39) can get congested easily. Crowds may occur on weekends, during peak season (June–August), holidays, autumn foliage season, and on public holidays.
• During busy times, we recommend using other parking areas in the national park as starting points. For example, from the parking areas at Ollila, the slopes of Ukko-Koli, Likolahti, and Paimenenvaaran, it’s only a 1–2 km walk along the trail network to Koli Nature Center Ukko and several different day trailheads.
• See information about alternative parking areas at the end of this page.
• During peak times, note also the parking area at the slopes of Ukko-Koli, which has a scenic lift connection to the Upper Yard.

Charging electric cars

• Electric car charging points are available at the P1 parking area. Charging points are fee-based. For more information about electric car charging points (sokoshotels.fi).

Accessible parking

• Accessible parking area at the upper yard Ylä-Kolintie 39, Lieksa (road no. 5040). Space for 2 cars. Accessible parking spaces are located next to the side entrance of Break Sokos Hotel Koli. Parking in these spaces is allowed only with a valid permit.
• Wheelchair users can also access the cabin lift, which transports visitors from the P1 parking area to the upper yard.