Hiking & outdoor recreationLength5.5 km
Duration(5 h)
The trail, which begins from the magnificent natural sand beach at Haukanhieta, passes through coniferous forests to the scenic lookout points at Helvetinkolu Gorge and back again. The length of the out-and-back hike is 11 kilometres. Due to the hilly terrain, the trail is very challenging in places, so you should allow plenty of time for the hike. There are stairs on the steepest slopes. The Hiedanmaja rental hut, cooking shelters, campfire sites, camping area, a well and dry toilet are located at Haukanhieta at the start and end point of the trail. There is a campfire site and camping area at Lake Iso Ruokejärvi and a dry toilet along the trail. At Helvetinkolu Gorge, there is a day hut, campfire site and dry toilet on the shore of Lake Iso Helvetinjärvi. The trail is not maintained during the winter.
The trail section between Haukanhieta and Helvetinkolu in Helvetinjärvi National Park is closed due to flooding
It is not possible to walk from Haukanhieta to Helvetinkolu in Helvetinjärvi National Park without getting wet. At Sammakkolammi, the area is flooded and the boardwalks are well underwater. It is not possible to bypass this section because the terrain is very difficult due to ravines and bodies of water.
Campfire siteAlways check for any wildfire warnings in effect before making a fire.
Camping permittedCamping is only permitted in the immediate vicinity of marked rest areas and campfire sites and huts.
HutHelvetinkolun päivätupa ja Hiedanmajan vuokratupa
Dry toiletRemember to bring toilet paper.
Remember to bring a trash bagThere are no waste bins on the trail. Bring along your own trash bag and take your waste out with you when leaving.
Water pointHaukanhiedan kaivo
Multi-purpose trailYou can hike, bike, snowshoe or run along the trail. Please note other trail users (moving at different speeds)
Contact information
Starting pointHaukanhieta parking area, at the western part of the National Park, 34600 Ruovesi
From the Haukanhieta parking area, visitors walk past the boom and down the hill along the forest road. Within a short distance the trail to the natural sand beach at Haukanhieta turns off the forest road to the left. Visitors will first encounter a pump well, followed by the cooking shelters. There are campfire sites and a camping area on the beach.
Visitors return from the beach to the main trail, which continues as a gravel road for a while, passes the dry toilet and becomes a shady forest path. The trail passes through coniferous forests, and beaver worksites can be spotted along the way: gnawed tree trunks and dammed streams that can become flooded.
At Myllylahti, the trail crosses a mire area on duckboards and over a bridge, climbing to a scenic lookout point on a rock, where there is a rest spot. The scenic lookout offers views of the wilderness-like Lake Haukkajärvi.
The trail continues as a forest path between ascents to higher rocks. There is a campfire site, camping area and a dry toilet in the middle of a mire area on the shore of Iso Ruokejärvi, which is a small lake.
After Lake Iso Ruokejärvi, the trail climbs up to Porrasharju and head towards Sammakkolampi lake. Sammakkolampi is reached by going down steep stairs. The trail crosses the mire area on duckboards, after which a long set of stairs climbs up to Helvetinkolu Gorge.
The scenic lookout is off the main trail to the left. A boardwalk leads to the scenic lookout point, which is a fenced terrace that offers views of the landscape out over Lake Iso Helvetinjärvi.
Returning from the scenic lookout point, the main trail continues as a boardwalk and leads to a bridge, from which it is possible admire the narrow bedrock faces of Helvetinkolu Gorge. Please note that, for safety reasons, visitors are not permitted to hike at the bottom of Helvetinkolu Gorge.
The trail continues as a boardwalk and there is a long staircase that leads down to Lake Iso Helvetinjärvi, where there is a day-use hut and a campfire site.
The return journey follows the same trail back.
End pointHaukanhieta parking area, at the western part of the National Park, 34600 Ruovesi