Hiking & outdoor recreationLength3.9 km
Duration(2 h)
The Helvetistä Itään Nature Trail takes you to the best scenic lookout points in the national park, offering views of the Iso Helvetinjärvi rift valley and Helvetinkolu Gorge. The landscape has inspired composers, authors and painters since the 19th century. There is a day hut, campfire site and dry toilet at the Helvetinjärvi rest area by Lake Iso Helvetinjärvi. Restaurant Helvetin Portti serves visitors at the starting and end points of the trail. The trail is easy to hike. The first half of the trail is a very easy and wide gravel trail. The other half is a narrower forest trail with some duckboard sections. The trail is suitable for the whole family. The lakeshore rest area is reached by a long and steep wood staircase. Please note that, for safety reasons, visitors are not permitted to hike at the bottom of Helvetinkolu Gorge. Care must be taken at the scenic lookout points, as the cliffs are not fenced. Although the trail is not maintained during the winter, it usually gets tamped down from use.
The fireplace and stove in the Helvetinkolu day hut are out of use
In Helvetinjärvi National Park, the fireplace and stove in the Helvetinkolu day hut are out of use because the chimney is broken.
Circle trailThe recommended direction of travel is counterclockwise.
Campfire siteAlways check for any wildfire warnings in effect before making a fire.
HutHelvetinkolun päivätupa
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.
No water point
No winter maintenance
Multi-purpose trailYou can hike, bike, snowshoe or run along the trail. Please note other trail users (moving at different speeds)
Contact information
Starting pointKankimäen pysäköintialue
The trail starts from in front of the Helvetin Portti restaurant. First, the trail runs along a gravel road until the trail curves into the forest. The first part of the trail (the northern section) is a wide gravel trail that runs along a stream through a spruce forest, across bright pine forests and past mires toward the rugged rift valley.
When the trail reaches Helvetinkolu Gorge, it becomes a boardwalk. First, visitors can walk down the wood staircase to the shore of Lake Iso Helvetinjärvi, which has rest area structures. Visitors leave the rest area using the same staircase.
The trail then continues as a boardwalk and soon reaches a bridge, from which it is possible to admire the actual Helvetinkolu Gorge. For safety reasons, visitors are not permitted to hike at the bottom of Helvetinkolu Gorge.
Then, the trail leads to a scenic lookout point, which is located right next to the Helvetinkolu Gorge. The scenic lookout point is a fenced terrace, from which visitors can see the rugged landscape of the Iso Helvetinjärvi rift valley. Visitors can then return from the scenic lookout point to the original trail.
The return hike (the southern section) takes visitors across wet bogs and marshy pine forests. The mire sections are crossed by duckboards and there is a picnic table along the way where visitors can stop for a break. The rest of the hike follows a stream through the forests. There is also a charming small waterfall along the trail.
Finally, visitors will return to the gravel road that leads to Kankimäki.
End pointKankimäen pysäköintialue