Hiking & outdoor recreationLength4.1 km
Duration(1,5 - 2 hours)
Degree of difficultyHard
With a lot of elevation differences, the terrain on the trail varies from bright rocky areas to steep slopes and damp hollows. The landscape boasts both lake views and wild spruce forests. The trail is uneven and has very steep sections. The Lohilahti lean-to shelter and campfire sites are located at roughly the halfway point of the trail. You can also land here with paddlecraft.
Circle trailThe recommended direction of travel is counterclockwise.
Campfire siteAlways check for any wildfire warnings in effect before making a fire.
Camping permittedCamping is only permitted in in places designated for this purpose by Metsähallitus - On this trail at the Lohilahti campsite.
Dry toiletRemember to bring toilet paper.
Remember to bring a trash bag
No water point
No winter maintenanceThe trail is open during the snow-free season. The trail is not maintained in the winter.
Contact information
Starting point: Nahkiaissalo parking area. Nahkiaissalontie, Savonlinna. Coordinates: WGS84 - lat: 62° 12.922' lon: 28° 55.367', ETRS-TM35FIN - P: 6899656 I: 599988
Google Maps lists "Nahkiassalo nature trail" with the address "Unnamed Road, 58300 Savonlinna.
There are area information boards at the start point. There is a composting dry toilet near the parking area (approximately 50 m). The demanding accessible Hirviniemi trail heads in the opposite direction from the same start point. Trail markings: The trail is marked with orange circles on trees. There are wooden signs at intersections.
Paddlers can also start their trip from the Lohilahti camping area where you can land by canoe.
The trail starts from the Nahkiaissalo parking area. After a short connecting path, the actual loop trail begins. Soon you dive into an atmospheric spruce forest, and after a few uphills and downhills, you reach the shore.
At the beginning of the route, a depression on the left side stands out as a reminder of a tar pit.
Along the route, there are information boards that provide basic information about old forests and their species.
The trail to the Lohilahti camping area zigzags close to the water.
At the Lohilahti camping area (about 70 meters off the main circular route), there is a kota shelter with a chimney where it is permitted to make fires even during a forest fire warning, with special caution. Lohilahti also has a composting toilet and a woodshelder.
Slightly after Lohilahti, the trail climbs steeply upwards, rising from the shade of the spruces to a bright, rocky pine forest.
Once you reach more open terrain and the trail turns sharply back towards the starting point, the forest becomes more spruce dominated again. Lichens hanging on tree branches are signs of the humid microclimate of the old-growth forest and the cleanliness of the air.
The Nahkiaissalontie road, which leads to the starting point of the trail, is often covered by snow for a long time in the spring, and due to the long uphill, the return journey from the Nahkiaissalo parking area back to the main road may be challenging.
In rainy weather, the stones and roots on the trail, as well as the duckboards may be very slippery, so you should be careful especially on uphill and downhill sections. The trail runs in damp hollows in places, but duckboards make traversing easier in the wettest points.