Hiking & outdoor recreationLength11.2 km
Duration(5-7 hours)
Degree of difficultyHard
The Palolampi–Käärmesärkkä trail runs through Hiidenportti National Park from northwest to southeast. Along the trail, you can witness the majestic views of the gorge and hear the gentle murmur of Porttijoki river. Mountain biking is not prohibited, but due to the extremely rocky terrain, it is not recommended. Particularly near the Hiidenportti Gorge, the trail is quite demanding because of the rugged terrain. There are also some moderately steep ascents and descents along the trail.
No winter maintenance
Dry toilet
Camping permitted
Remember to bring a trash bag
Campfire site
Water point
Contact information
Starting pointPalolampi parking area
The Palolampi-Käärmesärkkä route follows the same path as the Kitulankierros to the Kitulanlampi lean-to. The Kitulankierros, marked with yellow paint marks, starts from Palolampi and proceeds via Hiidenportti to Porttilampi along the same route as the Hiidenkierros.
The journey continues towards Urpovaara, and along the path, you can experience the magnificent spruce forests of Urpovaara. The bog views that were missing at the beginning of the journey also come into view.
At Kitulanlampi, you transition from the mysterious atmosphere of the old forest to more majestic cliff and lake landscapes. The lean-to is located in a beautiful spot, in the heart of an almost untouched wilderness area, at the tip of a long and narrow peninsula.
From there, the route continues along the Porttijoki River to the Käärmesärkkä parking area. The path from the Kitulanlampi lean-to to the Käärmesärkkä parking area is relatively easy to walk, but it rewards you with beautiful scenery.
End pointKäärmesärkkä pysäköintalue