Rykimäkuru mountain biking trail

Starting pointRykimäkero parking area

The trail follows a hiking route marked with red squares on trees. The trail starts from Rykimäkero parking area along a wide, gravel-covered path. After about 100 meters, the trail splits left toward Rykimäkero rest spot and right toward Lampivaara. The trail can be taken in either direction. This description follows a counterclockwise route and continues toward Lampivaara.

In the wetland section, there are three-plank-wide duckboards extending for about 200 meters. The duckboards can be slippery in wet or frosty conditions.

After the duckboards, the trail continues as a wide gravel path. After about a kilometer, there is another section of three-plank-wide duckboards, about 200 meters long, leading through a small, beautiful mire area.

After the mire area, there is a nearly kilometer-long steep and gravel-covered climb. The slope can be rocky in places, and the gravel-covered path may also be slippery. The path ascends in a winding manner up to Lampivaara.

Lampivaara's café and rest area are located at a junction of several summer and winter trails, beside the rocky top area of Lampivaara hill. The freely accessible rest area features a lean-to shelter (no firewood available) and a toilet. The most popular attraction here is the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine, which offers guided tours for a fee. Entry to the fenced mine area is only allowed on the guided tours.

The journey continues toward the Pyhälampi day-use hut and lean-to shelter, about 3.2 km away. The path is mostly downhill and follows a gravel-covered path through fine old-growth forests. In places, the trail has worn away, revealing stones and roots beneath.

The charming rest area of Pyhälampi has a day-use hut, a lean-to shelter, a woodshed, and a dry toilet. Please note that making fire at the lean-to shelter is prohibited during wildfire warning. Water (must be boiled before use) can be taken from river Pyhäjoki.

From the rest stop, broad duckboards lead over Pyhäjoki on a wide, board-covered ski bridge. From there, the trail continues onto grated steel duckboards that are 70 meters long and 90 cm wide.

After the duckboards, the trail continues gently uphill along a somewhat root-covered track. The climb on Latvavaara’s slope continues for about a kilometer until reaching a t-junction where you turn left.

The trail then leads downhill. A 1.5 km descent offers fun, rolling momentum. At the bottom, you reach another t-junction, turning left toward the Kuukkeli rental hut and Rykimäkuru rest spot.

Soon you reach Pyhäjoki river again, where the terrain becomes wetter. The wettest parts have three-plank-wide duckboards or gravel surfaces, and small streams branching from Pyhäjoki are crossed via broad, board-covered ski bridges.

After about 200 m from Pyhäjoki, the Kuukkeli rental hut is about 50 meters from the trail; a brown metal sign points to the path leading to the hut. The trail continues toward the Rykimäkuru rest spot, about one kilometer away.

The rest spot has a lean-to shelter opening towards the Rykimäkuru ravine, a woodshed, and dry toilet. Please note that making fire is prohibited during wildfire warning. The impressive Rykimäkuru is a rift valley formed at a bedrock rupture spot. It features steep, almost vertical walls dropping 10–15 meters to a boulder-filled bottom.

From Rykimäkuru, the trail continues on a gravel path toward the Rykimäkero rest spot, about three kilometers away. The terrain consists of rolling pine forest.

The Rykimäkero rest area is sheltered by rocky slopes and tall conifers. There is a campfire hut, campfire site (where making fire is prohibited during wildfire warning), woodshed, and an accessible toilet. You can get drinking water from the household water well. A small log barn recalls traditional Lapland storage practices.

From Rykimäkero you cycle back toward the starting point at the Rykimäkero parking area. First, cycle 0.6 km along a wide gravel path until you reach a familiar junction, visited at the beginning of the trip. Turn right toward the parking area 120 meters away.

End pointRykimäkero parking area