Hiking & outdoor recreationLength11.6 km
Duration(3-4 h)
Degree of difficultyEasy
This trail leads you through beautiful old-growth forests and undulating pine heaths. Along the way, you will encounter the impressive Rykimäkuru Gorge, the flowing Pyhäjoki River, small mire areas, and many pleasant rest stops. At Lampivaara, you’ll also find an amethyst mine and a café. The circular route can be walked in either direction, with the steepest climbs near Lampivaara, the trail’s highest point. The trail consists mainly of gravel paths and duckboards over wetter areas, making it a great option for families looking for a slightly longer day hike. A 700-meter section from the parking area to Rykimäkero campfire hut is broad and flat, suitable for strollers or assisted wheelchair users.
Circle trailWalkable in either direction. The trail description is clockwise.
Multi-purpose trailThe trail is also a mountain biking trail.
No winter maintenanceFrom week 8, there is a maintained cross-country ski track.
Campfire siteAlways check for any wildfire warnings in effect before making a fire.
HutPyhälampi day-use hut. Kuukkeli rental hut is about 50 m from the trail.
Dry toiletRemember to bring toilet paper.
Water pointThere is a household water well at Rykimäkero campfire hut.
Camping permittedCamping is allowed in the immediate vicinity of marked campfire sites.
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.
Contact information
Starting pointRykimäkero parking area
The trail starts from the edge of the parking area, next to information boards, as a 2-meter-wide gravel path heading into the forest. It is marked with red squares on trees. There are metallic and wooden signposts along the trail that indicate destinations or rest stops.
Continue on the flat path for about 120 meters to the first junction. To walk the round trail clockwise or to visit Rykimäkero campfire hut, turn left. To hike counterclockwise, head right towards Lampivaara. The description continues clockwise.
The trail remains a 2-meter-wide gravel path through level forest terrain, with occasional side slopes and puddles after rain. After 0.6 km, you reach the Rykimäkero rest area, sheltered by rocky slopes and tall conifers. There is a campfire hut, campfire site, woodshed, and an accessible toilet. A small log barn recalls traditional Lapland storage practices.
Follow signs towards Pyhätunturi, Huttujärvi, Kapusta, and Kuukkeli. The terrain features gently rolling pine forests with blueberry and lingonberry bushes; beard lichens swaying in the wind hang from the tree branches.
After 1.8 km, you reach the dramatic Rykimäkuru ravine and its rest area. Rykimäkuru differs from other ravines in the area as it 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.
The rest area has a lean-to shelter opening towards the ravine, a woodshed, and dry toilet. Please note that making fire is prohibited during wildfire warning.
The trail continues 1.5 km from Rykimäkuru, after which the gravel path ends and transitions to an easy to walk forest path.
Near Pyhäjoki river, the terrain becomes wetter, and the trail has wooden duckboards (three planks wide) and wide bridges crossings over small streams. Among the lush vegetation you may spot for example the beautiful Wood cranesbill (Geranium sylvaticum).
The trail reaches a junction where you turn in the direction indicated by a single sign towards Lampivaara. The path is mostly easy to travel but occasionally somewhat rocky, transitioning at times to a narrower gravel path. The trail gradually ascends the northern slope of Latvavaara hill. In addition to majestic old pines and spruces, you can enjoy summer blooms like Twinflower (Linnaea borealis) and Bunchberry, while in autumn, the ground glows red with vibrant fall foliage.
At the junction on the Latvavaara slope, the trail turns towards Luosto, Pyhälampi, and Lampivaara, where the Rykimäkuru trail runs alongside the Pyhä-Luosto hiking trail marked with yellow squares. The path is narrow and uneven with roots and rocks in places, descending somewhat steeply as it approaches the Pyhälampi rest area.
Just before the rest area, the trail has a 70-meter section of 90 cm wide steel grating boardwalk without a wooden covering. Larger dogs can walk alongside the boardwalk in the brush, while it may be safest to carry smaller dogs across it.
The Lush Pyhäjoki river is crossed via a wide planked bridge. Following the bridge, wide duckboards lead to a charming rest area named after nearby Pyhälampi pond at the forest's edge.
The rest area has a day-use hut, a lean-to shelter, a woodshed, and a dry toilet. Please note that making fires at the lean-to shelter is prohibited during wildfire warning. Water (must be boiled before use) can be taken from Pyhäjoki.
The next rest stop is 3.2 km away at Lampivaara. The route gradually ascends the slope through beautiful old-growth forests. The path is a wide gravel trail, but its surface is worn in places, revealing rocks and roots.
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 dry 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. More information about the mine and visits can be found on the website of the Lampivaara Amethyst mine.
From Lampivaara, a sign directs the trail towards Rykimäkero: the route passes near the café building, in the opposite direction of the fenced mine area. The distance from Lampivaara to the Rykimäkero parking area is about 2.2 km, with some illustrated information boards about the area's nature along the way.
The route initially follows a wide gravel trail through bright old forests on Lampivaara's upper slopes, offering fine views for example of the sharp-profiled Mairivaara hill outside the national park. Then, a few steeper slopes follow as the trail descends, winding to the base of Lampivaara.
Especially in summer, you may notice a pleasant aroma in the air, as the trail briefly passes through a mire. The duckboards, three planks wide, is flanked by dwarfed pines, various shrubs, and Dwarf birches. In summer, you may spot golden cloudberries, while autumn showcases mosses glowing in different hues.
The final stretch traverses fairly flat forest terrain on a wide gravel path, with one last small wetland crossed using three parallel planks of duckboards.
The last 120 meters to the parking area retrace the same path as the trail's start.
End pointRykimäkero parking area