Nature trails

Walking and cycling routes in Kemijärvi city centre
A cultural tour of Kemijärvi city centre on foot or by bike. On the way you will see the Kuumalampi park, fitness park, the children’s playground and the skate park. Stop on the lakeside route to see the artworks of the International Wood Sculpting Week. Stop for a picnic at the town beach to admire the beautiful scenery.

Kemijärvi-Pitkävaara cycling route
Explore the scenery of Kemijärvi on a 15 km or 20 km cycle route. The route runs from Kemijärvi town centre to Halosenranta along the road. Turn right onto Isopellontie, continue along a sand road straight to Pitkävaara, where you climb up to the top of the dike. Stop at the top of the hill to enjoy the view.

Kuumalampi Park
From the centre of Kemijärvi, the park area is easy to find by following the signs to the harbour. The Kuumalampi footpaths are perfect for the whole family to enjoy the outdoors, admire the scenery and go birdwatching.

In the beautiful surroundings of Kuumalampi you can see the most common waterfowl, such as the mallard, the song swan and various seagulls, such as the gull and the little gull. The site is also suitable for families with children and people with reduced mobility, as it is close to the services of Kemijärvi town centre and the roads are in good condition.

Kotavaara observation tower
The Kotavaara observation tower offers breathtaking views over the entire Kemijärvi up to the distant fells. Pyhä-Luosto to the north and Suomu to the east. The magnificent scenery and beautiful village landscapes give a wonderful view of the whole area.

You can get to Kotavaara by driving from Kemijärvi towards Kuusamo 10 km. After Isokylä crossing , continue for another kilometre, then turn left towards Puikkola village. There is a sign at the road signpost that says “Kotavaara näkötorni”. Follow the signs for the observation tower to the P-point in Kotavaara.

From the Kotavaara P-point it is a steep walk of about 400 metres to the top of Kotavaara. At the top of Kotavaara there is a three-storey metal observation tower, which you can climb at your own risk. Climbing is rewarded with great views of Kemijärvi. From the tower you can also observe birdlife and see cranes, for example. You can also see birds such as the lapwing and other forest birds in the nearby countryside. Around the tower there is also a campfire and a fireplace. In winter you can reach the site with snowshoes, but be careful of the slipperiness of the tower steps. A great camping spot for the whole family!

Pöyliövaara hiking and mountain biking trail
The hiking trail starts from the Kemijärvi sports field along a sandy path to Pöyliövaara. The terrain varies in difficulty. The route offers a choice of a 3 km or 5 km jog. On the 5 km run, there is a barbecue shelter, a wood stove, a wood stove and a pier on the shore of Lake Pöyliöjärvi. Also suitable for mountain biking.

Ämmänvaara trail
The trail starts at Ämmänniemi, at the parking lot along Rakkalahdentie, where there is a signpost. The nature trail is clearly visible in the landscape and is marked with wooden poles. After a kilometre, you come to a junction with signposts to the viewpoints and the fireplace. There are now two viewpoints at the top of the hill and one at the bottom of the hill. This is still missing from the map, but the route is clearly marked on the terrain.

The viewpoints offer great views of the lake and the town of Kemijärvi. In clear weather, Ämmänvaara offers views as far as the Pyhätunturi.

A path leads down a steep slope to the fire site. The lodge is on the shore of the lake and here you can swim and enjoy a picnic. Next to the lodge you will find a wood stove and a wood stove. Return along the same route back to the car park.

Driving directions to the Ämmänvaara starting point:

From Kemijärvi centre towards Salla, at Isokylä turn to Peräposiontie. Continue for about 11 km to Ämmälä, where the signpost to Ämmäläntie is on the right. This is also where the brown signs for the Ämmänvaara nature trail start, which will lead you to the starting point. Follow them at the crossroads of the cottage roads.

Juuvaara hiking trail
The Juuvaara hiking trail in village Juujärvi offers truly beautiful scenery to admire. The level of difficulty on the route is demanding, although long poles have been built to cross the rocky outcrops. The length of the trail is about 1km.

The Käsmänköngäs nature trail
Head towards Käsmänköngäs and admire the water flowing from the suspension bridge. There is a comfortable hut by the water for resting and making coffee. The nature trail is located about 33 km from Kemijärvi: drive about 29 km in the direction of Kuusamo, turn right into Käsmäntie and drive 4.1 km, the nature trail starts on the left side of the road. New route markings and signs will guide you from the roadside.

Kalkiaisvuopaja Bird Tower
From Kemijärvi drive towards Salla and turn left towards Pahkakumpu (Pahkakummuntie). Continue for about 16 km. There is a sign next to the road to the bird tower and you can park your car in the small parking lot on the left side of the road.

Citynomadi – Mobile route map
To view routes on your mobile device, you need the Nomadi app. Go to app.citynomadi.com and get Nomadi on your device. When you turn on the GPS signal on your mobile device, you can follow your route on the map. The service is free to use, except for the cost of mobile data, which will be charged by your operator according to your contract. When you download the route to your device after retrieving it, the service also works offline without internet or mobile connections.

A quick way to use Nomad
Open Nomad, select “Search routes”
Search for Kemijärvi or Suomu using the search key.
Download the map to your phone and add a GPS connection.
Now you’re ready for a nature adventure!
Tip: Turn off your internet connection (mobile data) and follow the route with a GPS connection. This will save battery power.