Iso-Palonen – Maariansärkät

The Iso-Palonen – Maariansärkät nature reserve offers a total of about 30 kilometers of hiking trails. The trails mainly run through light, easy-to-walk pine heaths. Along the way, there are several lean-to shelters and campfire sites. Wetland areas are equipped with boardwalks. Trailheads are located at the Matokangas parking area on the western side of Iso-Palonen and the Valkeiskangas parking area on the northeastern side.

Iso-Palonen Trail – approx. 13 km
Starts from the Valkeiskangas parking area and circles around Iso-Palonen. The trail is marked with blue paint blazes.

Services:
Lean-to shelters with campfire sites are located at Tammalammenpuro (on Iso-Palonen) and Veräinen’s Saunaniemi. There is also a campfire site at Papinsalmi.

Sights:
Along the trail, you’ll see features such as ancient Sámi graves (lapinhaudat), the remains of old tar pits, and trench remnants from World War II.

Pikku-Palonen Trail – approx. 5 km
A loop trail around Pikku-Palonen starting from the Valkeiskangas parking area. Marked with red paint blazes. It can be combined with the Iso-Palonen Trail.

Services:
There is a campfire site at Papinsalmi.

Jäkäläsärkkä Trail – approx. 3.5 km
A loop trail on the western side of Iso-Palonen. Starts from the Matokangas parking area or Valkeisvaarantie. Trail is marked with red paint blazes.

Services:
There are no campfire sites directly on the Jäkäläsärkkä Trail (the Oikunniemi lean-to will be removed in the coming years), but the Tammalammenpuro lean-to is located a short detour off the trail.

Sights:
Old tar pit remains and the remnants of a forest workers’ cabin (hautakämppä) can be seen along the route.

Kylmäsärkät Trail – approx. 16 km
This trail runs from Kylmäsärkät via Iso-Tahkonen to Ryti-Palonen. It connects to the Elimyssalo nature reserve.

Services:
Lean-to shelter with a campfire site at Iso-Tahkonen, along with services from the Iso-Palonen Trail.

Sights:
Kylmäsärkät ridges, and along the Iso-Palonen Trail you can find ancient Sámi graves, tar pit remains, and trench remnants from the last wars.

Please always check the up-to-date information regarding any changes to the route or its condition, for example, on the luontoon.fi website.