Puijo

Puijo is a popular outdoor and recreational area near the city centre. Approximately 200 hectares of Puijo forests are protected, and the majority of the forest is also part of the EU’s Natura network.

Puijo provides opportunities for versatile physical activity and recreation, such as disc golf, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking. The Puijo area also has three nature trails, each approximately 2 kilometres long, which provide an opportunity to explore the surrounding nature. The entire Puijo trail is located in the old conservation area. The information displays along the trail feature not only the surrounding nature, but also sledding, the towers that once stood on Puijo, and Puijo’s cultural history. The starting points of the trail are at the end of the Puijonrinteentie road and at the top of the Puijo hill. The trail’s elevation difference is more than 100 metres, making the trail demanding in places due to its steepness.

The Puijo trail is mostly located in the old nature conservation area. Information boards along the trail include information about issues such as sledding, the Puijo towers, cultural persons related to Puijo and other cultural history. The trail starts at the end of the Puijonrinteentie road and at the top of the Puijo hill. As the trail has nearly one-hundred metre differences in elevation, it is unsuitable for those not in good physical shape. The Puijo trail is marked with blue marks.

On the Konttila trail starting from the top of Puijo, you can explore the primeval forests and the traditional landscape of Konttila, an old vicarage croft representative of the traditional hill settlements of Eastern Finland.

The Kokonmäki trail running on the east face of the Kokonmäki hill can be started either in Konttila or at the bottom of the Antikkala ski slope. The elevation difference of the Kokonmäki trail is nearly 100 metres, making it demanding in places.

There is also an accessible nature trail of about 200 metres at the top of Puijo.

The Puijonnokka lean-to shelter north of Puijo is a great site for taking a break and cooking sausages on open fire. The lean-to shelter also has a great view towards Lake North Kallavesi. There is another lean-to shelter near the Ylä-Antikkala ski slope, which is also accessible for those with reduced mobility.

Guide map of Puijo (pdf, in Finnish)

Puijo nature trails (retkikartta.fi)