Koli National Park
Hiking map and visitor guide
Koli National Park lies in North Karelia on the western shore of Lake Pielinen, about 75 kilometres from Joensuu. It covers about 30 square kilometres of hills and lakeshore. Polkuopas maps no lean-tos and 61 outdoor sites in the park. The park has no open wilderness huts. Metsähallitus manages the park, which was established in 1991.
The map and its controls are in Finnish. The glossary below explains the words you will see.
Key facts
- Area
- about 30 km²
- Established
- 1991
- Region
- North Karelia
- Managed by
- Metsähallitus
- Outdoor sites in total
- 61
- Data
- LIPAS (CC BY 4.0), © Metsähallitus, 2026
- Updated
- 10 October 2026
Finnish words you’ll see on the map
The map and the signs in the park use Finnish. These are the words you will meet most often.
- kansallispuisto · national park
- A protected area managed by Metsähallitus. Entry is free, and extra rules apply to camping, fires and dogs.
- laavu · lean-to
- An open-fronted log shelter, usually with a fire ring in front. Free for anyone to use, and it cannot be booked.
- autiotupa · open wilderness hut
- An unlocked hut for short stays, shared on a first-come basis. Carry a tent in case it is full.
- varaustupa · reservable hut
- A hut you book and pay for in advance. It is not open to walk-in visitors.
- kota / keittokatos · cooking shelter
- A shelter with a fireplace for cooking and warming up. Not meant for sleeping.
- tulipaikka · campfire site
- A marked place where you may light a fire, unless a forest fire warning is in force.
- telttailupaikka / telttailualue · camping site
- A marked place for tents. In national parks you may camp only at these sites.
- kuivakäymälä · dry toilet
- A compost toilet without water. Bring your own toilet paper.
- näköalapaikka / näkötorni · viewpoint / viewing tower
- A lookout spot or tower with a view over the landscape.
- luontopolku · nature trail
- A short marked trail, often with information boards along the way.
- pysäköinti / P · parking
- A car park, usually at a trailhead.
Places in the park
A selection of the places on the map. Names are shown in Finnish, as they appear on signs.
What to expect
The hills of Koli are what remains of an ancient mountain range. About two billion years ago two continental plates collided and folded up the Karelides, a range once on the scale of the Himalayas. What is left is a hard quartzite ridge above Lake Pielinen. Koli is also a landscape of Finnish art. In 1892, the writer Juhani Aho and the painters Venny Soldan-Brofeldt and Eero Järnefelt climbed the hilltops together, and Järnefelt’s painting Autumn Landscape of Lake Pielisjärvi (1899) made the view a national symbol. Unusually for a national park, a hotel and ski slopes operate inside the park under a special law.
Planning your visit
Getting there
Metsähallitus advises arriving on the paved Kolintie road (road 504), even if your navigator suggests another route. The side roads Jerontie and Rantatie are narrow, winding gravel roads that are difficult in winter, during the spring thaw and, for motorhomes, even in summer. The nearest railway station is in Joensuu, about 75 kilometres away. Buses run all year from Joensuu and Kajaani to the Ahmovaara stop, which is still 9 kilometres from the park, so you need a taxi for the last stretch. In practice you need a car or a pre-booked taxi. In summer you can also arrive by boat across Lake Pielinen.
Parking and trailheads
The main trailhead, with car parks P1–P3, is at Ylä-Kolintie. These fill on summer weekends and in the autumn colour season. Metsähallitus suggests starting instead from Ollila, the Ukko-Koli slopes, Likolahti or Paimenenvaara, from where it is a walk of 1–2 kilometres up to the hilltops. A free, accessible funicular lift runs daily between Yläpiha and car park P1. Some car parks charge a fee.
Seasons
The summer season runs from Midsummer until the schools start in August. Autumn colours peak around the turn of September and October, when the viewpoints are at their busiest. The ski season runs from mid-February into April, with more than 50 kilometres of maintained ski tracks. Most summer trails are not maintained in winter. The Herajoki crossing can flood in spring and in wet summers. The bare rock on the summit loop is slippery in rain and has no railings, so leave the hilltops if a thunderstorm comes.
Dogs
Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times, without exception. Islets and islands smaller than one hectare are closed to landing from 15 May to 17 July, when birds are nesting.
Campfires
Light open fires only at the marked campfire sites where firewood is provided. When a forest fire warning is in force, open fires are banned everywhere in the park, except at the Ryläys cooking shelter and the Rinnetupa lean-to, which have a roof and a fireplace. A camping stove is allowed where you are otherwise allowed to be, but a wood-burning stove is not allowed during a warning. Check the warning from the Finnish Meteorological Institute before you set off.
Water
Metsähallitus advises hikers not to use the wells in the park, because their water is more acidic than the target levels. Bring your own water, ask at the Ukko visitor centre where you can refill, and treat or boil water from natural sources before you drink it.
Accessibility
A demanding accessible route of 800 metres leads from the visitor centre yard to a gravel viewing platform near the top of Ukko-Koli. It is open in the snow-free season, and you can use it with a pushchair, or in a wheelchair with an assistant. The free funicular lift is accessible, and Yläpiha has two accessible parking spaces.
Everyman’s right and park rules
In Finland, everyman’s right lets you walk, ski and pick berries and mushrooms on most land without asking. National parks add their own rules. Camp and light fires only at the marked sites, keep dogs on a leash, take your rubbish home with you, and follow any seasonal restrictions that Metsähallitus announces at the park.
Emergencies
The emergency number in Finland is 112. Before a longer hike, tell someone your route and when you expect to be back, and carry a charged phone.
Frequently asked questions
When should you visit Koli National Park?
Summer runs from Midsummer until the schools start in August. The autumn colours peak around the turn of September and October, which is also when the viewpoints are busiest. The ski season lasts from mid-February into April. In spring and in wet summers the Herajoki crossing can flood, which matters if you plan a longer loop.
How do you get to the top of Ukko-Koli?
Walk up the steep summit loop from Yläpiha, which has steps and is about 1.4 kilometres long. Or take the free funicular lift up to Yläpiha from car park P1, and walk the short way from there. A demanding accessible route of 800 metres also leads to a viewing platform near the top in the snow-free season.
Can you camp in Koli National Park?
Only at the seven marked camping areas, five on the mainland and two on islands. You may not pitch a tent in the yards of the rental cabins, except at Lakkala, which has its own camping area next door. The rules are stricter than in many other national parks.
Are there open wilderness huts in Koli?
No. Koli National Park has no open wilderness huts. Overnight stays are in rental cabins, which you book in advance, or in a tent at the marked camping areas.
Can you bring a dog to Koli National Park?
Yes, but the dog must be on a leash all the time, without exception. Islets and islands smaller than one hectare are closed to landing from 15 May to 17 July because of nesting birds.