Juupajoki: Gorge Trails, Art and Industrial History

In the municipality of Juupajoki, you can explore nature, art and industrial history through specific places. Juupajoki Gorge offers several trails of different lengths. In Korkeakoski, landmarks recall the shoe industry; art venues and a research station add cultural and scientific topics to the mix.

Nature Trails in Juupajoki Gorge

Juupajoki Gorge is a nature reserve covering about 30 hectares. Its natural gorge valley, shaped by the Ice Age, is up to 30 metres deep, with a river flowing along the bottom. The municipality of Juupajoki maintains three nature trails in summer. The blue trail is about two kilometres long and has boardwalks, handrails and an accessible viewpoint. The yellow trail is around 400 metres long. It leads from the car park at Koskitie 45 in Korkeakoski down 130 steps into the gorge valley. The red trail, about 900 metres long, is particularly challenging: its narrow, sloping paths run along the edge of a steep drop. So the length of a route alone says little about its profile.

When planning your visit, it is also important to distinguish between facilities and trails: a viewpoint and a kota shelter in the area are accessible, but the gorge trails themselves are not suitable for people with reduced mobility. Maintenance and terrain conditions on the yellow trail may vary seasonally. Check these conditions before your visit.

Art and Knowledge in Hyytiälä

Periferia, a permanent multidisciplinary art exhibition, is located at the University of Helsinki’s Hyytiälä Forest Research Station. The works can be found in the station buildings, in the surrounding forest and bog, among historic log buildings, and in the new main building. When there is no snow, the exhibition is open daily; works inside the station buildings are accessible during their opening hours.

The station’s science trail has 18 information boards and is intended for science enthusiasts from lower secondary school age onwards. Some boards include school assignments. A limited quantity of loan materials is available from the station office. Another place to enjoy art is the Wallenius Wapriikki Gallery, where exhibitions change every four weeks from April to October each year.

Inn and Industrial History

The Kallenautio Inn Museum is located at its original site, where inn operations began in 1778. The Laurientupa building hosts changing art exhibitions in summer. There is a small animal yard in the courtyard for families with children, where visitors can observe chickens and sheep.

Korkeakoski connects several other sites with the history of shoemaking. Finland’s first industrial shoe factory began production there in 1897. Korkeakoski Waterfall plunges into a valley at the edge of the courtyard of the Koskenjala Shoe and Leather Museum, set amid a historic factory environment. Also in Korkeakoski is Pikkukirkko, also known as Suutarien kirkko. Aaltosen Kenkätehdas had it built in 1951 as a community hall to meet the religious needs of the industrial community at the time.

In Kopsamo stands Juupajoki Church, an octagonal wooden church in a scenic cultural landscape. It was built between 1838 and 1846. If you are interested in trails beyond the gorge, the Kaaponharju and Vähä-Karvia hiking trails start in the village of Lyly.

A Water Route Through Cultural and Agricultural Landscapes

A water route starts in Kopsamo, Juupajoki, and passes through cultural and agricultural landscapes to Pitkäjärvi on Lake Längelmävesi in Orivesi. Water levels and conditions for portaging vary seasonally. This makes the route quite different from the nature trails in the gorge: it follows waterways through two municipalities, while the gorge trails offer different profiles within the nature reserve.

Discover more destinations: Savilahti, Kalajoki, Kiiminki, Laakkola, Kesäniemi, Karhula, Haukipudas, Kukonkylä.

For the main travel overview: North Ostrobothnia.