Rautavaara: Nature and Activities

Tiilikkajärvi National Park lies mostly within the municipality of Rautavaara, north of State Road 87. It also extends across the municipalities of Rautavaara and Sotkamo. Its landscape is a wilderness-like, valuable complex of mires, forests and waterways. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between options in the town centre and nature destinations elsewhere in the municipality.

Landscape and trails in the municipality

A distinctive feature of the landscape is the Tiilikkajärvi esker ridge, which is over five kilometres long. This esker ridge runs through the lake and branches in places into sandbank-like peninsulas and side arms. Ancient and present-day shore formations, as well as erosion terraces, can be found in many places. The open mires in the area include Itkonsuo, Hietasuo-Rytysuo, Alussuo, Honkasuo and Suurisuo; they are characterised by nutrient-poor mire types.

The national park has 20 kilometres of marked trails. Tiilikkajärvi is suitable for hiking and outdoor activities year-round. Venäjänhiekka is also a notable excursion destination in the national park. The landscape thus offers a range of nature features: waterways and shore formations, open mires and forest areas can all be considered together when exploring the municipality.

Kipari and Pumpulikirkko

The activities available in the Kipari recreation area vary with the seasons. There is a 14-metre-high observation tower on Kiparinvuori. In summer, you can hike the Kipari Trail and explore the natural surroundings; in winter, you can explore the slopes on snowshoes. There is a separate run for sledding or snowboarding. Hiking, snowshoeing and the run are different activities, not parts of a single route.

Another nature destination in the municipality is Pumpulikirkko, a rock formation shaped by the Ice Age in an old-growth forest protection area. The steep-walled, gorge-like fissure opens onto a clearing surrounded by vertical rock walls. At Pumpulikirkko, you can view the Ice Age giant’s kettle from the inside. The path there is challenging in places; impressive views await at the destination. If you plan to view the interior, briefly check current accessibility before your visit.

The municipality also has historical points of interest: the grounds of Tiilikanautio Manor contain signs of historical iron-ore processing. This adds insight into the earlier use of the landscape to the nature destinations.

Sports and navigation in the town centre

A nine-hole disc golf course is located at Urheilutie 1 in the centre of Rautavaara. It runs around the sports field and jogging track. The multipurpose building at Urheilutie 1 is also on the same street and is a central starting and ending point for the ski trails in the town centre. The address thus provides a clear reference point for two different recreational activities, which should not be confused with each other.

The cross-country ski trails in the town centre include a lit section that can also be used at dusk and in the dark. Nearby is the Kunttasuo Trail: an approximately three-kilometre-long, flat and easy cross-country ski loop without lighting. It starts and ends at the Rautavaaran Erämiehet hut, about three kilometres from the town centre. The differences are clear when choosing a trail: Kunttasuo is described as easy and flat, while the town-centre trails have a lit section.

Two snowmobile routes have estimated lengths: from Rautavaara to Ylä-Luosta, about 32 kilometres, and from Rautavaara to the Varpaisjärvi boundary, about 27 kilometres. The municipality opens and closes the official snowmobile season depending on snow and maintenance conditions. Outside the season, riding is at your own risk. Take these seasonal conditions into account when planning a trip.

Discover more destinations: Vesanto, Säviä, Pielavesi, Kuopio, Hiltulanlahti, Syvänniemi, Varpaisjärvi, Vuorela.

For the broader travel overview: North Savo.