Hiking Trails
Starting Points for Trails
- Good starting points for hikes are either the Kivalot parking area in Keminmaa or the Hangassalmenaho parking area in Simo.
- Driving instructions on getting to the parking areas
Martimoaapa accessible trail - demanding accessible trail, 815 m one-way
Demanding accessible nature trail
The demanding accessible trail in passable only in the snow-free season / no winter maintenance.
The accessible trail makes it easy to familiarise yourself with mire nature: admire the landscape and birdwatch.
Starting point: Hangassalmenahon parking area (excursionmap.fi), There is a gravel-covered parking area at the Hangassalmi starting point. The parking area is not accessible.
Address: Sompujärventie 31, 95200 Simo
Coordinates: WGS84 lat: 65° 50.303' lon: 25° 14.830'
ETRS-TM35FIN P: 7303013 m I: 419950 m
Hiking Structures
The Hangassalmenaho lean-to shelter is located at the starting point of the trail, next to the parking area. There is also a toilet at the rest area.
The Järviaapa accessible lean-to shelter is located at the edge of the Järviaapa mire. The rest area has an accessible dry toilet and firewood storage shed.
The viewing platform is at the end of the accessible trail. There are benches on the viewing platform. After the viewing platform, there is a junction, from which narrower duckboards continue straight ahead to the Järviaava trail. The trail also leads both ways from the junction to the shore of Lake Martimojärvi and the nature trail, which can also be taken to the Järviaapa circle trail. There is a wooden kickboard around the edge of the viewing platform. There is no kickboard on the end at the junction.
There are no benches along the trail. There is an information board in the parking area.
Trail Marking
The trail is not marked in the terrain, but the trail is paved with stone ash and wide, crosswise duckboards.
Driving instructions
When driving from Simo or Ranua take the Simo - Ranua road (no. 924) to Alaniemi. At Alaniemi turn in the direction of Sompujärvi (road no. 923). The Hangassalmenaho starting point is situated 3.5 km along the Sompujärventie road from Alaniemi.
Trail description
The Martimoaava accessible trail runs from the starting point at Hangassalmenaho through the forest and mire to the edge of Järviaapa mire.
The trail starts with a gravel section and runs from the parking area approximately 300 m through the forest to the edge of the mire. The gradient of trail is max. 9 %, and the lateral slope less than 2 %.
Across the mire trail runs for approximately 180 metres on wide, crosswise duckboards. At the beginning of crosswise duckboard, there is a 13.5% rise in a couple of meters, otherwise the route is flat, the slope in the longitudinal and lateral directions is less than 1%.
The trail continues as a gravel section through the forest, arriving at the accessible rest area at Järviaapa, where there is a lean-to shelter. The longitudinal slope of the route is max. 9%. From the rest area, the trail continues approximately 80 metres across the mire on crosswise duckboards to the edge of Järviaapa mire, and the accessible trail ends at the viewing platform. Follow the same trail back. At the beginning of the route, the longitudinal gradient is less than 3% for a few meters.
The length of demanding accessible trail, 815 m one-way.
The trail surface is compacted stone ash and crosswise duckboards.
The width of the trail is mainly about 1.4 m. There is a 7 cm wooden kickboard along the edges of the 1,2 m wide duckboards. The gravel section has single trees right at the edge of the trail.
The demanding accessible trail has no trail markings, but the route is very clear.
There are two widened bypass points on the crosswise duckboard section. There are no bypass points on the stone ash section.
Nature Trail
- A circular 3-kilometre-long nature trail for children with a fairy-tale theme starts off from the Hangassalmenaho parking area. It is recommended that you walk the route clockwise. Duckboards have been installed along most of the even trail. You can admire the mire landscape from a bird watching tower situated near the trail.
- Services: A lean-to shelter, dry toilet and waste disposal point can be found at the parking area.
Other Trails
- The 12.8-km-long Martimoaapa hiking trail passes through the Martimoaapa Mire Reserve. There are duckboards along about 8.5 km of the trail and forest areas have clear paths with red painted markers. At the end of Kivalot chain of hills the trail passes for two kilometres along the bed of an old winter road. Along the trail you can see open aapa mires with open-water flarks, as well as lush spruce swamps. You can easily traverse the trail in a single day or spend the night in one of the wilderness huts.
- Services: The Koivuselkä and Saunasaari open wilderness huts are located along the trail. At both ends of the trail there is a parking area with a lean-to shelter, a dry toilet and a waste disposal point. The trail's third lean-to shelter is located to the north-west of Lake Martimojärvi.
- Note! The trail is demanding due to its occasional wetness and muddiness for about 600 meters from the Kivalot parking area towards the Saunasaari Wilderness Hut. We recommend waterproof footwear, such as rubber boots, for the difficult section.
- The Keski-Penikka observation tower trail is demanding but short, only 2 km to the observation tower atop Keski-Penikka hill. It is recommended that you leave your car at the Jääkärikämppä day-use hut parking area (before the Kivalot starting point). From there take the gravel road and walk 0.5 km to the north-west until you come to the sign for the fire tower. The beginning of the trail passes along an easily negotiable road up the slope of Keski-Penikka hill. The last 0.5 km of the trail is a narrow, rocky path which can be followed using the painted orange markings along the trail. The observation tower, a former fire guard's tower, offers magnificent views in every direction. You can take a break at the Kivalot open wilderness hut at the foot of the observation tower.
- Services: observation tower, Kivalo open wilderness hut and a dry toilet
- The Järviaapa Trail, 9 km, encircles the Järviaapa area. It is recommended that you walk clockwise around the trail. On this route you can easily explore the spacious views of the beautiful mire area and the wide variety of flora or you can observe birds. The trail has been marked with yellow paint marks on the trees, and it advisable to follow the marks carefully. There are duckboards on the wettest spots. The trail starts from the Hangassalmenaho parking area and for the first 4.4 km takes you along the Martimoaapa Hiking Trail. In Poropellonaho, the Järviaapa Trail branches off to the right. Finally, the Järviaapa Trail joins the children's nature trail, along which 400 metres remain before the starting point can be reached.
- Services: There is a lean-to shelter, a dry toilet and a waste disposal point at the starting point of the trail. There is the Martimojärvi lean-to shelter along the trail. The shelter is located northwest of Lake Martimojärvi.
Cross-country Skiing Trails
- The Lautiosaari - Puukkokumpu skiing trail is 36 km long and maintained by the municipality of Keminmaa. It leads across the west portion of the mire reserve. During summer this same route is used as a hiking trail.
- Services: Kaltiolampi open wilderness hut and a lean-to shelter at the mire reserve's western boundary are on the ski trail.
Snowmobile track
- The snowmobile track, which starts from Kemi, joins the Ranua - Rovaniemi trail and passes through the western part of Martimoaapa. The snowmobile track stops off at the Kivalot starting point on the northern edge of Martimoaapa. You can find the location of the track on the Metsähallitus path map (eraluvat.fi). Maps of the snowmobile tracks and information on track permits, contact the Eräluvat.fi-website (eraluvat.fi).
