Kajaani offers a variety of trail profiles: from coniferous forest on varied terrain to routes maintained in winter and a wide, level circular trail. Cultural sites explore themes such as river history, literature and art. These differences can help you choose the focus of your stay based on your own interests.
Forest Trails and Routes in Kajaani
The Pöllyvaara hiking trail is in Teppana, about one kilometre from the centre of Kajaani. It leads through an old, atmospheric coniferous forest and across varied terrain. Both the type of forest and the changing terrain shape the trail.
The trail from Pöllyvaara to Lukkarinnurmi is about ten kilometres long. There are two shelters along the route: Aurinkolaavu in Pöllyvaara and the Lukkarinnurmi shelter. Both are maintained by the Nakertaja-Hetteenmäki Village Association.
Kajaani’s winter hiking trail network covers about 20 kilometres and is maintained during winter. It runs from Kaupunginlampi via Lohtaja and Huuhkajanvaara to Vimpelinvaara, where it forms a circular route of about four kilometres. The two distances describe different scales: the network as a whole and the loop in Vimpelinvaara. When comparing winter trails, you can therefore distinguish the longer network route from the shorter loop.
The Renforsin circular trail runs close to the river along cycling paths and park trails, and near the centre of Kajaani. It has no steep climbs or descents and follows a wide, level path throughout. It is also suitable for people with reduced mobility and older people. Compared with the varied terrain at Pöllyvaara, it has a clearly different profile: varied terrain there, and a consistently wide, level route here.
River History, Literature and Art
Kajaani Castle was built by order of Charles IX between 1604 and 1619 at a rapid on the Kajaani River. Its ruins are a cultural attraction dating from the 17th century and are protected under the Finnish Antiquities Act. The construction period, the person who commissioned it and its location at the rapid give the site a specific connection to Kajaani’s river history.
In Paltaniemi, the Eino Leino House stands on the shore of Lake Oulujärvi. The memorial building is modelled on Eino Leino’s birthplace in Hövelö. The house tells the life stories of Finnish writers Elias Lönnrot and Eino Leino. Its design draws on Eino Leino’s birthplace, while its story features two writers.
The Kajaani Art Museum presents a diverse selection of contemporary art and art history each year, with works of national and international interest. Culture enthusiasts can therefore explore different perspectives: the Eino Leino House tells the life stories of two writers, while the art museum focuses on contemporary art and art history.
Discover more destinations: Sotkamo, Vaala, Hyrynsalmi, Ruhtinansalmi, Paltamo, Hossa, Puolanka, Suomussalmi.
For the overview of the wider region: Kainuu.
