Tuupovaara: Nature Trails and Local Culture

Tuupovaara offers a range of ways to enjoy a stay: hiking trails, local culture, and longer routes by water or bicycle. Vekaruskoski, the tradition of birch bark art and an exhibition on the history of the cooperative bank give the area specific points of interest. Nature, outdoor activities and culture each offer a different focus.

Hiking trails with different focuses

The Paimenpojan polku begins in the courtyard of the youth centre in the centre of Tuupovaara. Along the trail are several publicly accessible log cabins, shelters and campfire sites. Vekaruskoski is located on the Paimenpojan polku and is one of the area's notable natural attractions. This provides a clear picture for planning a day hike: a starting point in the centre, facilities along the trail and a natural attraction on the route.

The Koveron vaarapolku offers a different focus: it is a three-kilometre circular hiking trail in Tuupovaara. Unlike the Paimenpojan polku, which starts in the centre and has facilities and Vekaruskoski along the way, the key planning consideration here is its circular route and total length. This gives you two different types of hiking trail to choose from.

Culture spanning crafts and local history

Tuupovaara has a local tradition of birch bark art. Ullakko has a permanent sales exhibition of handicrafts from Tuupovaara, as well as changing art exhibitions. The formats offer different points of interest: the handicrafts provide a permanent connection to local crafts, while the art exhibitions change. This means the cultural offering is not limited to a single theme.

The Tuupovaara Local History Museum has a permanent exhibition on the history of the Tuupovaara cooperative bank. The Tuupovaara church is a wooden long church with a gabled tower, built in 1902. These offer different perspectives on local history: the story of a local cooperative bank and a specific example of religious wooden architecture. Together with birch bark art, they provide a varied cultural focus for planning your trip.

Cycling and water excursions

Longer excursions by bicycle or on the water are another option. Tuupovaara has two sections of a cycling route with a total length of about 50 kilometres. In the Tuupovaara area, the Jänisjoki water route has three branches: Jänisjoki, Kuuttijoki and Kotajoki, which together are 85 kilometres long. The routes differ both in how you travel and how they are structured: the cycling route has two sections, while the water route has three branches. When planning, it is therefore helpful to first decide whether you would prefer to travel by bicycle or on the water.

You can also choose a holiday apartment to suit your preferred kind of trip. Would you like your stay to focus mainly on hiking and local culture, or would you like to include cycling and water excursions?

Discover more destinations

Vuonislahti, Rokua, Vartiala, Rääkkylä, Koli, Kesälahti, Valtimo, Tolosenmäki

For the overview of the wider region: North Karelia.