90 km
1-2 days
1046m
96m
65 %
3 %
3
98 %
Route 2000 has long provided a route for a gravel-winning night trip from the center of Helsinki to Nuuksio National Park and from there, following the same tracks back to the starting point. The 90 km long night tour of Nuuksio National Park starts in the center of Helsinki, but soon after that the Route 2000 line follows the Helsinki Central Park to Pitkäskoski on the Vantaanjoki River and from there to the Nuuksio Lake Uplands, dodging the most challenging trails. Deviating from route 2000, the return to the starting point takes place by continuing cycling through Nuuksio National Park to Veikkola and from there via asphalt roads through the forests of Kirkkonummi to Kirkkonummi train station. The commuter train connection from Kirkkonummi to Helsinki takes less than an hour, and no advance booking is required to transport the bike. Alternatively, you can also return to Helsinki following the coastal routes of the Länsi-Uusimaa tour, which means that the entire trip will be 146 km long.
Similarly to the Sipoonkorpi National Park overnight trip, the Nuuksio National Park overnight trip offers an easy and accessible trail option to the natural gems of the Helsinki region and the serenity of a conserved forest. The trip can be started from the centre of Helsinki or the Louhela train station, accessible by commuter train from the centre of Helsinki in just 18 minutes. Starting in Louhela, the first day of cycling is only 36 kilometres, making it possible to start the overnight trip even after a long working day. Another option for those departing in the evening is to start from the Kirkkonummi train station, in which case the first day of cycling will also be 36 km. When starting from Kirkkonummi in the evening, another option is to stay the first night in the Korsolampi camping area of the Meiko outdoor and nature conservation reserve and spend only the second night in the Nuuksio National Park.
The trail offers diversity with regard to nature as well as services: it can also be cycled without carrying a tent by using the accommodation services of the Nuuksio National Park. The trail features cafés, restaurants and shops at suitable intervals, also outside urban areas.
Read more about the trail and recommended daily legs from Helsinki to Kirkkonummi in the Trail notes.
- Start from the capital in the verdant Helsinki Central Park
- Crossing the Pitkäkoski rapids over a suspension bridge
- Luukki Manor, Pirttimäki or Haltia cafés and restaurants
- Nuuksio National Park with its conserved forests, rolling gravel roads and campsites next to forest lakes
- Night in Mustalampi or Haukkalampi by magnificent forest lakes in the Nuuksio National Park
- Meiko outdoor and nature conservation reserve
- The trail can be taken with any bike, as long as the tyre size is a minimum of 45 mm and you also have smaller gears. Experienced riders can, however, also cope with narrower rims and tyres that endure cycling on gravel roads.
- The best time for bikepacking in Southern Finland is usually from May to early November, but dry and sunny moments, days and weekends are nowadays possible all year round. The warmest temperatures are usually found from June to late August, and in the midsummer, average night temperatures are often above 10°C while average daytime temperatures are about 20°C.
- When choosing a sleeping bag, you should assume that at least in the early and late summer, night temperatures can drop to 0°C.
- During the summer months, days are long, and in late June, there is no dark. If this is something new to you, getting used to the light and finding a sleeping pattern can take some time.
- The mobile phone network covers the entire trail: in case of an emergency, you can always call the emergency number 112.
- There is only digital signage along the trail; for instructions and tips for successful navigation, see here.
- Always stay on the trail and aim to only use the camping and break locations recommended in the trail description. Read more about the bikepacking etiquette here.
- Camping is permitted and free of charge at the recommended campsites.
- Firewood and an outhouse can be found at most campsites.
- Water is available at the Nuuksio and Meiko campsites and Nuuksio wilderness cabins, but it is recommended to purify the water chemically, through filtration or by cooking before use.
- Haltia Lake Lodge is a full-service guesthouse in the Nuuksio National Park
- The Oravankolo forest lodge and Tikankolo forest lodge with a sauna the Nuuksio National Park are excellent accommodation options
- Nuuksio Hostel & Camping and Matkakoti Taikayö are accommodation options in the village of Veikkola, south of the Nuuksio National Park.
- Airbnb accommodation options can also be found along the trail.
- Restaurants, cafés and shops are aplenty especially during the first half of the trail when starting from the centre of Helsinki. There are no shops in Nuuksio, but you still will not need to carry more than a few hours’ worth of snacks and water.
- You can have dinner in Haltia, Pirkkimäki or at Luukki Manor before reaching the Nuuksio campsites.
- Water is available from ponds and forest lakes in the Nuuksio and Meiko campsites and Nuuksio wilderness cabins, but it is recommended to purify the water chemically, through filtration or by cooking before use. In addition, there is a water tap on the wall of the Haukkalampi nature cabin.
- When cooking outdoors, always remember that making an open fire is absolutely prohibited!
- When forest fire warning is in effect, also campsites open fireplaces will have the prohibitions of making open fire. For information about regional forest fire warnings, see here.
- Using portable stoves is also allowed when a forest fire warning is in effect
- Tap water is usually high-quality and suitable for drinking in Finland. Restaurants and shops are often happy to fill cyclists’ bottles.
- The commuter train service from Helsinki to Kirkkonummi takes less than an hour, and no advance booking is required for a bike.
- The trail is also accessible from the Louhela train station in Vantaa, which can shorten the first or last day of cycling
- Along the trail, Veikkola has a 45-minute bus service to the centre of Helsinki. It can be possible to take a bike on some of the buses, if there is space available. If you cannot book a place for your bike on a specific service directly on the Matkahuolto website, the only way to ensure that you can take your bike on the bus is to call the bus company operating the service.
Parks and green areas account for approximately one-third of the area of the City of Helsinki. The Helsinki Central Park is the longest uninterrupted park area, offering a beautiful green route away from the city, also to this trail, all the way to the shore of the Vantaanjoki River and Pitkäkoski rapids.
The first day of cycling largely follows Route 2000, with a little additional spice and reliefs. When approaching the Nuuksio Lake Uplands along Route 2000, the elevation gains increase and the hills become steeper: over a distance of a little over 30 kilometres, the elevation gain is up to 450 metres, which is a lot in Finland. Fortunately, the hills are short and there are also a couple of lean-tos offering opportunities for taking a break, if necessary.
After the Luukki recreation area, there are two wet and technical single track sections, which are easy to go around via Nettaa and Pakankylä. The sections are marked on map for clarity. Recommended unless you don’t mind a little hike-a-biking and possibly wet feet!
Cafe Ukén in Pirttimäki serves as the gateway to the Nuuksio National Park. In addition to a campfire site and cafe, you can rent a sauna in Pirttimäki, although only during the opening hours of the cafe, and preferably with advance booking. The distance from Pirttimäki to the Mustalampi campsites is only 13 km, but you probably will not be able to do it without sweating even after bathing in the sauna, as the elevation gain of the green Nuuksio roller coaster amounts to 250 metres during the evening sprint.
The Nuuksio National Park is one of the highlights of the South by Cycle trails. In terms of its location and characteristics, it is quite unique even internationally, so you will get a lot for the elevation gain. The trail in the national park is almost fully gravel hiking trails, so cycling through the park is easy – at least technically speaking.
Haltia – The Finnish Nature Centre is located in the heart of Nuuksio, and the exhibition and restaurant are located approximately 5 km before the Haukkalampi and Mustalampi campsites. Haltia Lake Lodge serves those looking for accommodation next to the Haltia Finnish Nature Centre, along with the alternatives Oravankolo forest lodge and Tikankolo forest lodge with a sauna. Staying in Oravankolo lengthens the day’s distance by some 5 km, Tikankolo about 8 km.
The Mustalampi and Haukkalampi campsites are idyllic places to spend the night with their rocky forest lakes landscapes, but also some of the most popular hiking destinations in perhaps all of Finland. Fortunately, there are lots of places for tents in a total of three different tent site options, so there should be room for all, even during busy summer weekends. If you still have a little of extra juice in your legs and it is not dark, the Saarilampi campsite is located 6 additional kilometres from these campsites.
Day 2, Mustalampi campsites–Kirkkonummi train station (36 km and elevation gain 380 m)
From the Nuuksio Natural Park, you will ride gravel and then paved backroads to the village of Veikkola, from where the trail continues across rolling rural landscapes to the Kirkkonummi train station along paved roads. The trail is particularly popular among road cyclists, and part of motorists already mind cyclists well, but you should nevertheless acknowledge that the trail section is one of the potential hazards of the South by Cycle routes.
On the way towards the centre of Helsinki, the Lapinkylä bakery is one of the popular places for a break among cyclists. After the stop, the trail continues along a rolling paved road to the Wohls manor.
The Meiko outdoor and nature conservation reserve is a fine place for a break or resting place worthy of a second night before arriving in Kirkkonummi. The return to the centre of Helsinki takes less than an hour from the Kirkkonummi train station by commuter train, unless you decide to cycle back to Helsinki among the seaside trails of the Western Uusimaa tour. Returning by cycling will add 56 kilometres and 650 metres of elevation gain to the second day of cycling.