Distance
295 kmDuration
3-5 daysTotal ascent
2337mHighest point
394m% Unpaved
84 %% Singletrack
1 %Difficulty (1-10)
3% Rideable
100 %The Posio Gravel Loop is an approximately 295 km and 3-5 riding day bikepacking route taking you through true southern Lapland landscapes and culture. The route combines the Korouoma Canyon Loop, the South Posio Loop, and the Hirsiniemi Loop, with a few extra twists, into an outstanding multi-day wilderness ride. Along the way you will experience, for example, the Korouoma Canyon, the remote forest roads of South Posio, Kellinniemi’s camping paradise, and the Livojärvi recreation area with its sand beaches and crystal clear waters.
The route offers peace, immersion in nature, and memorable moments in the wilderness—while also delivering varied and interesting riding. Road surfaces range from fast, smooth logging roads to narrow ridge trails, linking the area’s natural attractions, services, campfire huts, lean-to shelters, and wilderness cabins into a unique bikepacking route. It is designed for riders looking for a scenic and quiet cycling adventure in the diverse nature of Lapland, combined with the joy of long gravel miles.
One of the route’s strengths is that, by Lapland standards, there are plenty of accommodation options. Along the route you will find Lehtiniemi Majatalo & Camping, the Piippukota rental hut, Latvajärvi rental hut, Haarainniemi rental hut and sauna (minimum booking 3 nights), Aneen Loma, Hirsiniemi rental cabin, and Valkoisen Peuran Valtakunta. In addition, the route includes several wilderness shelters and huts such as Palotunturi wilderness hut, Pajupuro wilderness hut, Kuulea day trip hut, as well as multiple lean-to shelters and campfire huts.
Food services are more limited on this wilderness-style route, but cyclists are still treated to the Korouoma Wilderness Café, Livojärvi Kota Café, and Valkoisen Peuran Valtakunta (with advance order), in addition to the restaurants and grocery options in the village of Posio and at Himmerki Resort.
Because overnight options are flexible, you can enjoy the route at your own pace. A relaxed rider will easily spend five days or more, while a stronger rider may complete the loop in three days.
Welcome to enjoy Posio’s bikepacking routes.
Photos: Taneli Roininen
- Versatile gravel riding: from fast gravel straights to slower, winding forest roads
- Piippukallio lean-to and a campfire break with views
- Interesting overnight options along the route, like Palotunturi wilderness hut and its views
- A detour to the impressive scenery at Koronlatvajärvi lean-to shelter
- South Posio’s forgotten, remote logging and forest roads
- Protected old-growth forests in the southern Korouoma area
- The landscapes of the Korouoma Canyon—best experienced by visiting the rim or the canyon floor (not from the saddle)
- Kellinniemi camping paradie and its long, shallow sand beaches
- A visit to the Koivuköngäs waterfall
- The Livojärvi sand bank with a café and beach
- The Hirsiniemi esker road, lean-to, old-growth forests, sand beaches, rental cabin and the rowing-boat ferry crossing in the Livojärvi recreation area
- Even though there are a few food services along the route, in practice you should be prepared to carry food for most of the trip—unless you time your arrivals precisely around opening hours.
- Depending on the day, you will typically need 2–3 litres of water-carrying capacity, and you must be prepared to treat natural water before drinking.
- The route is suitable for any bike that fits tyres of at least 50 mm. Experienced riders may manage with 45 mm, but the ideal tyre width is 50 mm or wider.
- The gravel season around Posio usually starts by early June, once roads have dried and hardened after spring thaw, and typically ends in late September as autumn rains increase and temperatures drop below freezing. First snow usually arrives in early October, though annual variation is significant. Day rides are generally enjoyable even during Lapland’s infamous räkkä (insect season), but if you want to avoid the worst of it, plan your trip from mid-August to late September.
- The route is digital navigation only; it is not signposted on the ground. Navigation is done using a GPS device such as a watch, smartphone or bike computer.
- Stay on the recommended route and use only the suggested camping and rest spots.
- Mobile coverage may not extend to the entire route area. In an emergency, call 112 (or use the 112 app) whenever you have signal.
- Carry basic first-aid supplies and bike repair tools.
- Lapland weather can change quickly, so layering and waterproof gear are strongly recommended.
- Along the route you will find Lehtiniemi Majatalo & Camping, the rentable Piippukota, Latvajärvi rental cabin, Haarainniemi reservation hut and sauna (minimum booking 3 nights), Aneen Loma, Hirsiniemi rental cabin, and Valkoisen Peuran Valtakunta. Advance booking is often required.
- In addition, the route includes Palotunturi wilderness hut, Pajupuro wilderness hut, Kuulea day hut, as well as multiple lean-to shelters and kota huts, which serve as the route’s designated camping spots.
- Even though there are a few food services along the route, in practice you should be prepared to carry food for the whole duration of the trip—unless you time your arrivals precisely around opening hours.
- Food is available during opening hours at the Korouoma Wilderness Café and Livojärvi Kota Café, and often by advance order at Valkoisen Peuran Valtakunta, in addition to the services in the village of Posio and at Himmerki Resort.
- Depending on the day, you will typically need 2–3 litres of water-carrying capacity.
- Be prepared to treat natural water before drinking.
- Overall, the route ranges from moderate to demanding, depending on your daily stages and fitness. The challenge comes primarily from the length of the days, remoteness, and occasionally rough road surfaces—not from individual technical sections.
- A further factor is the limited number of food stops: there are no opportunities to restock supplies along the route, so the default assumption is that you start the trip carrying food for the entire loop.
- The clearest technical crux is the approximately 4 km trail section in the southern Korouoma area, which most riders will end up pushing. Fortunately, it is one of the most beautiful sections of the network, so slower progress rarely feels like a drawback.
- When riding fully loaded, low gearing, sufficient tyre volume, and realistic daily planning become especially important.
- The route starts and ends in the centre of Posio, which makes logistics straightforward.
- The easiest way to reach Posio is to take a day or night train to Rovaniemi and continue by coach for approximately two hours.
- Several Helsinki–Rovaniemi trains operate daily, typically including one night train.
- Bicycle spaces can sell out during peak holiday periods, but with multiple departures each day, tickets do not always need to be booked far in advance—unless you plan to travel on the night train.
- Only a few bicycles fit on the Rovaniemi–Posio coach at a time, but on most departures it is possible to reserve a bicycle space in advance via Matkahuolto.
- As some of Posio’s gravel routes require logistical support, a new transport service is planned for summer 2026 to help cyclists with route logistics and possible evacuations. With this service, it will be possible to finish the Riisitunturi National Park Loop at Korpihilla.
DAY 1: Posio – Palotunturi wilderness hut (42 km / 350 m ascent)
The route begins with a short section of singletrack on the Kotivaara single tracks, followed by a brief paved link before reaching quiet gravel roads. The route passes through Lehtiniemi and continues to the Palotunturi wilderness hut, an excellent camping spot—or, if there is space in the hut, a memorable first night inside the hut on top of Palotunturi.
DAY 2: Palotunturi – Keski-Voho lean-to (82 km / 1,100 m ascent)
On day two, the route descends from Palotunturi all the way to the floor of the Korouoma Canyon—especially if you include a visit to the Pajupuro wilderness hut. The Korouoma Wilderness Café is a food stop, and for riders wanting a very short day, the café also rents the Piippukota on the canyon floor (sleeping platforms with mattresses and a stove). This itinerary continues to the Keski-Voho lean-to, the best camping spot on the south-western side of the canyon.
DAY 3: Keski-Voho lean-to – Kirsikoski lean-to (60 km / 570 m ascent)
After Keski-Voho, the route enters the protected old-growth forests of the Korouoma area. The Koronlatvajärvi lean-to is well worth a detour and also makes a beautiful overnight spot. If you are not staying there, walking the final approach can be the smarter option, as several fallen trees require frequent lifting of the bike.
Next comes the most demanding section of the entire route: an approximately 4 km stretch following the Korouoma hiking trail, where you should mentally prepare for pushing the bike. The ridge trail is spectacular, and in the old pine forest it is easy to forget any hurry. Rest stops along the ridge include the Aimojärvet lean-to, the Kuulea day hut and lean-to, and the Latvajärvi rental cabin slightly off-route.
The ride toward the Kirsikoski lean-to follows old roadbeds at first and then a main logging road all the way to the River Livojoki. Near the lean-to there are several good tent spots, and for a longer stop the Haarainniemi reservation hut and sauna can be booked (minimum 3 nights).
DAY 4: Kirsikoski lean-to – Kellinniemi (48 km / 400 m ascent)
This day could be longer, but Kellinniemi is a must-stop: it is difficult to find a more beautiful camping area. There are plenty of tent spots and good wind shelter by pitching on the sheltered side of the peninsula. Riding-wise, the day is excellent, following quiet and remote old forest roads.
DAY 5: Kellinniemi – Posio (62 km / 560 m ascent)
The final day may look short on paper, but the Livojärvi recreation area and the Hirsiniemi routes are so beautiful—and in places slow—that the loop can easily take several hours. Hirsiniemi is among the finest sections in Posio (and arguably in Finland), making the slower pace highly rewarding. The Livojärvi Kota Café before Hirsiniemi is a welcome break from trail food. The return to Posio follows smaller gravel roads in part, and partly along the main road.
The route begins with a short section of singletrack on the Kotivaara single tracks, followed by a brief paved link before reaching quiet gravel roads. The route passes through Lehtiniemi and continues to the Palotunturi wilderness hut, an excellent camping spot—or, if there is space in the hut, a memorable first night inside the hut on top of Palotunturi.
DAY 2: Palotunturi – Keski-Voho lean-to (82 km / 1,100 m ascent)
On day two, the route descends from Palotunturi all the way to the floor of the Korouoma Canyon—especially if you include a visit to the Pajupuro wilderness hut. The Korouoma Wilderness Café is a food stop, and for riders wanting a very short day, the café also rents the Piippukota on the canyon floor (sleeping platforms with mattresses and a stove). This itinerary continues to the Keski-Voho lean-to, the best camping spot on the south-western side of the canyon.
DAY 3: Keski-Voho lean-to – Kirsikoski lean-to (60 km / 570 m ascent)
After Keski-Voho, the route enters the protected old-growth forests of the Korouoma area. The Koronlatvajärvi lean-to is well worth a detour and also makes a beautiful overnight spot. If you are not staying there, walking the final approach can be the smarter option, as several fallen trees require frequent lifting of the bike.
Next comes the most demanding section of the entire route: an approximately 4 km stretch following the Korouoma hiking trail, where you should mentally prepare for pushing the bike. The ridge trail is spectacular, and in the old pine forest it is easy to forget any hurry. Rest stops along the ridge include the Aimojärvet lean-to, the Kuulea day hut and lean-to, and the Latvajärvi rental cabin slightly off-route.
The ride toward the Kirsikoski lean-to follows old roadbeds at first and then a main logging road all the way to the River Livojoki. Near the lean-to there are several good tent spots, and for a longer stop the Haarainniemi reservation hut and sauna can be booked (minimum 3 nights).
DAY 4: Kirsikoski lean-to – Kellinniemi (48 km / 400 m ascent)
This day could be longer, but Kellinniemi is a must-stop: it is difficult to find a more beautiful camping area. There are plenty of tent spots and good wind shelter by pitching on the sheltered side of the peninsula. Riding-wise, the day is excellent, following quiet and remote old forest roads.
DAY 5: Kellinniemi – Posio (62 km / 560 m ascent)
The final day may look short on paper, but the Livojärvi recreation area and the Hirsiniemi routes are so beautiful—and in places slow—that the loop can easily take several hours. Hirsiniemi is among the finest sections in Posio (and arguably in Finland), making the slower pace highly rewarding. The Livojärvi Kota Café before Hirsiniemi is a welcome break from trail food. The return to Posio follows smaller gravel roads in part, and partly along the main road.