Geopark route Southern Ostrobothnia via Kauhaneva

From the parking area, head towards the roundabout located east of Topeeka and cross Topeeka via the pedestrian crossing, turn left, ride on the light traffic lane and turn right at the roundabout. Continue to the light traffic bridge crossing the Kauhajoki river and cross the river. 

Continue along the park road and after about 100 m go straight at the intersection. After another 100 m, reach a T-intersection. Turn right and immediately right again onto Sussoonkuja. Continue it for about 400 m and then join Hyypäntie and continue it about 700 m south, turn left onto the light traffic lane, continue about 400 m and then turn right. Cross the road intersection and continue straight on the light traffic lane about 4 km. 

When road 44 turns towards Kankaanpää, turn right and follow the road for 200 m. Then turn left onto Jokimäentie towards Hautalankylä. On the left side of the road at the intersection is the landmark Hämes-Havunen. Continue on Jokimäentie for 13 kilometers to Hautalankylä. At the 10 km point, there is an opportunity to detour right to the Hyypänjokilaakso lookout tower, about 700 m from Jokimäentie via Pantintie. 

In Hautalankylä, the road name changes to Hautalankyläntie, continue forward about 1.3 km and then turn left towards Nummijärvi. Continue about 6 km on Kivijärventie, then turn left at the Nummilahdentie intersection. Continue on Nummilahdentie for about 6 km and then turn right onto Nummijärventie. Continue about 6 km. The route passes through the village of Nummijärvi. After the village, the road name changes to Karviantie, continue on it for the next 10 km. At 1.2 km by Vatka, on the right side of the road are the sights Lapinkaivo and Lapinharju and the famine years memorial.

At 1.7 km, turn right onto Kauhanevantie, which is part of the medieval Kyrönkangas road.  Follow it for about 5 km until you reach the northern parking area of the Kauhaneva-Pohjankangas National Park. Pass the barrier on the bicycle and continue south about 600 m, reaching the edge of Kauhaneva. On the right is the Nummikangas rest area and the lookout tower. The route now continues across the swamp area about 1 km south, reaching the edge of Pohjankangas. Continue south for about 700 m until reaching Salomaa parking area. Along the route, two signposted connections lead to the Salomaa campfire and tenting site.

From Salomaa parking area, the route continues south about 3.4 km until turning left onto Latikantie. Follow it about 4 km. Then turn left onto Kiviluomantie, continue about 1.5 km and then turn right onto Ämmäläntie and continue about 2 km.  Reach a T-intersection, move onto the light traffic lane, cross Sarvelantie and continue on the light traffic lane to the right towards the Karvia church village. About 3 km later, Karvia church is on the left side of the road. 

The route continues from Karvia towards Kantti along the light traffic lane. In Kantti, the route moves for 1 km alongside Karviantie, then returns to the light traffic lane. The light traffic lane ends at Kauraharjuntie. Turn right and follow Kauraharjuntie 200 m. After Kantti barns, turn right, reach the bridge crossing Karvianjoki river and continue forward. About 400 m after the river, at the intersection turn left onto Skanssitie. Continue about 4.5 km until the municipal border where the road name changes to Aunesluomantie. Continue on it about 8.5 km. 

At the four-road intersection in Jyllinkoski, turn right onto Jyllinkosken kylätie and continue 3 km. Reach the road 44 intersection, turn right and follow road 44 towards Kauhajoki about 6 km. Then turn at Muurahainen village, following signs towards Lauhanvuori National Park and continue on Lauhanvuorentie 17 km to Isojoki.

The road crossing Lauhanvuori rises about 230 m above sea level and is the highest point in the area. The summit is about 5 km from Muurahainen. About 1.5 km towards Isojoki, on the left side of the road are signs to Spitaalijärvi, one of the national park's most popular sights. About 1.7 km ahead, on the right side of the road, a road branch leads to Lauhanvuori forest reindeer enclosure. About 1.9 km ahead, on the left side of the road, signs to Kivijata. About 500 m ahead, on the left side of the road, signs to Aumakivi. About 1.7 km ahead, on the right side of the road is Lauhansarvi nature tourism center. About 1.4 km ahead, to the right are signs to Kangasjärvi camping area. 

Upon reaching Isojoki, turn right and continue on the light traffic lane to Isojoki church village, about 1.3 km after which the church is on the left side of the road. The route continues on the light traffic lane about 2 km, then moves to Kristiinantie after crossing Kauhajoentie intersection. Continue the route 14.5 km to the municipal border where the road name changes to Isojoentie. Continue 2 km and then turn right towards Karijoki. 

Continue on Alakyläntie, about 1 km later reach the bridge crossing Isojoki. From the bridge, continue 8 km towards Karijoki, then turn left onto Riitaluhtantie and continue 1.3 km. Turn left onto Dagsmarkintie and continue about 1.5 km to Karijoki center. Upon arriving at the center, turn left at the intersection towards Susiluola. The route continues right alongside the light traffic lane on the left side of the road. About 400 m later, on the right side of the road is the Susiluola visitor center. 

From Susiluola visitor center, the route continues along Kauhajoentie. The light traffic lane ends at the intersection about 300 m ahead. From the intersection, turn left to reach Karijoki church. The route continues straight along Kauhajoentie about 10 km. At about 3.3 km on this section, turn left towards Iso-Kakkori. 

When the route reaches the municipal border, the road name changes to Karijoentie. Continue about 4.3 km, then turn left onto Keturinkyläntie. Continue about 6.8 km. At the center of Päntäne village, the road name changes to Päntäne local road. Continue about 1.7 km, then turn right and about 100 m later turn left onto Päntäneentie. Continue about 5 km, the route moves to the light traffic lane on the left side of the road. 

About 2.6 km into this section, on the right side of the road is the Parjakanneva 1808 battle memorial. At the beginning of the light traffic lane, on the left side of the road is the Samelinlakso battle memorial. 

The route continues on the light traffic lane about 3 km. Reach an intersection, cross Teknologiapuistontie, turn right, cross Topeeka, turn left and follow the light traffic lane about 200 m, then follow the right branch towards Kauhajoki church. From the church, continue along Topeeka about 100 m, with Kauhajoki local heritage house on the right. Continue about 350 m, at which point the Kauhajoki bus station parking area is on the left side of the road. Cross Topeeka before the roundabout and arrive at the route endpoint. 

Bus connection to Kauhajoki, e.g. from Seinäjoki and Pori. Bicycle transport must be reserved in advance from Matkahuolto. 

From the north, from Seinäjoki, take road 67 to Kauhajoki Aronkylä, turn onto road 44, continue 2.8 km, turn right onto Lellvantie, continue 1.1 km, turn left onto Topeeka and continue 850 m, destination on the right. 

From the south, from the direction of Pori, take road 8 north, about 55 km north from Pori, turn right towards Kauhajoki. Continue to Isojoki and following signs, continue to Kauhajoki. In the center, at the church, turn right and continue on Topeeka. About 500 m later, the destination is on the left. 

From the south, from Tampere direction, take road 3 to Parkano, from the north side of the center follow signs to Karvia. From Karvia continue through the church village to Kauhajoki following signs, from Karijoki junction to road 663, continue 1.3 km and turn right towards the center. About 400 m later, turn right at the intersection near the church and follow Topeeka about 500 m until the destination on the left. 

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