Terassikierros

Distance 8,9 km

Duration 3h 0min

Moderate

The upper circular route of Lauhanvuori National Park showcases the area's geological development and natural features. From the outermost island on the Finnish coast after the Ice Age, due to land uplift, the highest hill on the west coast has developed, offering a wide forest-dominated landscape from the summit lookout tower. The ancient island area of the summit is surrounded in a circular pattern by numerous hidden ancient shoreline formations, shore terraces, and dunes. The healing waters of Spitaalijärvi refresh especially on hot summer days, and you can spend a longer time at the lakeside resting places. The official starting point for this easy-to-walk route is the Lauhanvuori summit, but it can also be started from the Spitaalijärvi parking area.

The route is among the key trails of the Lauhanvuori-Hämeenkangas UNESCO Global Geopark.

More about the route

Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

8,9 km

Duration

3:0 h

Ascent

60 m

Descent

60 m

Highest point

231 m

Lowest point

171 m

Information maintained by

Metsähallitus

Plan your trip

Turn-by-turn directions

From the Lauhanvuori summit parking area, follow the signs to the observation tower. From the tower, there are signs to the park’s trails; follow the Terassikierros signs north. About 600 meters ahead, Terassikierros turns left just before the Lauha cabin rental hut. After about 900 meters, you reach an intersection where the route continues left, heading west. The route now skirts the southern edge of the Kärkikeidas peatland for about 1.3 km, until the trail intersection where you turn left toward Spitaalijärvi, located 3.6 km away. On the way to Spitaalijärvi, you pass several ancient shoreline terraces. From the Spitaalijärvi parking lot, there are signs to the lakeshore, where there are two resting places: a western day-use rest area equipped with a cooking shelter and a beach, and an eastern resting place 500 meters east of the western one, where you can camp overnight. The eastern resting place has a spring with drinking water. From there, the route continues uphill towards the Lauhanvuori summit, about 1.7 km away.

Directions

Public transport

No public transportation

By road

From the east side of the national park, on road number 44 between Kankaanpää and Kauhajoki, there are signs to Lauhanvuori National Park in the village of Muurahainen. Follow them for about 5 km until you reach the gently sloping summit of Lauhanvuori. At the summit, there is a parking area on the right side of the road with signs to the trails. An alternative starting point is the Spitaalijärvi parking area about 2 km beyond the summit, where there is a signpost to Spitaalijärvi. The distance from Lauhanvuorentie is about 700 meters.

Coming from the west, follow road number 664 Lappvärti-Honkajoki. After passing through the center of Isojoki, about 1.5 km southeast of the church, there is a junction with signs to Lauhanvuori National Park. Follow the signs and continue about 13 km until you reach the Lauhanvuori summit, where there is a parking area on the left side of the road with signs to the trails. An alternative starting point is the Spitaalijärvi parking area approximately 2 km before the summit, where there is a road sign to Spitaalijärvi. The distance from Lauhanvuorentie is about 700 m.

Parking

Free

Equipment

see www.luontoon.fi, www.lhgeopark.fi and www.lauhanvuoriregion.fi

Open in Outdooractive

'Healthy climate'

Family-friendly

Fauna

Flora

Geological highlights

Circular route

Round trip