Iso Karhunkierros: GPX, map & 4 stages
104 km in Finland · 4 stages · 2,014 m ascent · 2/4 stages with public transport · best Jun–Sep
Plan Iso Karhunkierros with the full GPX download, 4 stage GPX files, map, elevation profile, and 2/4 stages with public transport. Choose a stage, open it in Planner, or download GPX before you go.
An automatic guide. TrailSplits built it from OpenStreetMap and cut it into 4 stages at roughly even distances, 1 of the 3 breaks at a public-transport stop. They are not the official stages or checked overnight stops, and TrailSplits has not checked the stays, water or closures. Check them with the trail's operator before you go.
Quick answer: Iso Karhunkierros is a 104 km long-distance route from Hautajärvi to Juuma. TrailSplits built this guide automatically from OpenStreetMap and cut it into 4 stages at roughly even distances, 1 of the 3 breaks at a public-transport stop; they are not the official stages or checked overnight stops. It has the map, elevation profile, full GPX download and 2/4 stages with public transport.
104km
Total Distance
4
Stages
2,014m
Total Ascent
33
Transit Stops
Plan Iso Karhunkierros
Iso Karhunkierros covers 104 km from Hautajärvi to Juuma with 2,014 m of ascent. Use the mapped GPX, stage GPX files, elevation profile, and public transport stops to choose a hiking, trail running, or fastpacking schedule.
- Best season
- June to September· from climate averages
- GPX coverage
- Full route plus 4 stage GPX files
- Transit access
- 2 of 4 stages start or finish by public transport
- Stage options
- 4 days hiking / 2 days trail running / 3 days fastpacking
- Route coverage
- Complete mapped route
- Field use
- Route tools available
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for low point (142 m) and high point (489 m)…
Month by month
Typical weather on this trail: at the lowest point (142 m) and the highest point (489 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Good | Good | Good | Good | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| Stages rated good on typical weather | 0/4 | 0/4 | 0/4 | 0/4 | 0/4 | 4/4 | 4/4 | 4/4 | 4/4 | 0/4 | 0/4 | 0/4 |
| High point, day / night | -8°/-17° | -8°/-17° | -3°/-14° | 3°/-7° | 9°/-1° | 15°/5° | 18°/8° | 15°/6° | 9°/2° | 2°/-3° | -3°/-9° | -6°/-14° |
| Low point, day / night | -7°/-18° | -6°/-17° | -1°/-13° | 5°/-6° | 12°/1° | 18°/7° | 21°/10° | 18°/7° | 12°/3° | 4°/-2° | -1°/-8° | -5°/-14° |
| Rain, mm | 40 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 53 | 68 | 86 | 68 | 58 | 56 | 52 | 46 |
| Snow at high point | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | – | – | – | Frost | Possible | Likely | Likely |
| Daylight | 4 h 17 | 8 h 07 | 11 h 32 | 15 h 17 | 19 h 10 | 24 h | 21 h 24 | 17 h 05 | 13 h 18 | 9 h 44 | 5 h 55 | 2 h 44 |
Source: TerraClimate 1991–2020 monthly averages. Averages for the area at each point’s elevation (4 km grid, corrected for height). Not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.
How the stages are cut
We split Iso Karhunkierros into 4 stages. 2 of them start or end at a transit stop — look for the 🚌 icon in the stage directory below.
Take Iso Karhunkierros offline — free
Most trail guides are just a page to read. TrailSplits is a free app you install straight from your browser — download the whole Iso Karhunkierros map to your phone and follow the route with no signal, in multi-day battery mode. No app store, no account, no subscription.
- ✓ Offline map for the full route
- ✓ Turn-by-turn navigation
- ✓ Download before losing signal; carry backup power
Download for offline — pick your stages
Save the sections you'll walk, or download the whole route. Each selection saves its map and GPX in My Hikes. Stages are not necessarily overnight stops. Before leaving signal, reopen and test your downloads on this device.
Trail route lab
Turn this trail into your own route
Open a planning copy, adjust the line, then share the version you would actually run or hike.
Share this trail
Send it to your hiking crew — they’ll get the route, elevation profile & GPX.
Planning ahead?
Checking snow-monitoring coverage... Notifications require permission on this device; on iPhone use the installed Home Screen app. No email alerts are sent.
Full Trail Map
Route briefing
What comes next
Access in route order. Not listed does not mean absent: it may not be mapped.
Start
0 m
Hautajärvi
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-04-01
About 0 min in
103.7 km remaining
+2014 m remaining
Access
0 m
Karhunkierroksen luontokeskus
Bus stop
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-01
About 0 min in
103.7 km remaining
+2014 m remaining
Access
0 m
Niitselyksen th
Bus stop
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-01
About 0 min in
103.7 km remaining
+2014 m remaining
Access
76.5 km
Saarua Top
Station
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-01
About 20h 06m in
27.2 km remaining
+538 m remaining
Access
76.8 km
Ruka Village
Cable car or gondola
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-01
About 20h 11m in
26.9 km remaining
+538 m remaining
Access
78.7 km
Ruka Valley
Station
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-01
About 20h 41m in
25.0 km remaining
+413 m remaining
Finish
103.7 km
Juuma
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-04-01
About 27h 16m in
0 m remaining
Stage Directory
Browse the stages — swipe to compare
| # | Stage | Distance | Ascent | Time | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hautajärvi → Laavu | 20.1 km | +190m | 4h 58m | — |
| 2 | Laavu → Km 40, near Sirkkapuro laavu | 19.9 km | +227m | 4h 55m | — |
| 3 | Km 40, near Sirkkapuro laavu → Bistron rinne | 37.2 km | +944m | 10h 12m | 🚌 |
| 4 | Bistron rinne → Juuma | 26.5 km | +548m | 7h 07m | 🚌 |
| Total | 103.7 km | +2,014m | 27h 15m |
Draft day-by-day itinerary
Iso Karhunkierros grouped at mapped section boundaries. Overnight accommodation and access are not verified. Review each day's effort and book suitable stops before using this as a hiking plan.
3 days in this draft — about 34.6 km/day, 103.7 km and 1,909 m of ascent total.
- Day 1 Stages 1–240 km · +417 m · ~9h 54m
- 1. Hautajärvi → Laavu 20.1 km · +190 m
- 2. Laavu → Km 40, near Sirkkapuro laavu 19.9 km · +227 m
- Day 2 Stage 337.2 km · +944 m · ~10h 12m
- 3. Km 40, near Sirkkapuro laavu → Bistron rinne 37.2 km · +944 m
🚌 Nearby transit: Bistron rinne (not an accommodation recommendation)
- Day 3 Stage 426.5 km · +548 m · ~7h 06m
- 4. Bistron rinne → Juuma 26.5 km · +548 m
🚌 Nearby transit: Juuma Retkietappi (not an accommodation recommendation)
Want a downloadable GPX for each day, or a different number of days? Open the Multi-Day Itinerary Builder →
How Long Does It Take?
Comfortable pace with time to enjoy the scenery. 4 days.
Elevation Profile
Transit Stops Along the Trail
Bus and train stops within 2 km of the trail, sorted by distance along the route. Tap a stop to see it on the trail map or get directions.
The Iso Karhunkierros is a 104 km long-distance hiking trail in Finland. This guide breaks it into 4 stages; 1 of them start and end at a public transport stop.
Iso Karhunkierros — frequently asked questions
How long is Iso Karhunkierros?
Iso Karhunkierros is a 104 km long-distance route from Hautajärvi to Juuma, presented as 4 stages with map, full GPX download, elevation profile, Planner handoff, and 2/4 stages with public transport.
How many days do you need for Iso Karhunkierros?
The distance-based examples cover 2-4 days for 104 km. They are not verified overnight itineraries. Choose days around your ability, ascent, accommodation and current conditions, not distance alone.
When is the best time to hike Iso Karhunkierros?
Based on 1991–2020 climate averages, the weather on Iso Karhunkierros is usually best from June to September. Snow is likely at the high point (489 m) in November to May. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them and current conditions for your dates.
Can you reach Iso Karhunkierros by public transport?
This page lists 2/4 stages with public transport in Finland as planning references. Nearby stops do not guarantee a walkable connection. Check access paths, operating dates and current timetables before relying on public transport.
Can I download GPX files for Iso Karhunkierros?
Yes. TrailSplits has a full GPX and 4 stage GPX downloads for Iso Karhunkierros — load them on a Garmin, Suunto, COROS, or your phone, or open any stage in the Planner.
How hard is Iso Karhunkierros?
Iso Karhunkierros is rated epic: 104 km with roughly 2,014 m of total ascent, with a high point near 489 m. The elevation profile, per-stage climb, and surface breakdown on this page help you judge each section.
Ready to hike Iso Karhunkierros?
Pick your first stage below and download the GPX. Transit notes are marked on 2 of 4 stages.
More long-distance trails to explore
🗂️ Open data source: Iso Karhunkierros on OpenStreetMap (relation 1633747). Transit stops from OSM.