Juupajoki: Gorge, Art and History

The Juupajoki Gorge adds a striking natural feature to a trip to the municipality of Juupajoki: a river flows through a glacially formed gorge valley up to 30 metres deep. The approximately 30-hectare area is a nature reserve. There are also nature trails, art venues and traces of industrial history—different points of interest to consider when planning your trip.

Three nature trails in the Juupajoki Gorge

The three trails differ considerably in length and terrain. The blue trail is about two kilometres long and has boardwalks, handrails and an accessible viewing point. The yellow trail is shorter, at around 400 metres. It starts at the car park at Koskitie 45 in Korkeakoski and descends 130 steps into the gorge valley. The red trail is about 900 metres long and particularly challenging: narrow, sloping paths run along the edge of a steep cliff.

The municipality of Juupajoki maintains the nature trails in summer. Seasonal maintenance and terrain conditions on the yellow trail may vary, so it is helpful to check current conditions. When considering accessibility, it is important to distinguish between facilities and trails: the viewing point and a kota shelter in the gorge area are accessible, but the gorge trails themselves are not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Gorge landscape and water route

The depth of the valley, the river at its bottom and its glacial formation define the area’s character. Those weighing up different route profiles will find specific distances for the blue and yellow trails; the red trail is additionally described as particularly challenging. The three nature trails therefore offer different ways to experience the gorge landscape, and their levels of difficulty should not be considered equivalent.

A water route also connects natural and cultural landscapes: it starts in Kopsamo in Juupajoki and leads to Pitkäjärvi on Längelmävesi in Orivesi. The route is about 19 kilometres long and suitable for paddlers of all experience levels. Water levels and conditions at portage points vary by season. This makes the route a different way to explore the landscape from the trails through the gorge.

Art between a station, gallery and inn

Periferia is a permanent multidisciplinary art exhibition at the University of Helsinki’s Hyytiälä Forest Research Station. The works are located in the station buildings and in the surrounding forest and bog. Exhibition venues include the historic log buildings and the new main building. The exhibition is open daily when there is no snow; works inside the buildings are also subject to the opening hours of the respective buildings.

In summer, the Kallenautio Inn Museum hosts changing art exhibitions in the Laurientupa building. The museum is located at its original site in Juupajoki, where the inn began operating in 1778. There is also a small animal yard in the courtyard for families with children, where they can observe chickens and sheep. The seasonal exhibitions bring together the historic site and a changing art programme.

At the Wallenius Wapriikki Gallery, exhibitions change every four weeks from April to October. This offers a different cultural focus from the permanent Periferia exhibition or the summer exhibitions at Laurientupa. These schedules reflect the individual rhythm of each venue.

Korkeakoski and Kopsamo: traces of industry and faith

Industrial history can also be seen at specific sites. Finland’s first industrial shoe factory began shoe production in Korkeakoski in 1897. The Pikkukirkko, also known as Suutarien kirkko, was built there in 1951 by Aaltosen Kenkätehdas as a parish hall to meet the religious needs of the industrial community at the time. Korkeakoski Waterfall plunges into a valley at the edge of the courtyard of the Koskenjala Shoe and Leather Museum, surrounded by a historic factory setting.

In Kopsamo, Juupajoki Church stands in a cultural landscape. The octagonal wooden church was built between 1838 and 1846. Another starting point for hikes is in the village of Lyly, where the Kaaponharju and Vähä-Karvia trails begin. The interests covered here thus range from gorges and water to churches, art and industrial history.

These different themes can help you choose what to include in your trip to Juupajoki.

Discover more destinations: Jokioinen, Närpes, Utajärvi, Pudasjärvi, Reisjärvi, Karhula, Fiskars, Siikalatva.

See the regional travel overview: Northern Ostrobothnia.