Juupajoki: Gorge, Art and Cultural Heritage

The municipality of Juupajoki offers a range of discoveries: a gorge formed during the Ice Age, art in Hyytiälä and the industrial history of Korkeakoski. The municipality’s nature trails have very different route profiles, alongside accessible facilities; museums, churches and exhibitions reveal other sides of the area. At the Kallenautio Inn Museum in the municipality of Juupajoki, families with children can watch chickens and sheep at a small farmyard animal area.

Juupajoki at a glance

• The Juupajoki Gorge is a nature reserve covering about 30 hectares, with a gorge valley formed during the Ice Age and up to 30 metres deep.
• The municipality of Juupajoki maintains three nature trails in the gorge during the summer.
• The blue trail is about two kilometres long and has wooden boardwalks, handrails and an accessible viewing point.
• The yellow trail descends about 400 metres into the gorge valley via 130 steps; the red trail, about 900 metres long, is particularly challenging.
• The inn began operating at the Kallenautio Inn’s original location in 1778.

Gorge trails by landscape and route profile

The Juupajoki Gorge nature reserve covers about 30 hectares. A river flows along the bottom of the natural valley, formed during the Ice Age; the gorge reaches a depth of up to 30 metres. The trails provide access to this landscape through routes with different lengths and features. When planning, it is worth considering not only the distance but also the steps, boardwalks and terrain.

At about two kilometres, the blue trail is the longest of the three gorge trails described here. Its features include wooden boardwalks and handrails. The yellow trail is about 400 metres long and starts at the car park at Koskitie 45 in Korkeakoski; from there, 130 steps lead down into the gorge valley. The red trail is about 900 metres long. The municipality describes it as particularly challenging: narrow, sloping paths run along the edge of a steep cliff. These profiles provide a practical guide, but walking time cannot be determined from distance alone.

It is important to distinguish between the accessible facilities: the gorge area has an accessible viewing point and an accessible kota shelter. The gorge trails themselves are not suitable for people with reduced mobility. The municipality maintains the three nature trails in summer; terrain and maintenance conditions may vary seasonally.

Art and science in Hyytiälä

At the University of Helsinki’s Hyytiälä Forestry Field Station, Periferia brings art and landscape together. The permanent multidisciplinary exhibition extends between historic log buildings, the new main building and the surrounding area. Works are also located in the surrounding forest and bog. The exhibition is accessible daily when there is no snow; works inside the station buildings are also subject to those buildings’ opening hours.

Another highlight in Hyytiälä is the research station’s science trail. It consists of 18 information boards and is intended for visitors interested in science from lower secondary school age onwards. Some boards include school exercises; a limited number of loan devices are available from the station office. Outdoor art and scientific topics sit side by side here, so the visit can appeal to different interests without the two offerings providing the same experience.

The Walleniuksen Wapriikki Gallery adds another changing art offering: its exhibitions change every four weeks from April to October each year. This differs from the permanent Periferia exhibition and makes the seasonal calendar a separate planning consideration for art lovers.

Inn history and cultural heritage

The Kallenautio Inn Museum stands at its original location, where the inn began operating in 1778. Changing art exhibitions are held in the Laurientupa building in summer. The courtyard also has a small farmyard animal area where families with children can watch chickens and sheep. History, art and animals offer visitors several different points of interest, especially if the trip is not focused solely on hiking.

Finland’s first industrial shoe factory began manufacturing shoes in Korkeakoski in 1897. The area’s industrial history is also reflected in the Pikkukirkko, known as Suutarien kirkko: in 1951, Aaltosen Kenkätehdas had it built as a parish hall to serve the religious needs of the industrial community of the time. Korkeakoski Waterfall plunges into the valley at the edge of the courtyard of the Koskenjala Shoe and Leather Museum, in a historic factory setting. Together, these places offer concrete insights into the industrial past without being limited to a single museum experience.

The Juupajoki Church stands in Kopsamo, an octagonal wooden church set in a scenic cultural landscape. It was built between 1838 and 1846. Its architectural style and period of construction provide a different historical perspective from Korkeakoski’s industrial history. Visitors interested in both can consider church and industrial heritage as different themes for their stay.

More routes and choosing your accommodation

There are named routes beyond the Juupajoki Gorge, too: the Kaaponharju and Vähä-Karvia hiking trails start in the village of Lyly. A water route runs from Kopsamo through cultural and agricultural landscapes to Pitkäjärvi on Lake Längelmävesi in Orivesi. Water levels and places where you need to carry your boat vary seasonally. Alongside the gorge trails, you can choose between a hiking option in Lyly and a longer water route through the landscape.

When looking for hotels in Juupajoki, start with the focus you want for your trip: nature trails, art and science in Hyytiälä, or cultural heritage in Korkeakoski and Kopsamo each give a trip a different emphasis. Choose your accommodation based on what matters most to you. Discover more destinations: Merijärvi, Hyytiälä, Kiviperä, Hailuoto, Keitele, Kronoby, Närpes and Arvaja.

Frequently asked questions about Juupajoki

What trails are there in the Juupajoki Gorge?

The municipality maintains three nature trails there in summer. The blue trail is about two kilometres long, the yellow one about 400 metres and includes 130 steps; the red trail, about 900 metres long, is particularly challenging.

What accessible facilities are there in the gorge area?

There is an accessible viewing point and an accessible kota shelter. The gorge trails themselves are not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

What can families discover at the Kallenautio Inn Museum?

Visitors can watch chickens and sheep in the small farmyard animal area in the museum courtyard. Changing art exhibitions are also held in the Laurientupa building in summer.

When is the Periferia exhibition accessible?

The exhibition is permanent and accessible daily when there is no snow. Artworks in the research station buildings are subject to the buildings’ opening hours.

Which water route starts in Kopsamo and heads towards Orivesi?

A water route starts in Kopsamo and runs through cultural and agricultural landscapes to Pitkäjärvi on Lake Längelmävesi in Orivesi. Water levels and places where you need to carry your boat vary seasonally.

For the broader travel overview: North Ostrobothnia.