Draft:E6 European long distance path part Finland

• Comment: This page currently has a lot of problems with grammar and language. This is also partially written as a guide; I would recommend reading WP:NOTGUIDE. Also, external links should mostly be converted into proper inline citations or as an "External links" section at the bottom of the page. Empty sections should either be removed or have content added to them. EatingCarBatteries _{(contributions, talk)} 07:21, 7 December 2025 (UTC)

• Comment: Please cite your sources! The one link is only a map GGOTCC 00:00, 30 October 2025 (UTC)

• Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest policy, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. MattiKatila (talk) 23:32, 29 October 2025 (UTC)

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Finland part of E6_European_long_distance_path goes from Kilpisjärvi to Turku. It is almost 1/4 of the whole E6 path with its almost 2000km distance while other parts are 6123km (official 5900km)... Finland part is not counted in to the E6 length. Finnish association Suomen Latu was part of the European_Ramblers'_Association (the association behind E-paths) until 2017 but after an active member retired, none continued the work on building one single connected route.

Known State on Regional Land Use Plans

Maakuntakaava or Regional Land Use Plan gives vision for municipalities to implement hiking routes.

Planned route of E6 long distance path of Finland

• Tunturi-Lapin maakuntakaava, a Regional Land Use Plan states only what routes are already available:

Only inter-municipal outdoor routes that have already been largely implemented are designated as recreational routes: Ylläs–Pallas, Ylläs–Levi, Ylläs–Olos–Pallas, and Kilpisjärvi–Halti–Norwegian border (the Calotte Trail). A new section is proposed as a needed connection between Levi and Olos: Pyhätunturi–Kolvakero. The outdoor route network marked in the regional land use plan serves to guide the more detailed planning of recreational routes in accordance with the Outdoor Recreation Act.

• Länsi-Lapin maakuntakaava, a Regional Land Use Plan states no mention about E6. However, Martimoaapa-Kemi-Tornio is the selected current E6 routing.

The following outdoor routes are marked in the Western Lapland regional land use plan:

• From Ketolanperä to Puukkokumpu and Martimoaapa (Keminmaa, Simo)
• Keminmaa – Tornio – Karunki (Keminmaa, Tornio)

• Pohjois-pohjanmaan virkistysverkkoselvitys, a document describing outdoor activities states about E6 as follows:

Hiking Trails

In the regional land use plan, important hiking trails include inter-regional and international routes. The international routes are part of the European long-distance hiking network.

The E6 European long-distance hiking route runs in Finland from Kilpisjärvi through Turku to the Åland Islands. In Northern Ostrobothnia, the planned route would come from Lapland via Ii–Oulu–Muhos–Utajärvi to Rokua, and from there continue through Kainuu, passing Siikalatva–Haapavesi–Nivala–Reisjärvi and further on to Central Ostrobothnia.

In total, the E6 European hiking route covers about 350 km within the regional plan. However, only a small portion of the route has been completed so far — specifically along the Oulujoki River valley, in the Rokua area, and in the regions of Nivala, Sievi, and Reisjärvi, from where it continues southward.

Also the document tells about maintenance:

The eastern section of the Tervareitistö Trail is also part of the E6 European long-distance hiking route.

Metsähallitus is responsible for the condition, signage, and structures of the hiking trails in the areas it manages, while the municipalities take care of these aspects within their own territories. To some extent, the municipalities have also made agreements with various associations regarding the maintenance of the trail networks.

• Keskisuomen maakuntakaava, a Regional Land Use Plan mentions European long distance hiking network:

The Central Finland Regional Trail (Keski-Suomen maakuntaura) is designated as a recreational route in the Central Finland Regional Land Use Plan (4th phase regional plan). The regional trail was originally planned in the 1970s and is part of the European long-distance hiking network. The trail has been partially implemented and is in active use, for example between Keuruu and Multia.

Connected to the regional trail are the nationally significant Peuranpolku Trail and the regionally significant Metsoreitti and Laulavan Mörön polku trails. Together, they link key recreational and tourism service areas into a cohesive network. Other local outdoor routes are also connected to the regional trail.

A revision to the trail has been made for the Petäjävesi area. A new recreational route is designated to connect the regional trail from Hankasalmi village to the Revontuli and Häkärinne areas. The regional trail is also linked to areas of attraction for tourism and recreation.

At times, the use of outdoor routes needs to be coordinated with bioeconomy activities, such as the use of forests, fields, and peatlands.

The need for recreational connections relates to outdoor activities, tourism and recreation attractions, and inter-regional links. The most significant of these are associated with the Himos area. New inter-regional recreational connections are proposed from Joutsa toward Päijät-Häme and from Keuruu toward Pirkanmaa. These proposed connections would continue across the borders into Päijät-Häme and Pirkanmaa regions.

• Keski-Pohjanmaan virkistysalueselvitys does not mention European long distance hiking network but it mentions all needed parts, i.e. From Vuorenmaa, the Kuninkaanpolku hiking trail leads to the center of Soini, from where the route continues toward Arpainen and then further on to Moksunniemi in Ähtäri. Also there's mention about missing route between Virrat and Moksunniemi but the note is humorious.

According to Ähtäri, the route has not been used for years. It is part of the Pirkan Taival trail. In a resident survey, there is a note near Moksunniemi where a respondent mentions mountain biking all the way to Virrat/Tampere. The route, however, cannot be found on maps.

• Pirkanmaan maakuntakaavaseloste is very short about recreational routes.

The most important continuous recreational trail network in Pirkanmaa is the Pirkan Taival, which extends from the national park areas to the northern and northwestern parts of the region.

Current State and past ERA era

After all work in Regional Councils it was obvious that municipalities could not proceed on completing E6 path. There are no new hiking routes created in the last 10 years, excluding small few kilometer nature hikes. It was time to proceed with practical operations, i.e. by designing the missing pieces in voluntary and open way. The work was based on information that was available on internet about the old route plans

The project started by adding known paths as Hiking routes to openstreetmap and adding suitable parts to E6 part Finland relation. In 2024 the route became invisible as osm editor marked it as proposal. Almost 2000km of route vanished including Hetta-Pallas hiking route. It is hard to build marked hiking route between Turku and Kilpisjärvi.

Many hikers get along with digital routing and use GPS devices on navigation already. In 2025 one osm editor deleted E6 Finland part even though most of the changes were made after 2017. The Finland E6 part was re-inserted but was not added to E6 super relation anymore. Also it was renamed to European voluntary routed digital long distance path E6 - part Finland to describe its function more clearly. A new era without ERA was begun as operator is now voluntary mappers. This Wikipedia page was also added to share information with all interesting parties.

Design principles

To summarize the design principles of voluntary path routing, following rules are applied:

• Avoid roads, prefer paths
• Connect available marked nature trails, avoid branches - single track is easier also for hikers
• Avoid private yards
• Keep it safe:
  • No unofficial crossing of electric railway
  • Avoid swimming in big rivers, e.g. Lätäseno and Kokemäenjoki
  • Avoid high peaks with huge rock blocks in wild areas without cell network

It is recommended that everyone who has similar enthusiasm to mapping and long distances is allowed in voluntary basis to enhance the E6 Finland. This supports other hikers' success in their journey. Also write your info about sections: how is the marking, fresh water situation, best nature sightsees.

Transportation

Train (VR)

VR stops near E6 route:

• Kolari
• Ylitornio
• Kemi
• Oulu
• Muhos
• Ylivieska
• Ähtärin eläinpuisto
• Nokia
• Vammala
• Turku

Long connection bus (Onnibus)

Onnibus stops near E6 route:

• Ylitornio
• Kemi
• Oulu
• Kyyjärvi (OB44)
• Ikaalinen (OB3, LL3)
• Sastamala ()
• Huittinen
• Säkylä
• Turku

Normal bus (Matkahuolto)

Bus routes on map with E6 route

There are several bus routes that intersect with E6 route. You can search matkahuolto.fi for routes nearby your journey.

Sections

Huittinen - (Säkylä) - Yläne

After Huittinen there is Mommolan koski, rapids. Then starts quite long connecting route without good paths. Between municipalities there is short non-connected section on municipality border (< 1km). After short walk there is Köyliön vankila, a closed prison for 63 men prisoners.

At Kaarnikka, not far from prison, there is Metsäjärven luontopolku short nature trail. Services:

• rental hub Metsäjärven varauskota
• nearby sauna Kellarikorsusauna and Sauna hub
• lean-by

At Huovinrinteen_varuskunta garrison you may visit Säkylän Sotilaskoti canteen and eat some donut if you show your id on entry. There is other food served as well. Moving inside military area is prohibited by law but you are safe as long as you stay outside the fenced area (checked with a call from garrison info). With longer walk you can also visit Säkylä town.

Right after garrison starts Säkylän vaellusreitti hiking trail. Services: Hallasuon laavu (lean-to)

There is a short connecting route before Saint Henry's Way. Sightsees:

• Satula kivi, a saddle shaped stone
• Kristellinportti, a port in the middle of forest

Before Kirkkopolku, an "official" E6 path, there is connecting route. Services:

• Leposaaren laavu, a lean-to
• Kotkan kota, a hut

Now! Just a short walk to Yläne. Services:

• 2 groceries: Sale and K-Market
• Yläneen grilli, a fastfood gril

Sightsees:

• Luontokabinetti, a Nature Chapter

Yläne - Turku

Yläne Turku is the easiest of these sections as it is fully marked. At some parts the routing uses heavily forest roads which are a bit painful mentally.

Fully marked but digital route or map is still mandatory.

Best nature sightsees:

• Pirunkirkon patikka, circa 8km long special path
• Kuhankuono, a fish head rock connecting 7 different municipalities

Fresh water: generally not available, use filtering or boil the water.

Branches

Originally there were one branch using Keski-Suomen maakuntaura. It would actually be very easy to route Jämsä - Hangasjärvi - Petäjävesi - Keuruu - Multia - Kulha - Saarijärvi - Pyhä-Häkki - Kannonkoski - Piispala - Salamanperä but Tampere - Jämsä has no paths between them. It is also more clear if there are no optional routes.

Palvia Nature Trail in Jämsä marked as E6 path

Other branch was work accident in early of the mapping process to route the path via Joutsijärvi - Reitti-Satakunta-Pirkanmaa but that route did not, yet, connect with Pirkantaival.

Small branch also around Kuru. The north route is actually ski route and south route for hiking. The north route is more wet. Great circular day route to walk both north and south paths.