Canyon Lake Julma-Ölkky — Attraction in Koillismaa sub-region

Rented canoe from the red kiosk. Price-wise, 3 hours rent cost 35€. We took the canoe to the southern lake, headed to the Värikallio Cliff. By hiking the Cliff lies a little over 4 km away, the terrain is rocky. The southern lake is totally different from the northern one. Both canoeing trips are recommended.

The hardest part was to get the canoe to the lake. Luckily, there's the built rail for the boats to get them easy and safely downhill and uphill to the shore. Physical activity, strength required.

Against wind, the trip to the end of the lake took about 1 hour. Good spot to get to the dry shore is at the earlier lean-to, Ala-Ölkky, at the start of the river to the Cliff. The lean-to is covered by a heavy bush, so keep your eyes open for the shore.

Walking from this lean-to to the Cliff is about 2 km. Terrain is rocky, couple rises to the Cliff's own fireplace, big picnic shelter, toilet, and lots of firewood in the shed. Cliff lies 0,3 km from the latter lean-to. The new picnic shelter has a roof, metal fireplace, a bunch of sitting areas with tables, and a few standing tables. Many sausage frying sticks are stored next to the fireplace in picnic shelter. There's no trash cans at the picnic area, so bring you garbage back to the kiosk.

Cliff itself had steady metal bridge build right to the sight. You can get a really good view of the large painting on the rock wall. Information signpost is located next to the paintings as well inside the...

Visited Julma-Ölkky canyon by boat in July. My dream was to get to see the 5500 y old rock-paintings on the vertical cliffside. And boy did I! Tickets to the boatride were purchased at the kiosk by the entrance to the Julma-Ölkky hiking trails. Hiking is free, of course. The boatride (50 seats) was very reasonably prised. Waiting time from ticket-purchase to start of tour was approximately 15 minutes. Just right for a delicious snack from the kiosk! The driver/guide was very friendly, serviceminded, talkative and knew his stuff well. He had his historical facts straigt and ancored his story firmly in the present day, e.g. legislation and regulations of national parks. The views were magnificent! Vertical cliffs, a waterfall, "pirunkirkko" (the Devils Church) a cave high in a hillside, "candel-spruses" and the long awaited cliff-paintings. We had the emmence luxury of coming up close and personal with the cliff-paintings! They are pretty hard to spot, time is taking it's toll on them. Our guide was, luckily, very helpful. I, actually, have no idea how long the boatride was. It was up and down the lenght of the lake at a nice, photo-friendly pace. ... I was in awe most of the ride. My Joy and excitement over this trip can not be discribed, less measured in €. Pro tip: If you happen to be an old-fashioned DIY petrol-head, ask the driver what engine the boat has. You are in...

Eittämättä Suomen Norja. Julma- Ölkky on kanjoni, jonka pohjalla virtaa kanjonijärvi, ja jonka jylhiä maisemia pääsee ihailemaan niin kävellen kuin veneelläkin.

HUOM! Tämä ei ole perheen pienimmille soveltuva matka. Julma-Ölkky on Hossan kansallispuiston vaikeakulkuisin ja haastavin rengasreitti. Polku on paikoittain liukas ja mutainen, sekä täynnä juurakkoa ja kivilohkareita, jotka hidastavat matkantekoa huomattavasti. Jyrkkiä ylä- ja alamäkiä on myös paljon, joten arvioi oma jaksamisesi ennen kaikkea.

Julma- Ölkkyä kiertää yksi pitkä 10 km polku, (Ölökyn ähkäisy) sekä toinen 5 km lyhyempi, omasta mielestäni kauniimpi polku (Ölökyn ylitys). Ne menevät osin päällekkäin, mutta tuon lyhyemmän kohdalla on kanjonin ylityskohta, suuri riippusilta. Se sijaitsee 2,4 km päässä aloituksesta.

Jos teet päiväretken, lyhyempi reitti on parempi vaihtoehto. Sen kulkemiseen meni meiltä n. kolme tuntia huolimatta matkan kestosta. Maasto on haastavaa, mutta maisemat ovat UPEAT. Ölökyn ylityksellä EI ole vessaa, ruoantekopaiķkaa tai laavua.

Reitti lähtee parkkiksen vierestä, kuten myös maksullinen veneretki, joka ottaa matkustajia kyytiin 30 min välein. Ota tämä jos värikallion tapaiset kalliomaalaukset kiinnostavat. Niitä nimittäin näkyy matkan varrella. (Yhdessä kuvistani näkyy venereissun hinnat.)

Kun olet päässyt takaisin lähtöpisteeseen, parkkiksen vieressä on pieni kahvila. Sieltä sitten pullaa, kahvia, jäätelöä tai muuta...