Sipoonkorpi National Park is a place to admire the majestic mossy cliffs and walk through dense, wilderness-like coniferous forests. Fiskträsk is a beautiful wilderness lake, that you can reach with a quick hike to its shores and a new campfire site.

On a summer hike, nature is bright green. The 5.7 km (3.5 miles) route with a picnic break takes less than two hours.

Sipoonkorpi routes

The trails in Sipoonkorpi National Park lead you through the varied nature of Uusimaa. The landscape is characterised by steep cliffs and great differences in altitude, dense forests and coniferous trees, forest ponds and streams, as well as open fields and traditional rural landscapes.

Sipoonkorpi trails and hiking structures have been extensively renovated in recent years. In 2022, a new cooking shelter was built, followed immediately by a new lean-to shelter and campfire site on the shores of Lake Fiskträsk. The paths have also been made more durable by graveling.

To continue the Fiskträsk hike, you can take one of the trails on the other side of Knutersintie road. The Bakunkärr Trail is the shortest of the marked ring trails in Sipoonkorpi. It can easily be combined with the Knutersin kierros Trail. There is also an easy Byabäcken nature trail on the north side of Sipoonkorpi, where you can admire the flowering valley of the Byabäcken.

Fiskträsk - a wilderness lake

Lake Fiskträsk is located in Sipoonkorpi National Park and is the largest lake in the park. It has over four kilometres of forested shoreline. There are some buildings around the lake, but the National Park trail only leads to the western shore of the lake.

If you want to camp in Sipoonkorpi by the lake, Fiskträsk is the best place. Lake Bisajärvi (near the Bisajärvi cooking shelter) is also good for camping, but Fiskträsk is nicer. Camping on Storträsk, on the other hand, is now forbidden.

The route is marked with orange diagonals and signposts. The signs are dense and you shouldn't worry about getting lost, although there are numerous junctions along the short route.

Sipoonkorpi - parking for Fiskträsk

There are two different starting points to Fiskträsk: from Korvenportti and from Bakunkärr parking. Both are roughly the same distance to Fiskträskin kierros Trail, but Korvenportti is the shortest way to the lake.

There is also a Hop-on Hop-off bus to Sipoonkorpi during the summer until October.

Korvenportti

Korvenportti (Storskogsporten) is closer to Hindsby in Sipoonkorpi. There is space for 50 cars. The Korvenportti car park is at Knutersintie road 256.

Korvenportti is home to the restaurant Tila. On the Sipoonkorpi trails from Korvenportti you can see chickens and sheep in the yard, and bees may be buzzing in the air.

The distance from Korvenportti to Lake Fiskträsk is 1.2 km. The distance from Korvenportti to Lake Fiskträsk is therefore 2.4 km, if you hike just to the lake and back.

Bakunkärr parking area

Bakunkärr parking is also located along Knutersintie road at Knutersintie 421. There are two parking areas on both sides of the road. The parking lot on the east side of the road is the starting point for the Lake Fiskträsk tour. There is space for almost 60 cars in total.

A map of Sipoonkorpi National Park and an info board are located at the edge of the parking area at the starting point of the route. The distance to Lake Fiskträsk from the parking area is 2.7 km. The shortest distance from Bakunkärr parking to Fiskträsk is therefore 5.4 kilometres when you return to the starting point at the end of the hike.

According to the Nationalparks.fi website, the Fiskträsk Trail is 4.7 km long.

Fiskträsk Trail

From the map of Sipoonkorpi National Park, a wide gravel road starts towards the forest. In June, the road is lined on both sides with abundant summer flower beds, especially the white flowers of cow parsley. A visitor counter stands out among the flowers.

A 700-metre stretch of gravel road curves gently to a junction. The road continues straight ahead, with the Fiskträsk trail bending left. At the junction there are new signs, so you can't get lost.

The uphill will warm up your leg muscles. Fortunately, the dense forest shades you from the sun. After a few hundred metres of climbing, you reach the next junction.

At this point you can decide whether to take the longer or shorter route to Fiskträsk. The path to the right is 1.9 kilometres long, to the left 900 metres.

To the right, the route continues as a wide gravel path and climbs gently uphill. Take a brisk hike for about 10 minutes before you reach the junction again on the west side of Fiskträskbergen cliff. From the Bakunkärr car park it is 1.7 kilometres, with 900 metres to go to the Fiskträsk cooking shelter.

From here a nice nature trail begins. The wettest parts are covered with duckboards, but most of the way is on natural paths, rhizomes, rocks and stones.
After the rains, the ground can be muddy in places, but you can manage with sneakers.

There's a pleasant peaty smell at the bog, with heather, blueberry bushes and marsh Labrador tea lining the path. The greenery is interspersed with beautiful northern orchid flowers.
After a few rhizomes, muddy patches and a rocky outcrop, you reach a crossroads where you can again follow the gravel path from Korvenportti. Lake Fiskträsk is a couple of hundred metres away.

Just before reaching the lake, you can rest your feet on a bench along the path. A wide wooden bridge leads across the stream. A short distance from the bench you can also have your lunch, as a comfortable table and benches in the middle of nature invite you to take a break.

Fiskträsk's new cooking shelter and campfire site

The path comes suddenly from behind the fir trees of Sipoonkorpi to the shore of Lake Fiskträsk. A new cooking shelter is already peeking out from between the lush conifers, probably belching smoke from its pipe.

The shelter can accommodate a dozen outdoor enthusiasts. There are two groups of tables and benches in front of the shelter. The cooking shelter is well-equipped: metal sausage sticks are waiting, and there are two grids on the fire.

The shore makes a U-shaped curve just where the path enters the lake. In the middle of the arch is a single group of tables and benches, with a beautiful view of the wooded shore of the lake. Hidden behind the spruce trees are red dry toilets and a woodshed.

If you continue along the path a little further, you will find the new Fiskträsk lean-to shelter. The "laavu" is of traditional design, with a fireplace in front of it. Right next to the shelter is the fourth group of tables and benches on the beach.

On dry and hot summer days, remember to check the forest fire warning. While the warning is in effect, no fires may be set up anywhere other than in the cooking shelters with chimneys.

Fiskträsk - camping

Fiskträsk beach is one of the most popular places for camping in Sipoonkorpi National Park. You can pitch your tent near the fireplaces.

On Fiskträsk beach there are several places with great views where you can pitch your tent. From the cooking shelter, continue a little further, first across a small stream, and then up a small hill to flat terrain.

There is less space for tents at the other end of the area, near the laavu shelter, but you could pitch a small tent there too. It is also atmospheric to throw your sleeping bag directly into the laavu and enjoy the open views of the lake. In summer, it's a good idea to bring a mosquito net with you.

Fiskträsk - fishing

In Sipoonkorpi National Park, hook and line fishing are permitted except in Lake Storträsk and the rivers Byabäcken, Ritobäcken and Hälsängbäcken. In Fiskträsk, you can go lure fishing with a single rod, provided you have paid a fishing fee.

For specific regulations, check the fishing restrictions website.

Fiskträsk trail - back to the parking area

After a dose of snacks and the peace and quiet of nature, it's time to head back. From Fiskträsk, you first return on your own tracks through a few meanders to the junction where you turned off to the lake. At the junction, you can again decide whether to take the same route back, or whether to do the whole Fiskträsk circuit.

The shorter route continues ahead on a hard gravel path. Sometimes the path is a straight line, sometimes it winds through dense fir trees. In June, the spruce boughs glow bright green in the twilight of the forest.

About 300 metres from Fiskträsk, the path comes to another junction. Turn right to Korvenportti. The signpost tells you that the next few hundred metres are on private land, whose peace and quiet must be respected.

Towards the Bakunkärr car park, continue along the gravel path. The steep cliffs on the left and the dense growth of fir trees tell you why Sipoonkorpi is called "Sipoonkorpi" (= The forestry forest of Sipoo) - you can't ask for a more rugged forest!

A wooden bridge leads across the brook. The gravel ends, and immediately the ground is muddy. Tree trunks are stacked over the muddy puddles, but the safest way to keep your shoes dry is to hook up alongside the path. This way, though, the terrain is worn away over a larger area.
There are a few muddy spots, then duckboards lead over the puddles. The path is lined with ferns.

You can cross a small stream on a sturdy plank bridge, or take the atmospheric little bridge built of tree trunks. You can also jump across.

Next, you climb a steep, ridge-like hill up to a cliff, where the junction of the gravel path on the way in is already visible. From here, descend a steep slope down the gravel path, and turn right towards the car park.

Fiskträsk - Sipoonkorpi in winter

The Fiskträsk tour is also a great experience in winter! Sipoonkorpi's routes in winter are often walkable with normal shoes, but in winters with plenty of snow, snowshoes may sometimes be needed.

Fiskträsk's cooking shelter often has fires crackling even in frosty winter days, especially at weekends.

Sipoonkorpi trails in winter:

• Knutersin kierros Trail in winter 3,8 km
• Bakunkärr in winter 2,0 km
• Kalkinpolttajanpolku Trail in winter 4,8 km
• Byabäcken nature trail in winter 2,1 km

Sipoonkorpi National Park

Sipoonkorpi National Park is "my own national park", and the trails in Sipoonkorpi are familiar to me from years ago, both in summer and winter. I have hiked and trail run Sipoonkorpi trails, and in winter I have also snowshoed and skied the trails.

Sipoonkorpi is a wilderness oasis in Eastern Uusimaa, which can be reached by car or bus in less than half an hour from Helsinki. Finland's most rugged national park charms with its coniferous forests, cliffs and traditional rural landscapes. Sipoonkorpi is part of the Natura 2000 programme.

• In Sipoonkorpi, hiking is allowed by everyone's rights. Everyone's rights do not extend to private yards, pastures and farms in the area. So if you stray from the path, be sure to go around private areas far enough away.
• Camping is allowed in several places in Sipoonkorpi. You can stay at marked camping sites. Fires may only be built in maintained fireplaces, where firewood is also available in winter.
• Hiking and camping in Sipoonkorpi is garbage-free. Organic waste may be left in the dry toilet, other rubbish must be taken out of the forest.
• Mobile phone coverage in Sipoonkorpi is relatively good. In an emergency, call 112.