Lake Ruostejärvi – Saari route 12 km (The Häme Lynx Trail)

Urheiluopistontie, Tammela

Tammela

More information

Ruostejärvi Recreation Area, Niinimäki Conservation Area and Folk Park of Saari
The Ruostejärvi - Saari Hiking Trail connects two popular hiking destinations in the Häme Lake Uplands; Ruostejärvi Recreation Area and Saari Folk Park. Both have been known for decades already as a peaceful destination for nature lovers and a source of recreation. The trail leads, for the most part, through pine dominant forest landscape, but the area's ridge slopes, natural lakes, winding shoreline, as well as, its small protected wetland add variety. Hikers can admire the beauty of the area's abundant number of plant species, check out the area's berry and mushroom crop and listen to the murmur of the wind in the pines or the concert of birdsong. At the end of an excursion hikers can rest at the sandy beach or take a dip in the bright, clear lake.

Description

The trail is not a circle trail, but it can be divided into two separate sections. Hikers can just as easily start hiking from Ruostejärvi Recreation Area, Folk Park of Saari or Eerikkilä Sports & Outdoor institute.

Ruostejärvi Recreation Area - Eerikkilä Sports Institute, 2 km
The trail sets off from Ruostejärvi Recreation Area.
The trail heads from the recreation area parking gate building along duckboards via natural and built trails to Eerikkilä Sports Institute.
The trail leads, for the most part, through ridge landscape along the shores of Lake Ruostejärvi and Lake Leppilampi.

Eerikkilä Sports & Outdoor Institute - Folk Park of Saari, 12 km
The trail crosses the grounds of Eerikkilä Sports & Outdoor Institute; leading between the area's hotel and the football hall.
After passing Eerikkilä the trail leads northwest into a long forested portion of the trail following boundary lines to Niinimäki passing the Niinimäki ponds and the Niinimäki cliff wall.
At Niinimäki the trail turns northeast and leads through the small protected Niinimäki wetland in Torronsuo National Park.
The trail to Folk Park of Saari continues through forest areas towards Kaukola Village. At first the trail leads along forest paths then changes into a forestry machine track and forest road and at the end of the route into a local road and then a village road in Kaukola.
From Kaukola Village the trail climbs a private road onto Kaukola ridge, from where there is a spectacular view of ridge and lake landscape.
The trail passes Kaukola scenic lookout tower and descends into Folk Park of Saari, where hikers can find both a sandy beach and a swimming spot. There is a lean-to shelter, as well as, a campfire site and swimming spot in the southern portion of Folk Park of Saari near the River Kuivajärvi in the Raanpää area. Swimming spots are managed by municipality of Tammela.

Ending point: Saari Folk Park. Portaantie 472, 31300 Tammela.