Oravivuori mountain trail can be reached very easily and is a great half day trip destination from us. It is a place of outstanding natural beauty, and there is a stunning view to Lake Päijänne from the tower on the top of the hill, all year round.
You can leave your car in the parking lot at the start of the path leading to the top of the mountain across varied terrain. The path can be steep at times, but it is wide and very well marked.
Oravivuori is a place that holds certain historical significance as it is part of the Struve Geodetic Arc, a chain of survey triangulations, stretching through 10 countries from the Black Sea all the way to Hammerfest in Norway. The survey was carried out between 1816 and 1855 by the astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve, and it offered the first accurate measurement of a meridian, helping to establish the exact size and shape of the Earth. Oravivuori was measured and became part of the arc in 1834. Nowadays the Struve Arc is on the Unesco World Heritage List.
You can bring along a picnic and enjoy the stillness of the Finnish woodland around you. You can find a simple table and a few benches at the foot of the tower on the top of the hill. There you can sit down to relax, listen to the peace and quiet, and take a rest before heading back towards your car. Mind you, no open fire is allowed, and please take all your litter with you when you go.
But, if you have 15 more minutes to spare, and the idea of a picnic does not sound too inviting, the Korpilahti centre with its lovely café on the water is a place worth considering for an afternoon coffee, or tea…
