Juveninkoski in Jämsä is the tallest waterfall in Central Finland

A quick detour from Highway 9 brings you to Central Finland’s tallest free-flowing waterfall in the village of Partala, Jämsä. On a mild January day, the falls flowed freely, surrounded by impressive icy formations. Put on your studded boots and head to the falls!

Juveninkoski on the map
Falls/waterfall right by the roadside
Fireplace: no
Accessible: no
By car: Address: Partalantie 196, Jämsä
Public transport: not available

An information board (only in Finnish) and stairs to a viewing platform are located near the top of the falls. NOTE: The stairs may be extremely slippery in winter. Partalantie road is visible on the left side of the photo.

We arrived in the village of Partala by car from Highway 9. It was a sunny, windless January Sunday with light frost—perfect weather for outdoor activities! Juveninkoski waterfall is easy to find on Google Maps, and access to the site is straightforward. However, fluctuating temperatures around freezing had left the parking area near the falls on Partalantie dangerously icy. We were grateful for the excellent signage from the local village association, guiding us to a safer parking spot at the nearby village school. From there, it was an easy start to our adventure.

*Additional parking is available at the nearby village schoolyard. Arrow signs point you in the right direction.*

The signs also mentioned an easier route down (“helpompi reitti alas”) from the schoolyard. Following the black arrows on a white background felt like a treasure hunt, and I was delighted by additional signs. A “WC” sign indicated the presence of a dry toilet, but what did “Uimala” (swimming area) mean? Along this short path, we also came across a tiny arboretum—a quaint wintery destination that felt larger than its size.

*Signs guide visitors from the schoolyard to the waterfall. Note: No winter maintenance.*

The small path starting from the schoolyard leads visitors to the base of the falls, while stairs built by the village association from the parking area on Partalantie road lead to the top of the falls. With a short walk, you can admire the waterfall from both above and below. The paths are not maintained, so extra caution is needed, especially in slippery conditions.

*The waterfall has created an icy crust on nearby trees.*

The path from the schoolyard winds past a sports/skating field and down to the edge of Juveninkoski waterfall. The sound of rushing water can already be heard quite clearly from the schoolyard, growing louder as we approach the stream. The downstream section is calm, and on the bank stands an old red shed with what looks like a short pier beside it. Could this be the swimming area mentioned on the signs? My mind instantly jumps to summer and the possibility of cooling my feet in the waterfall’s waters. Ah!

The waterfall itself is both strikingly impressive and charmingly modest. It feels just the right size! It clearly commands respect as a waterfall, forming beautiful ice formations beneath it. Yet perhaps its humble surroundings make it more relatable and easier to grasp.

*In winter, the falls offer a variety of icy formations to admire.*

The Finnish Waterfalls website provides additional information about this site. The waterfall measures 6–7 meters, which is quite a respectable height for a Finnish waterfall! The area’s history is also explored, including details about the mills that once operated here. You can check out Upe Nykänen’s 2013 article here (only in Finnish), where you’ll see what the falls look like in a greener setting.

*The water cascades about 6 meters down from the top of the falls.*

Underneath the falls, there are various ice formations, and I particularly admire the icy crust that has formed on the surface of a riverside tree. A seven-year-old companion remarks on the resemblance between nature’s work and Elsa’s icy creations from Disney!

A quick visit to the falls is refreshing and invigorating. I’ll happily return in the summer—perhaps then I’ll really get to explore the swimming area and cool off by the falls! A heartfelt thanks to the village association for their upkeep of the area.