Hiking Through Autumn Wonders in Teijo National Park, Salo
In Teijo National Park in Salo, the autumn colors glow beautifully each fall. The area offers an easy and enjoyable autumn foliage destination in Southwest Finland, even for less experienced hikers, with trails around Lakes Matildanjärvi and Puolakkajärvi. A special feature of Teijo National Park is its charming neighboring ironworks villages, such as Mathildedal, where visitors can find both restaurants and accommodation in a picturesque setting. The area can be reached on weekdays by bus from Salo, which in turn is accessible by train from both Helsinki and Turku.
- Parking area on the map (Address: Matildanjärventie 84, Salo)
- Matildanjärvi Trail 5.5 km
- Detour from the Matildanjärvi Trail to Teerisaari approx. 1 km/each way
- Several lean-tos with campfire sites
In the pine forest in front of Teijo Nature Center, the bilberry shrubs glow red. There are still some berries left, but at this time of year the best harvest is likely found among the red berries – lingonberries and cranberries abound in this region, and during our walk we saw many cranberry pickers crouching in the marshes.
We set out on the Matildanjärvi Trail with the intention of making a detour to Teerisaari along the way. The rocky and stony shores of Lake Matildanjärvi were busy with people enjoying the beautiful autumn day. We felt somewhat underdressed, as many were equipped with full hiking gear and large backpacks, while we were simply in sweatshirts, with just a phone in the pocket. On the other hand, there were also many families with children, who seemed to have come to fish or simply to relax by the lakeside scenery. This cross-section says a lot about the character of the area – it is well suited to many kinds of visitors and to many different ways of enjoying nature.
Bog bilberry was glowing in beautiful autumn colors, and the sun breaking through the clouds highlighted its stunning shades of purple and red. Adding to the red hues in the landscape were also heather, cranberries, and even Labrador tea, whose leaves had partly turned a striking red.
From the Matildanjärvi Trail, a boardwalk path leads to Teerisaari, a small, island-like rise between Lake Puolakkajärvi and the surrounding mire. The boardwalks below are from this section.
In the picture below, bog bilberry glows in red autumn colors.
The boardwalks follow a shallow stream flowing through the wetland, carrying water from one lake to another. On the other side stands a beautiful pine forest, at whose base stretches a thicket of Labrador tea. It must be a breathtaking sight when in bloom, and even now in autumn it is charming and fresh-scented.
By the stream, the golden-green grasses rustle pleasantly in the autumn wind. Faded heather and the water lilies’ leaves resting quietly on the surface represent the less flamboyant, yet all the more atmospheric side of autumn colors.
On the way to Teerisaari, the trail also crosses a stunning mire. The gnarled, thin pines create for a moment a world of their own for the hiker. Walking along the boardwalks is easy, with plenty of passing points so there is no need to step into the bog when meeting others.
Whereas the shores of Lake Matildanjärvi are rocky, the shores of Lake Puolakkajärvi are boggier and flatter. The picture below was taken from the boardwalks leading to Teerisaari, facing Lake Puolakkajärvi and the flock of swans gliding on its waves. Teerisaari lies off to the right of the picture, outside the frame. It is a popular rest and camping spot. We ourselves only turned around there and did not stay longer.
One of the splashes of color in the mire is the autumn-tinted sphagnum moss, which forms a beautiful, variegated carpet on both sides of the boardwalks by Lake Puolakkajärvi.
The lush moss carpet seemed to swallow many other bog plants into its red depths. Peeking through were heather, Labrador tea, bog rosemary, various grasses, and even small orange mushrooms. The lovely purple cranberry vines ran across the moss, and here and there they had pushed out large, red berries. To my eyes they looked so sour that I did not feel tempted to taste them.
We returned to the Matildanjärvi Trail and continued along the northern side of the lake, heading west toward the center of Mathildedal ironworks village. The lake was calm, perfectly mirroring the landscape above. On its surface people were out in kayaks, rowboats, and even packrafts – some clearly just exploring, others fishing. Around the lake there are numerous lean-tos with campfire sites, and each one was occupied by several groups that day. We kept to ourselves, as in our usual fashion we had not brought any snacks, so we simply greeted those we met and carried on.
The trail briefly passes through the village street of Mathildedal, where we made an entirely unplanned stop at a café. On our way back to the hiking trail, a box of apples had been left by the roadside with a sign saying “Please take”. That I could not resist – and the apple tasted absolutely wonderful! Many thanks to whoever had placed them there!
Soon the trail turns back into the forest, following the accessible Kariholma Trail to the lakeside cooking shelter. The final stretch to the nature center runs along a narrow hillside path. The trail climbs quite high, offering fine views over Lake Matildanjärvi above the red autumn shrubs.
Read also
Photo Series from Teijo National Park: This is the Nenusta Loop Trail
This is the most enchanting route in Teijo National Park: Matildanjärvi Loop Trail
Tip for Teijo National Park: The Small Ironworks Village of Kirjakkala and the Onnelannummi Trail
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