Only an hour from Tampere – Isojärvi National Park invites you to wilderness tranquility

Isojärvi National Park, located in Kuhmoinen in the Pirkanmaa region, is characterized by the large and beautiful Isojärvi lake, forested hills, and charming bogs dotted with ponds. Heretty serves as the main gateway to this rugged park, offering a lodge café, accommodations, and affordable rental equipment for outdoor activities. But what kind of place is this, and what should you experience in Isojärvi National Park?

Heretty on the map, Kylämäntie 1335 (Kuhmoinen), N 6839512 E 394118

Main image: Maija Mikkola, #retkeilyKS

Heretty and most of Isojärvi National Park are located in Kuhmoinen, about an hour’s drive from both Tampere and Jyväskylä. Heretty Lodge Café with its beautiful grounds is situated on the park’s southwestern edge, along Kylämäntie road.

“Isojärvi has a lot of water, including the lake that gave the park its name and smaller ponds and marsh pools. Additionally, there are enchanting moss-covered forests and large glacial boulders. Some trails also feature dramatic elevation changes,” describes café hostess and wilderness guide Minna Jakosuo.

The café is well known among local cottage owners, but Minna and her husband Vesa aim to make it more familiar to hikers as well. Anyone is welcome to stop by for treats, and the café’s other services have been developed in recent years to cater especially to hikers.

“The café is a hub for the park, with easy access to the trails. One of the most popular routes is a 500-meter accessible trail from the café to the nearest campfire site, which is particularly popular among families with children and older visitors,” Minna explains.

The three-kilometer nature trail showcases the area’s logging history and passes by a massive glacial erratic, the Giant’s Stone, which rests on three smaller stones. This is one of the park’s main attractions. From Heretty, you can also take 7- or 10-kilometer loops, or even embark on a 30-kilometer hike if your outdoor skills and physical fitness allow.

*Vesa and Minna Jakosuo are experienced wilderness guides. Photo: Jaska Halttunen*

Isojärvi National Park has two restricted areas: Lortikanvuori and Latokuusikko. In these areas, movement is only permitted on official trails during the snow-free season, meaning you must stay on the marked paths.

“Both areas are truly beautiful and definitely worth visiting as long as you follow the rules of the restricted zones,” Minna encourages.

*Forests and waters dominate Isojärvi National Park. Photo: Heikki Sulander, #retkeilyKS*

Affordable Equipment Rental

Through Heretty Lodge Café, hikers can rent kayaks, canoes, rowboats, and packrafts. Isojärvi is a fantastic paddling destination, somewhat reminiscent of a fjord in shape.

“The lake is long, narrow, and deep, offering plenty of adventure. You can dock at Renusaari Island, which has a shelter with campfire sites and a camping area. True to its name, Isojärvi (Large Lake) is indeed big, so windy conditions can be a bit challenging for paddlers,” Minna explains.

For beginners, she recommends the more sheltered Kurkijärvi, where canoes are also available for rent.

Additionally, the café offers affordable rental of basic camping equipment, such as tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, and camping stoves.

“We have a variety of items, including tents from large tunnel tents to small domes. This gives people the opportunity to test the gear practically before purchasing their own. Not everyone wants to own gear, especially if they lack storage space or don’t plan to use it often,” Minna reflects.

Biking Trails for Adventurers

Hikers in Isojärvi National Park may encounter signs of beaver handiwork or even catch a glimpse of the furry builder in action. Red-throated divers are also a common sight on Isojärvi’s ponds. The park’s trails are well-marked and easy to follow, but beavers’ presence may affect trail conditions—water can sometimes rise over dry land and cut off paths. Rubber boots might come in handy.

The mountain bike trail leads from Heretty to the park’s other corner, Lortikka, and returns along small gravel roads, making a total loop of 16 kilometers.

“Additionally, a route from near the center of Kuhmoinen leads to Heretty. This route, which includes several rest spots, is suitable for both hiking and cycling. It’s 35 kilometers at its shortest, but if you’re looking for more of a challenge, it can be extended up to 70 kilometers with additional loops,” Minna advises.

To preserve the beauty of the park’s nature and maintain its facilities, experienced wilderness guides Minna and Vesa also provide necessary guidance to visitors and share their best tips.

“For instance, we prominently inform visitors about forest fire warnings. During these times, open fires are prohibited,” Minna explains.

The Lodge Café is an Old Logger’s Cabin

Heretty Lodge Café and its grounds are worth visiting in their own right. The main building is an old, protected logger’s cabin, and treats are served through a traditional “life hatch” from the kitchen to the hall. The hall still has the loggers’ bunk beds, and historical items line the walls.

“We’ve also created a library room in the café with nature and wilderness literature. Guests staying overnight can borrow books for their rooms, and others are welcome to enjoy a read with their coffee,” Minna adds.

On themed weekends and occasionally during other summer weekends, the café offers a soup lunch. Minna notes that vegetarians are always accommodated in the menu.

Other old buildings also grace the café’s grounds, including a sauna for overnight guests that, according to Minna, has perhaps Finland’s longest sauna ladle, and a former horse stable now used as a visitor shelter and wood shed. A unique feature in the yard is a small, red building, the old cone-drying shed.

“The cone-drying shed is a tiny hut with a stove where pine cones were dried to extract seeds for new saplings,” Minna explains.