You do not have to leave Helsinki to find roots, rocks and silence, and if you do, two national parks are within an hour by public transport. Here is where the capital's trail runners go.
Central Park (Keskuspuisto)
The obvious starting point. Central Park runs about ten kilometres north from the Olympic area, and alongside its wide gravel paths are dozens of narrower forest trails. Our Central Park Trail follows the main spine to Pirkkola and loops back. Once you know the main paths, explore the side trails: it is hard to get truly lost, because you are never far from a main path.
The NUTS HEL urban trail race uses these forests every autumn, with courses up to 25 km.
Paloheinä and Haltiala
At the northern end of Central Park, Paloheinä is a hub for outdoor sport, with an outdoor centre, café, lit tracks and access to the old-growth forests of Haltiala. The trails are more technical than in the south of the park, with roots and short climbs. Good training for Nuuksio.
Nuuksio National Park
Nuuksio, in Espoo on the western edge of the capital region, is the classic Helsinki trail escape: lakes, rocky ridges, spruce forest and marked trails from a few kilometres to much longer loops. The Finnish Nature Centre Haltia is a good starting point, with maps, a café and parking.
Nuuksio is reachable by public transport (train to Espoo centre, then bus towards the park; check the HSL journey planner, as some connections are seasonal) and the trails are marked with coloured signs. Terrain is rocky and can be slippery after rain. Carry water and a phone with a downloaded map.
Sipoonkorpi National Park
On the north-eastern edge of the capital region, Sipoonkorpi is quieter than Nuuksio, with forests, marshes and duckboards. It suits runners looking for solitude and longer, runnable trails.
The eastern coast: Uutela and Vuosaari
In the far east of Helsinki, the coastal forests of Uutela and the ridge trails around Vuosaari combine sea views with rocky single-track, all reachable by metro. Worth the trip when you want the sea and the forest in the same run.
Trail etiquette
- Finland's everyman's right lets you move freely in nature, but national parks and nature reserves have rules. Stay on marked trails where signs ask you to.
- Give way to walkers, and slow down around dogs and horses.
- Leave no trace: carry out everything you bring in, gel wrappers included.
- Stay off groomed ski tracks in winter.
Gear and community
Trail shoes, waterproof layers and headlamps are available from Helsinki's outdoor and running stores. To run with others, the Helsinki trail running community shares group runs on Strava.