FOREST
Central Park
Trail
- Distance
- 15.7 km
- Time
- 1 h 20 – 1 h 45
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Terrain
- Gently rolling
- Surface
- Gravel & forest path
From the Olympic area deep into Keskuspuisto, Helsinki's 10-kilometre green corridor of forest paths.
Keskuspuisto (Central Park) is a forest that starts a kilometre from the Olympic Stadium and runs north for about ten kilometres, almost to the city limits. It is Helsinki's great running playground, criss-crossed by wide gravel paths, lit tracks and single-track trails.
This route starts at Eläintarha sports ground and follows the main north–south path past the Laakso horse stables and through ever-denser forest to the Pirkkola sports park, where it loops through the woods before returning south.
It is the go-to long run for many Helsinki runners: soft underfoot, sheltered from the sea wind and almost entirely free of traffic.
Highlights
- Laakso stables
- Mixed spruce and birch forest
- Pirkkola sports park and café
- Lit paths in winter
Practical notes
- Main paths are lit, and usually maintained in winter.
- Toilets and water at Pirkkola sports park.
- Download the GPX: there are many junctions.
Getting to the start
Trams 2, 4 and 10 to the Olympic Stadium area.