Espoo nature trails offer experiences close to you

Espoo has approximately 40 kilometres of nature trails, i.e. routes intended for educational and recreational use. Along the trail there are signs providing information on the characteristics and special features of nature.

The twenty nature trails located throughout Espoo offer a great opportunity to explore the city’s diverse nature, such as its archipelago, mires, manor park or wetlands.

All trails are marked and signposted.

“Even though the nature trails are not illuminated or maintained in winter, they are like paths, as their name suggests. On average, they are 1.5 kilometres long, while the longest paths, such as the Hanikka and Sorlampi trails, are five kilometres long,” says Katrin Aia, Environmental Planner of the City of Espoo.

Espoo’s nature trails are not difficult to walk - they are easily managed if you are otherwise used to walking in nature. However, they are not suitable for those with limited mobility. Some nature trails can also be walked with prams, but there are only two actual accessible nature trails in Espoo.

“Nature trails suitable for children can be found near Villa Elfvik. There are several easy trails, where you can follow a story about the trail,” explains Aia.

For those interested in birds, there are several birdwatching towers in Espoo, three of which can be found along the nature trails of Finno, Hanikka and Laajalahti.

Most of the Espoo nature trails are located in nature reserves, which would not be accessible at all without the trail and the services it provides, such as duckboards.

“Nature reserves offer people a safe opportunity to get out into nature and even see rare habitats up close.

Nature trails are never made in completely pristine areas - they are always built upon an existing path or track.

“In most cases, a nature trail is made in a place where, for one reason or another, visitor access must be controlled while protecting nature. For example, the recently completed Kalajärvi fitness stairs have brought more visitors to the nature reserve. Therefore, a new nature trail is now being planned so that we can have better control over visitor access,” says Aia.

The City of Espoo has not prepared its own guidelines on the use of nature trails.

“Metsähallitus’ Outdoor Etiquette is a good guideline. There is no waste management on the trails, so you have to bring your own rubbish out with you. And generally ensure that there are no unnecessary traces left out in nature,” emphasises Aia.

There are no actual campfire sites or rest areas along the nature trails in the nature reserve due to their location or short distances. There is only one cooking shelter maintained by the City of Helsinki along the Sorlampi nature trail.

Aia gets a lot of outdoor exercise because of her work. She does not have a favourite nature trail, but Tremanskärr, which offers a wide variety of things to see, has its own appeal.

This article was also published in an Espoo liikkuu advertising supplement in the Länsiväylä newspaper on 23 April 2025.

Text: Thea Ekholm