KAINUU TRAIL 2025

Arrival to Finland

Arriving in Finland is easiest by air. Airlines such as Finnair operate direct flights from around the world to Finland and Helsinki Airport. From Helsinki, you can continue your journey by flying, for example, to Kajaani or Kuusamo, which are the nearest airports to Hossa. From Kajaani and Kuusamo, you can conveniently continue your journey by bus or rental car.

Check here for a listing of countries and cities worldwide with direct Finnair flights to Finland.

Book your flights on Finnair's website.

By flying to Kajaani or Kuusamo and by bus to Hossa

Arriving and travelling to Kainuu Trail can be done smoothly by flying from Helsinki to either Kajaani Airport or Kuusamo Airport.

From Kajaani (Kajaani Travel Centre) it is easy to continue the journey towards Hossa by bus, for example using the Kajaani-Suomussalmi-Hossa-Kuusamo bus connection. The most convenient way to get from Kajaani airport to the centre of Kajaani and the travel centre is by taxi or public bus.

From Kuusamo it is easy to continue the journey towards Hossa by bus, for example using the Kajaani-Suomussalmi-Hossa-Kuusamo bus connection. The most convenient way to get from Kuusamo airport to the centre of Kuusamo (Bus stop Ervasti aukio, Kelantie 2, Kuusamo) is by taxi or public bus.

See flight schedules: finnair.fi

By rail to Kajaani and by bus to Hossa

If you want to arrive at Kainuu Trail by train, the nearest railway station is in Kajaani, about 200 kilometers from Hossa National Park. From the Kajaani railway station (Travel Centre) it is easy to continue the journey towards Hossa by bus, for example using the Kajaani-Suomussalmi-Hossa-Kuusamo bus connection.

See train schedules: vr.fi

Arrival by bus in Hossa

In summer, the Kajaani-Kuusamo bus connection usually serves visitors to Hossa from the beginning of June to the end of September. You can find the bus connection in Matkahuolto's timetable search under the name Kajaani-Suomussalmi-Hossa-Kuusamo.

Usually, this connection is available in summer from Monday to Friday and on Sundays (so not Saturdays). However, it is worth checking the current schedule for each summer on Matkahuolto's website.

With this bus connection, it is easy to arrive in Hossa from Kajaani, Suomussalmi or Kuusamo, for example, the day before the race on Friday 27 June 2025 and leave after the race day on Sunday 29 June 2025.

Check the current schedule on Matkahuolto's website: Matkahuolto or Google Maps.

Matkahuolto's service number also helps if necessary: ​​+358 0200 4000.

By competition bus to Hossa

Kainuu Trail provides race bus transfers on the routes Kajaani – Suomussalmi – Hossa and Ruka – Kuusamo – Hossa on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

The Kajaani – Suomussalmi – Hossa race buses are free of charge. Bus tickets will be available for reservation on the www.rastiviikko.fi website under "About KOW" -> "Projects" in April 2025.

The Ruka – Kuusamo – Hossa race bus is a paid service. See ticket booking instructions below.

The bus schedules are well-suited for the 10 km, 21 km, 38 km, and 55 km mass starts. The race buses arrive in Hossa between 07:30 and 08:30.

• 78 km start time: 06:00
• 55 km start time: 08:00
• 38 km start time: 09:00
• 21 km start time: 10:00
• 10 km start time: 10:30

See the full event schedule and program here.

The route connections and schedules are:

• Kainuu Trail Race Bus 1 (Free of Charge)
  • Route (Round Trip): Kajaani – Vuokatti – Ristijärvi – Hyrynsalmi – Suomussalmi (Ämmänsaari) – Peranka – Hossa
  • Departure: 04:00 (Kajaani Travel Centre)
  • Stops:
    • 04:35 Vuokatti Sport (road 76, Urheiluopisto 1, bus stop)
    • 04:45 Sotkamo Bus Station
    • 05:30 Ristijärvi (road 5/E63, Ristijärvi th P, bus stop)
    • 05:50 Hyrynsalmi (road 5/E63, Istonniemi, bus stop)
    • 06:20 Suomussalmi (road 5/E63, Jalonniemi)
    • 07:30 Hossa Visitor Centre
  • Return Departure: 19:00
  • Arrival in Kajaani: 22:40
  • Ticket Reservation: Tickets will be available on www.rastiviikko.fi under "About KOW" -> "Projects" in April 2025.

 

• Kainuu Trail Race Bus 2 (Free of Charge)
  • Route (Round Trip): Kajaani – Ristijärvi – Hyrynsalmi – Suomussalmi – Hossa
  • Departure: 05:45 (Kajaani Travel Center)
  • Stops:
    • 06:20 Ristijärvi (road 5/E63, Ristijärvi th P, bus stop)
    • 06:40 Hyrynsalmi (road 5/E63, Istonniemi, bus stop)
    • 07:10 Suomussalmi (road 5/E63, Jalonniemi)
    • 08:30 Hossa Visitor Centre
  • Return Departure: 17:30
  • Arrival in Kajaani: 20:15
  • Ticket Reservation: Tickets will be available on www.rastiviikko.fi under "Tietoa Rastiviikosta" -> "Hankkeet" in April 2025.

 

• Kainuu Trail Race Bus 3 (Free of Charge)
  • Route (Round Trip): Kajaani – Ristijärvi – Hyrynsalmi – Suomussalmi – Hossa
  • Departure: 06:30 (Kajaani Travel Center)
  • Stops:
    • 07:05 Ristijärvi (road 5/E63, Ristijärvi th P, bus stop)
    • 07:25 Hyrynsalmi (road 5/E63, Istonniemi, bus stop)
    • 07:55 Suomussalmi (road 5/E63, Jalonniemi)
    • 09:15 Hossa Visitor Centre
  • Return Departure: 15:30
  • Arrival in Kajaani: 18:15
  • Ticket Reservation: Tickets will be available on www.rastiviikko.fi under "Tietoa Rastiviikosta" -> "Hankkeet" in April 2025.

 

• Kainuu Trail Race Bus 4 (Paid)
  • Route (round trip): Ruka-Kuusamo-Hossa
  • Departure: 06:40 (Sale Rukanriutta, street address: Rukanriutta 7, Kuusamo)
  • Pysäkit / Bus stops
    • 06:45, Ruka Village (Kumpare)
    • 06:50, Rukajärvi (Rukajärven koulu E)
    • 07:10, Holiday Club Kuusamon Tropiikki
    • 07:20, Kuusamo city centre (Kelantie 2, Ervastin aukio)
  • At Hossa: 08:20 (Hossa Visitor Centre)
  • Return (departure): 17:30
  • In Ruka: 19:10
  • Price: 20 € / person / two-way trip

• • Purchase a ticket through the registration service during registration or from the online store
    • Tickets will be on sale until April 30, 2025, or as long as tickets are available.
    • The organizer reserves the right to make changes. If there are not enough ticket orders to cover the transportation costs, the organizer will notify all customers about the cancellation of transportation during week 19 (May 5-11, 2025).

Arrival to Hossa 

Hossa National Park is located between road Kuusamontie (main road 6, E63) and road Suomussalmi - Murtovaara (road 843). Most of the national park's area is inside in the municipality of Suomussalmi area, but parts of it are in municipalities of Kuusamo and Taivalkoski.

Map 1. Location of the Hossa National Park

It is easy to arrive to Hossa and to get familiar with its diverse nature. Almost immediately when arriving to Hossa traveller can start to enjoy the silence of Hossa's wilderness.

Hossa National Park is an excellent destination for outdoor and hiking oriented travellers: the paths and trails running along pine heaths invites you to hike, run and cycle. The crystal-clear lakes are perfect for canoeing and fishing. The (legendary) rock paintings of Julma-Ölkky and Värikallio depict stories of shamanism, dating back thousands of years.

Read more about arriving to Hossa from Hossa's webpages and from Nationalparks.fi webpages.

Arrival to Kainuu Trail event centre

Kainuu Trail trail running event's event centre is located on Hossa Visitor Centre's area. Navigational address is Jatkonsalmentie 6, Suomussalmi.

The event’s guiding posts and Hossa national park’s guiding posts guide you to the event centre from route 5 (E63). Kainuu Trail -event’s guide posting begins from route 5 (E63) as shown in map 2.

Map 2. Arriving to Hossa

Kainuu Trail event centre's map

Map 3. Kainuu Trail's Event Centre