Pilpasuo
Pilpasuo is a vast wetland area with minimal ditch drainage in eastern Oulu. It is a national bog conservation area and a Natura 2000 site. It is one of the most popular camping areas in the Oulu region. There is a large parking area in Pilpasuo. Please park your car diagonally to ensure that there is adequate space for other visitors. The route is not maintained during the winter, but the routes are often in good condition thanks to heavy use. Welcome!
Two family-friendly routes
The Pilpasuo Nature Trail’s signposting is a little different: on top of information, it offers small tasks. Accomplishing the tasks activates your senses and guides you to experience familiar things in nature in new ways. Set your phone to silent and focus on one sensation at a time. Nature improves well-being quickly. Just 20 minutes in a forest can improve one’s mood.
The Pilpasuo Nature Trail is divided into two routes.
Pahalampi Nature Trail, 1 km (Lystireitti)
Especially suitable for families with small children. The trail circles the Pahalampi Pond. There are two firepit sites on both sides of the pond, a lean-to and a toilet. Firewood is delivered to the lean-to when possible, but the firewood runs out quickly. It is recommended to bring your own firewood. The route includes four tasks. The route is marked on trees with red paint.
Pilpasuo Nature Trail, 7 km (Aistireitti)
Two firepit sites, a spring and a lean-to. Eight tasks. The route is marked on trees with blue paint.
The route has duckboards, but prepare for walking on wet ground.
Making fires is only allowed on firepit sites. Firewood is delivered when possible, but the firewood runs out quickly. It is recommended to bring your own firewood.
Camping is prohibited in the conservation area. You may spend nights at the lean-tos.
Picking berries and mushrooms is allowed.
There are firepit sites on the lean-tos, a toilet (only on the Pahalampi Nature Trail) and firewood is delivered. There are no waste bins, so make sure to take your waste with you.
Driving mountain bikes on the duckboards is not permitted since cycling wears out the duckboards quickly.
23 wetland types and ancient coast stones
The majority of the area has been acquired by the state for conservation purposes or protected as a private conservation area. The Pilpasuo Nature Trails were built in 1978 in cooperation with the Oulu Nature Protection Association.
The majority of Pilpasuo has developed on an ancient, about 3000-years-old, seaside meadow. The bog is located in an old estuary of the Oulujoki River.
In Pilpasuo, you will find lush spruce woods, dry pine forests, and alder trees that are rare in Oulu – you can even find sand dunes. 23 different types of wetlands have been found in the area. You may find smaller aapa-mires near springs. There are many springs in Pilpasuo because a lot of groundwaters from the surrounding glacial tills and Pilpakangas are released into the bog.
One of Pilpasuo’s attractions is the Ala-Korkiakangas Ancient Coast. The Ala-Korkiakangas Open is covered with rocky terrain which used to be a small island in the ocean 6500 years ago. Today, the rocky terrain rises 55 meters above sea level. The terrain also include rock heaps constructed by people. Who built them, when and why are still mysteries to us.
Plenty of birds
The diverse nature of Pilpasuo makes it favorable for birds. The most numerous small birds are meadow pipits and yellow wagtails. Many forest fowl thrive in Pilpasuo, such as willow grouse, hazel grouse and black grouse. Out of waders, wood sandpiper, curlew, greenshank, common snipe and jack snipe favor the area. Cranes are very common in the area. On drier ground, you may find great spotted woodpeckers, three-toed woodpeckers and black woodpeckers. Additionally, great gray owls, boreal owls and northern eagle owls reside in Pilpasuo. The area is also favored by some protected species, such as merlin and chiffchaff.
From lizards to elk
Pilpasuo is home to many lizards, such as common frogs, moor frogs, toads and viviparous lizards. There are around two dozen mammal species in Pilpasuo. The most visible are squirrel, elk and rabbit. There are many nocturnal or fearful mammals hiding in the mosses too, such as moles and shrews. Pilpasuo’s beasts are foxes and small weasels and stouts.
Leatherleaf, rannoch-rush, bogbean and more
Pilpasuo’s flowery beauty is produced by the pink-flowered bog rosemary, bogbean and the frail, white-flowered leatherleaf which blooms heavily at the turn of May and June. Near the Pahalampi Pond, you will find the large red blooms of marsh cinquefoil.
One of the bog’s most prevalent plants is sphagnum moss. Other plants in Pilpasuo are, for example, sundew, marsh tea, rannoch-rush, common cottongrass, hare’s-tail cottongrass, many sedges, marsh willowherb, dwarf birch and cranberry which often provides a substantial yield. Some rarer species are bog orchid, early marsh-orchids and marsh saxifrage. Marsh saxifrage is protected in Finland and belongs among the EU’s nature directive species.