Helvetinkolu

Useful Information

Location:	Helvetinkoluntie 775, 34870 Ruovesi. Park at the Ravintola Helvetin Portti restaurant, there is a huge car park at the Helvetinkoluntie road. Trail to the gorge 2.1 km/30 minutes, signposted.. (62.0541569, 23.8307617)
Open:	no restrictions. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Gorge
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:	slef guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Helvetinkolu, Tel: +358-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1982	Helvetinjärvi National Park created.

Description

Helvetinkolu (Hell's Gate) is normally mistranslated "Helvetinkolu Gorge" in English. It is actually not one gorge it's a set of two. The main gorge runs northwest to southeast, from Iso Helvetinjärvi lake to Pitkä Helvetinjärvi lake. In the gorge there flows a river from one lake to the other, with rapids and two small lakes named Sammakkolammi and Pikku Helvetinjärvi. The narrow gorge is located on the northwestern end of the other gorge and runs to the northeast, it has a 90° angle to the other gorge. Nearby at the lake is the hut Päivätupa with toilets and barbecue area.

The gorges are not only the main sight of the Helvetinjärven kansallispuisto (Helvetinjärvi National Park), the narrow gorge is also depicted on the park logo. The site is thus very well developed, there are good trails, the site is signposted, and there is even a boeardwalk through both gorges. The trail also leads to a viewpoint where it is possible to see both gorges at the same time.