Soini offers nature experiences on very different scales: from the approximately 200-metre-long, fully accessible trail in Kaihiharju to the more than 50-kilometre-long Arpainen Route. There are also horse-riding opportunities, disc golf, cross-country ski trails and cultural details in the town centre and along the hiking trail. This gives you a choice when planning your trip, from short routes and a longer tour to activities with a different focus.

Nature trails of different lengths

Completed in 2021, the nature trail in Kaihiharju has two routes. The shorter one is approximately 200 metres long and fully accessible. The other is about 700 metres long, challenging and also accessible; assistance may be needed on this route. When planning, you can therefore take into account both the length and the possible need for assistance on the longer route.

Hermanninpolku in Parviaisenkylä is an easy 2.5-kilometre hiking trail. Kuninkaanpolku, at 8.3 kilometres, is a longer option. Its southern starting point is just over one kilometre from the centre of Soini, in the direction of Karstula. The distances provide a clear guide if you want to choose a shorter or longer hiking route.

An even longer route is the Arpainen outdoor and hiking trail: it is just over 50 kilometres long and runs from Soini to Ähtäri. The route passes through diverse coniferous forests, marshes and steep-sided sandy ridges. It combines considerable length with varied scenery, and is a different kind of undertaking from Soini’s shorter trails.

Disc golf, horse riding and cross-country skiing

The Lintuharju disc golf course in Soini has 18 holes, or baskets. The holes have a total length of 1,815 metres. If you would rather plan an activity with individual holes than a hiking route, you’ll find a course with clearly specified measurements here. At Vauhti-Matin Ratsutila, you can choose from rides of different lengths. They are offered with nine Icelandic horses and one horse of the “puolilänkkäri” type; you can take part even if you have no previous riding experience.

Soini has a varied network of cross-country ski trails.

Church and art along the way

Soini Church is in the town centre. It has a cruciform layout and is built in the Ostrobothnian style. An old statue depicting a poor woman stands in front of its bell tower. It is considered to be the only one of its kind in Finland and probably in the world. The church and statue provide a cultural counterpoint to the town’s nature and leisure activities.

Another cultural feature can be found along the Alasen hiking trail: caricatures and humorous anecdotes by artist Reijo Kivijärvi. If you’re interested in art and humour, you can take this into account when choosing activities, alongside trail lengths and scenery. Soini’s character is expressed not only through its routes, but also through local design and architecture.

Discover more destinations: Ojutkangas, Alavus, Isojoki, Kurikka, Lapua, Ilmajoki, Seinäjoki, Kuortane.

For the wider travel overview: South Ostrobothnia.