Inland Central Ostrobothnia is a rural area in Central Ostrobothnia, here defined as the municipalities of Halsua, Lestijärvi, Perho and Toholampi.

Understand

Perho centre

The west part of the area belongs to the Ostrobothnian plains, with large mires, while the east is in the Suomenselkä watershed area, with hills and lakes.

• 1 Halsua
• 2 Lestijärvi
• 3 Möttönen – part of Perho
• 4 Perho
• 5 Toholampi

Get in

By car

Driving is probably the most practical way for getting in. Perho is on highway 13 between Kokkola and Jyväskylä. Regional road 751 connects this road to Halsua and on to Lestijärvi. Lestijärvi, in turn is on highway 58, the "Suomenselkä highway", in addition regional road 775 connects that town with Toholampi and Kannus. Toholampi is also on highway 63 between Sievi and Kaustinen, providing access from Northern and Southern Ostrobothnia.

By bus

There are buses from Kannus (which has a railway station) to Toholampi and on to Lestijärvi. From Kokkola, in turn, there are buses to Halsua and Perho. There are also buses from the direction of Central Finland to Perho, along highway 13.

Get around

See

Church of Toholampi

• 1 Lestijärvi church. Wooden church, finished in 1827 but modified several times over. (updated Aug 2023)

Do

• 1 Paranta beach (4 km from Lestijärvi centre towards Kinnula). Shallow sandy beach with dressing room, toilet, beach volley court, barbecue hut and picnic area. Free. 
• Deer's Trail (Peuran polku). 77-km hiking trail from Reisjärvi to the national park, through the southern part of the Lestijärvi municipality, via Valkeinen and Valvatti. 
• 2 Lestijärvi and Lestijoki, eima.virkkala@kpedu.fi. Some of the islands of Lestijärvi make up a nature reserve; three of the islands have lean-to shelters for visitors, one of these (Ahosaari, off Lestijärvi centre) is accessible by a skiing route in season. The skiing track follows the shore to Yli-Lesti. A canoeing route leads 25 km downstream by the lakes outlet river, Lestijoki. There are shelters after 3 km (at Jatkonkoski), 8.5 km (Raivio, after a bridge), 13 km (on Kanasaari), 17.5 km (after Talauskoski), 18.5 km (after Kalliokoski), 20 km (by Kuussahi), 22.5 km (at Sammalkangas), and 25 km (before Myllykoski). Some or all shelters may be private and locked. The last kilometres are the toughest, for experienced paddlers only. Some of the mires by the river belong to nature reserves. The shelters are reachable also by path or road. 
  • Lestihunter, ☏ +358 44-595-5282, reima.virkkala@kpedu.fi. Lestihunter rents canoes and arranges canoe tours by the upper reach of Lestijoki. Alternatives include Niskankorpi–Raivio (8km, beginning at the lake outlet), Niskankorpi–Murennuskoski (17 km) and Raivio–Hirvikoski (15 km, with the main rapids). 

Buy

Shops in Lestijärvi

Eat and drink

• 1 Saluuna-Parila, Lestintie 53 (Lestijärvi). Bar and restaurant. (updated Aug 2023)

Sleep

Lodging

Cabins at the camping sites.

• 1 Maaseutuhotelli Hirvikoski, Tornikoskentie 50 (Sykäräinen, 20 km south from Toholampi centre), ☏ +358 6 862-3086 (M–F 09:00–13:00), hirvikoski@toholampi.fi. Hotel or hostel rooms. Breakfast included. Restaurant. Campfire site. Swimming jetty (Lestijoki). Also private and public events and courses. Facilities shared by two hostel rooms, en suite in the hotel rooms. Single €75/€60, twin €100/€80; 10% off hostel prices by a HI-card. 
• 2 Valvatti Open Wilderness Hut (on the Deer's Trail, 5 km west of Lehtosenjärvi, 21 km north-east of Perho centre; nearby parking reachable by Salamajärventie, then 6 km along the gravel road Valvatintie), ☏ +358 20-639-4000 (Metsähallitus telephone exchange). Not suitable for winter use, latecomers have priority. Former forest ranger cabin, now a historic sight and an open wilderness hut. Well. For day visits or one or two nights. The stoves are tricky, don't use them unless you know how (draught has to be created in the flue before lighting the stove proper; don't close the damper early, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning). Sauna (to be paid online or at a service point, before or after the visit), agree on turns, such as one hour for women and one for men, if there are other people around. The birdwatching tower of the former lake Iso-Valvatti is a kilometre away. Free; sauna €10, children under 7 years €5. 

Camping

• 3 Halsuan Helmi, Lehtomaantie 151 (Halsua), ☏ +358 40-544-7565, piia@halsuanhelmi.fi. Camping and cabin accommodation next to Lake Halsua. The place has a restaurant as well. (updated Aug 2023)
• 4 Valkeisjärven leirintäalue, Kinnulantie 725 (16 south-east from Lestijärvi centre, by road 58), ☏ +358 40-536-6931, valkeinen@valkeisjarvenleirintaalue.fi. Camping and cottages. Beach by the lake Valkeinen. Bar with barbecue, pizzas and ice cream, and basic groceries. The bigger cottages have their own kitchenette. Also better equipped and bigger "luxury" cottages. 

Backcountry

There is no shortage of woods, where you can camp according to the right to access (for nature reserves, national parks and similar, check their rules). Also consider lean-tos and campfire sites of the Deer´s Trail and Salamajärvi National Park.

No campfires without permission, and none during wildfire warnings.

Go next

• Salamajärvi National Park is in the south-east part of this area.