Go to previous
Go to next

Outdoor Express – bus to national parks

Outdoor Express takes you from the center of Jyväskylä by bus directly to nature and back in the summer of 2025.

Outdoor Express, operating during weekends in the summer season, offers a quick connection from the center of Jyväskylä to the Pyhä-Häkki, Southern Konnevesi, and Leivonmäki National Parks. There is plenty of time for hiking and enjoying nature. You can explore independently on foot or take advantage of the diverse guide and experience services offered by the national parks. You can do a day trip, or pack a tent or book accommodation near your destination and return on the next day’s ride.

Outdoor Express service is intended for both locals and tourists; the aim is to provide an easy opportunity for hiking for everyone.

 

Prices

  • Adult 12 €
  • Students and seniors 10 €
  • Children (4-15 years) 6 €
  • Under 4 years (free)
  • Bicycle transport 3 €
  • Strollers 0 €
  • Pets 0 € (Note! Pets are only allowed on Sunday trips)

The above ticket prices are for a one-way trip. Return trips are the same price. Remember to also purchase a return ticket if you are returning with the Outdoor Express transport.

 

Buying tickets

  • Tickets are on sale in the Matkahuolto service and must be purchased 20 minutes before the departure of the service.
  • Tickets are not sold on the bus!
  • The operator of Outdoor Express bus rides is MatkaMäkelä Oy.
  • Outdoor Express transports depart from Jyväskylä Travel Center, Hannikaisenkatu 20, Jyväskylä.
  • Outdoor Express tickets can be combined through the Matkahuolto ticket shop for transfers with local bus Linkki, train, or long-distance bus.
  • Download the Routes and Tickets app.

 

Schedules

Select the national park you want or browse all below

Photo: Jukka Paakkinen

Leivonmäki National Park

Leivonmäki National Park enchants its visitors with its diverse landscapes, where ridges, lakes, and mires create a unique natural mosaic. The Koskikara Nature Trail, which starts from Rutalahti, is 3.5 km long, and the Harjunkierros (4.5 km) and Mäyränkierros (5.5 km) trails starting from the Selänpohja parking lot offer stunning scenery and diverse nature experiences.

Dates:

26.-27.7.2025
23.-24.8.2025

Photo: Julia Kivelä

Pyhä-Häkki National Park

Pyhä-Häkki is known for its ancient forests and stunning bog areas. This national park located in Saarijärvi offers over 20 kilometers of well-marked and easy-to-navigate trails. A recommended day hike is the 6.5 km Kotajärvi trail, which passes through ancient forests to the Big Tree and leads back to the parking area via a campfire site.

Dates:

9.-10.8.2025
6.-7.9.2025

Photo: Jukka Paakkinen

Southern Konnevesi National Park

In Etelä-Konnevesi National Park, you can enjoy nature both on trails and on the water, which is why there are two different Outdoor Express bus connections to Etelä-Konnevesi. The land connection takes you to the starting point of the national park’s trails, and the water connection takes you to Häyrylänranta, from where you can access the waters of the national park, for example, for paddling.

Southern Konnevesi national park features three hiking trails that offer challenges and experiences for hikers of all levels. Kalaja Trail is a 4.6 km long trail that includes a steep ascent and descent with stairs. Suitable for an overnight hike is the longer 14 km Three mountains hiking trail. The water gateway to Southern Konnevesi National Park opens from Häyrylänranta Harbor. You can book a guided kayaking tour or explore the waters of the national park independently by kayaking or paddleboarding, for example, on the Haukisaari Circuit (8 km) or from the deck of an inland cruise ship.

Dates:

19.-20.7.2025
2.-3.8.2025
16.-17.8.2025
30.-31.8.2025

You might also be interested in

Something still unclear? Contact the Tourist Office

Outdoor Express is a service that connects city centers and national parks. The operation particularly enriches the experience of tourists and increases the attractiveness and accessibility of national park destinations among local residents without cars. The Outdoor Express service concept has been launched as a collaboration between Ekokumppanit Oy and Visit Tampere. Nature trips have been successfully operated since 2022 – in the 2025 season, the service will expand to Central Finland as part of the Sustainable International Accessibility for Central Finland Tourism project. Outdoor Express won the 2024 Tourism Innovation of the Year award at the Finnish Travel Gala.

The Outdoor Express Jyväskylä Region service is implemented by the Sustainable International Accessibility for Central Finland Tourism (KeKaSa) project, managed by Visit Jyväskylä Region under the city of Jyväskylä. The project is co-financed by the European Union. The funding has been granted by the Regional Council of Central Finland.

The transportation is provided by MatkaMäkelä Oy, Mäntymäentie 26, 42700 Keuruu 0207 438 311 / [email protected]