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Outdoor Express – Leivonmäki National Park

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

  • Outdoor Express buses operate according to the schedules below on weekends on Saturdays and Sundays from July 19 to September 7, 2025.
  • The routes have been implemented on both days according to the same schedule and stop offerings.

Leivonmäki bus routes and stops

11.00 Travel Centre, charter bus platform
11.40 Rutalahti, Letkaliiteri (to Koskikara trail), arrival
11.55 Selänpohja P
12.15 Harjujärvi accessible route

13.00 Joutsa town center
13.30 Selänpohja P
13.45 Rutalahti (to Koskikara trail)

16.30 Rutalahti, departure
16.45 Selänpohja P
17.00 Harjujärvi accessible route
17.30 Joutsa town center
18.30 Matkakeskus, charter bus platform

The transport departs from Jyväskylä Travel Center at 11:00 and stops at Koskikara (Rutalahti P) at 11:40, Selänpohja P at 11:55, Harjujärvi accessible at 12:15. After this, the transport continues to Joutsa (connector road) at 13:00, from where it returns to the national park area at Selänpohja P 13:30 and Rutalahti P at 13:45. The return transport departs from Koskikara (Rutalahti P) at 16:30, Selänpohja P at 16:45, Harjujärvi accessible at 17:00, Joutsa (connector road) at 17:30, and Jyväskylä Travel Center at 18:30.

Leivonmäki departures and tickets

Departures from Jyväskylä:
Sat 26.7. Buy tickets here
Sun 27.7. Buy tickets here
Sat 23.8. Buy tickets here
Sun 24.8. Buy tickets here

Departures from Joutsa:
Sat 26.7. Buy tickets here
Sun 27.7. Buy tickets here
Sat 23.8. Buy tickets here
Sun 24.8. Buy tickets here

Leivonmäki National Park trails

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. There are several campfire sites in the park.

Services and experiences in and around Leivonmäki National Park

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About the service

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]