An online survey on hiking trails and rest areas in Kauppi-Niihama was open from 10 August to 4 September 2026. The survey was carried out by EcoFellows Ltd. A total of 509 responses were received. Approximately half of the respondents reported living in the immediate vicinity of Kauppi-Niihama. According to the survey, the most important priorities were year-round routes (55% of respondents), free access (46%), and dedicated routes for different user groups and activities (34%).
The survey results were largely in line with the proposed planning solutions. Based on the responses, adjustments were made to the trail alignments in the plan. Additional rest areas and benches were included, and sections requiring gravel surfacing or boardwalks were further specified.
– Most respondents would like to see nature-based trails. They hoped that new routes would make use of existing paths. Restoration measures were considered necessary in particularly wet and uneven sections to prevent erosion, but otherwise respondents wished to keep the trails as natural as possible says Kaisa Mikkola, outdoor recreation planner at EcoFellows Ltd.
More than one hundred route suggestions were marked on the survey map. Most were related to developing the Lake Näsijärvi shoreline trail as a natural and peaceful route and creating a year-round connection to the Niihaman Ulkoilumaja from either Kauppi Sports Park or the Alasjärvi area. Additional hiking routes were proposed around Lake Alasjärvi and to the summit of Hepovuori. Among route connections, the so-called Kurasuora section between Alasjärvi and the Niihaman Ulkoilumaja, as well as the Kaupinlaakso connection, were highlighted as particularly important.
Opinions on mountain biking routes varied. Some respondents considered shared-use trails to work well, while others felt that fast cycling can create safety concerns and contribute to trail wear.
– Suggested solutions included improving trail surfaces, creating dedicated mountain biking and dog-walking routes, and providing clearer signage. Respondents also considered gravel surfacing necessary on rocky and root-filled sections of the current mountain biking route and on the shoreline trail between the Kauppi campfire site and Tapatora, Mikkola says.
Suggestions for rest areas included shelters, campfire sites and scenic benches. These facilities were most often requested at the summit of Pirunvuori, on the lakeside cliffs along the Kuntokolmonen trail, and on the shoreline area between Kauppi and Tapatora.
The responses also highlighted a need for clearer route signage. Respondents called for clear maps both on-site and online, trail markings, direction signs and information on distances to destinations. In addition, more guidance on making campfires and responsible outdoor recreation was requested as visitor numbers continue to grow in Kauppi-Niihama.
– I’d like to thank everyone who responded. Every response was read. The suggestions were comprehensive and well justified, and they have been taken into account in the plan, says Mikkola.
The starting point for planning in Kauppi-Niihama is to safeguard the area's valuable natural environment while enabling current and future recreational, sports and other uses in a manner that respects nature. The hiking trails will mainly be created by improving and marking existing paths. .
Planning is being carried out through broad cooperation within the City of Tampere and together with users and stakeholders. The process takes into account, among other things, the preparation of the nature reserve, new residential areas, public transport connections, accessibility and the area's sports services.
The trail planning process builds on a collaborative planning study carried out in 2019, which involved a wide range of stakeholders and residents. The development of hiking services is guided by the City of Tampere's Outdoor recreation services programme 2026–2035.
The draft plans for outdoor recreation facilities and services in Kauppi-Niihama can be discussed at the EcoFellows information stand during a public event related to the establishment of the Kauppi-Niihama Nature Reserve on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, from 4.30 pm to 7.00 pm at Museo Centre Vapriikki. A draft route planning map will be on display. The event is organised by the City of Tampere.
