Julmat Lammit is a place near town of Saarijärvi in Finland. There are three gorge ponds, steep cliffs and nice path to walk around of this place. At the halfway one can find an outhouse, fireplace and a nice place to swim in the clear waters.

The path starts from a parking place on the highway 13, just a few kilometers northwest from the town of Saarijärvi. There are other ways also to get to the Julmat Lammit if one checks the maps, but this might be the easiest.

The path to the first observation deck is really easy to walk and basically wheelchair accessible, if one can get up this first part from the parking.

The path is easy to walk and marked with clear white spots on the trees all the way around.

After some 200 meters is a three-way crossing, from where one can choose go straight and go around clockwise the whole path, or to turn left and take the steep stairs down for counter-clockwise path.

The stairs down from the crossing – go this way for counter-clockwise path around the Julmat Lammit.
I chose the clockwise path towards the observation deck.

Some scenery and arrival to the observation deck at the first pond.

The view down to and over the first pond from the observation deck.

After the first pond and the observation deck the path gets quite steep and hard to walk for those who don’t have sure step.

Some fallen trees and path through them.

Steep hills all around. The nature is left here as it is. Only minor clearing of things fallen on the path is done if must.

Some stairs up, some down. Nice views on the ponds and cliffs on the opposite shore.

Steep path down near the shore of the pond.

Some more rough terrain.

Fallen trees and old forest around.

Some easier parts of the first half towards the halfway stop and fireplace.

Panoramic view of the third pond. The fireplace and halfway stop is at the left end of the pond.

The fireplace and shelter for the firewood behind of it. Nice place to cook something if the forest fire warning is not in effect.

Paths and distances to some other interesting locations in Saarijärvi area: a camping area, fisher village, water animal zoo and a museum of old Finnish houses.

The path away from the fireplace.

Some information about the surroundings, good camping etiquette and a warning not to start a fire if the forest fire warning is in effect. That means no open fire, not even a small hobo stove can be used when the warning is in effect.

The mandatory pictures of the outhouse next to the fire place.

The fire place from other direction again.

Was a sunny day, a lot of mosquitos and the water was quite warm.

Another view of the path leaving the fire place and the bare rocks in this side of the pond.

The water is nice and clear. Getting to the pond is a bit tricky as the shore is clear rock and has some nasty sharp corners.

Once more the shore line rocks of the last pond next to the fire place.

Starting to go back towards the parking.

On this side the ground is a bit more drier and easier to walk than on the other side. But lots of bare rocks on this side.

View through the trees to the second pond.

The observation deck at the first pond from the opposite shore.

And finally the stairs back up to the crossing and back to the parking.

One should reserve maybe two or three hours to walk around this place, depending on are you going to cook some food or swim at the halfway stop.

Was it worth of the time and effort? Yes. Tho if I would have forgotten the mosquito repellent I would have not enjoyed at all, as there were a LOT of those little critters flying around and they were hungry.

The scenery and the weather were nice. The forest provided enough shade from the sun and temperature was tolerable, even tho it was a bit hot day, but the forest shade made it tolerable.