Kolvitsa: Nature Trail, Waterfall and Village History

The nature trail runs from the bridge for 600 metres along the left bank of the Kolvitsa River to the “Chorny Padun” waterfall. Information boards describe natural features, and steps have been built into the slopes. The settlement’s history began in 1894 on the river’s left bank; near Kolvitsa, the river flows into the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea.

The trail starts at the bridge in Kolvitsa and follows the left bank to the waterfall. The waterfall can be reached via the nature trail. Information boards about natural features line the route, and steps have been built into the slopes. At 600 metres, this riverside stretch is a short, clearly defined leg to factor into your trip planning.

Independent visits to the nature trail are limited to summer and early autumn. If the waterfall is a highlight of your trip, check in advance whether an independent visit is currently possible. This will help you take the right season into account as well as the trail’s length.

The settlement’s history began in 1894, when the Karelian families of the Arkhipovs and Artemyevs arrived on the left bank of the Kolvitsa River and made their home there. Near Kolvitsa, the river flows into the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea. The river and its banks are therefore part of both the settlement’s early history and the landscape’s defining features.

Built along the nature trail in autumn 2015, the “In Memory of Kolvitsa” memorial complex commemorates village residents who fell in the Second World War. Beside the bridge stands a memorial stone engraved with the village’s history; it was installed in summer 2014. Another memorial is the cross, erected at the village’s highest point in May 1994 to mark its centenary. It commemorates those who never returned from the sea or the war, as well as those who died defending their homeland against invaders.

Other named places add to this picture: Swan Rock is on the forest trail in Kolvitsa. The Chapel of St Nicholas the Wonderworker was built and consecrated in Kolvitsa in September 2017. The memorial complex, the engraved account of the village’s history, the cross and the chapel each represent a different aspect of local history.

In the wider destination of Murmansk Oblast, Umba offers a different way to explore the landscape and culture. The guided hiking trail “Starinnaya Pomorskaya Derevnya Umba” is 5.5 kilometres long and has seven information boards. They cover the settlement’s history, as well as the Pomors, their livelihoods and everyday life. The trail also offers insights into northern wooden architecture. It is therefore a longer, guided alternative to Kolvitsa’s 600-metre nature trail; the tour must be booked at least two days in advance.

The Museum of the History, Culture and Daily Life of the Tersky Pomors in Umba also offers a different cultural focus. Its exhibition covers livelihoods from the 18th to the early 20th century, including fishing, hunting marine mammals, shipbuilding and pearl fishing. Other exhibition topics include carpentry and joinery, woodworking, shoemaking and women’s crafts. This gives you a clear distinction to consider when planning your trip: Kolvitsa combines a short nature trail with local village history, while the attractions in Umba offer insights into Pomor daily life, trades and crafts. Check the current arrangements for the guided tour before planning.

Discover more destinations: Zapolyarny, Kovdor, Murmansk, Apatity, Pirenga, Zelenoborsky, Kandalaksha, Pushnoy.

How long is the nature trail to the waterfall?

It runs for 600 metres from the bridge along the left bank of the Kolvitsa River to the “Chorny Padun” waterfall.

When are independent visits to the nature trail possible?

Independent visits are limited to summer and early autumn. Check in advance whether an independent visit is currently possible if you would like to walk the trail on your own.

When was the memorial cross erected?

It was erected at the village’s highest point in May 1994 to mark the village’s centenary.

Back to the main travel overview: Murmansk Oblast.