Here, water is the path.
On a quiet river, time stands still. As your paddle touches the water, the world opens up and your mind clears just enough. Out on the open lake, the horizon is yours. For those in whom rapids awaken something ancient and bold, flowing rivers and foaming rapids invite you to test your limits.
The waters of Lieksa do not choose the paddler. They simply wait.
Lieksanjoki and Ruunaa
The Lieksanjoki River originates on the Russian side and flows through the stunning landscapes of the Ruunaa Hiking Area. The paddling route is approximately 100 km long and ends at Pankakoski. There are challenging rapids even for experienced paddlers!
Jongunjoki
Jongunjoki is a scenic, wilderness-like, and in many places fast-paced paddling route with a total drop of 80 m along its entire length. You can also paddle shorter sections of the route, for example from the Teljo Bridge on the border of Lieksa to Aittokoski, and from Aittokoski to Viitakoski. The route is full of fast-flowing rapids that are very navigable, but it’s worth familiarizing yourself with them beforehand.
Viekijoki
The Viekijoki is a fun, winding river that flows through the village of Vieki into Lake Viekijärvi. There are no rest or camping areas along the Viekijoki, so be sure to pack everything you need for your trip.
Pielinen
From the Lieksa harbor and Timitranniemi, you can take a wonderful canoeing trip along the Sokojoki River to Pokronlampi or paddle the Lieksanjoki River all the way to the Lieksa power plant. The large open waters of Pielinen are challenging for paddlers due to rapidly changing conditions and strong waves. It is safest to paddle on Lake Pielinen in calm weather in the evening and at night.
Lake Suomunjärvi in Patvinsuo National Park is a delightful sandy-shored lake perfect for several days of paddling and camping. You can start your paddling trip at the Suomu Nature Hut, where you can also rent canoes. During the high-water season in early summer, you can paddle from the lake along the winding Suomunjoki River to the edge of the park.
Paddling equipment
In Lieksa, you’ll find guided canoeing trips led by an experienced guide that are perfect for you or your group. You can rent canoeing and boating equipment from the Ruunaa Hiking Center and Ruunaa Tourism. Additionally, transportation to the upper reaches is available if you’d like to go on a multi-day trip.
Proper equipment ensures a successful trip. Weather, lighting conditions, mobile network coverage, and other factors can lead to surprises. You can easily find an equipment list and instructions on the luontoon.fi website.
Safety and Guidelines
Safety begins with planning and packing for your trip. It’s important to assess your own skills and stamina, the characteristics of the waterway, and the weather in advance. Before your kayaking trip, familiarize yourself with kayaking etiquette so you can set off with peace of mind.
Everyone’s Rights
In Finland, we all have the right to enjoy nature, and at the same time, we have a duty to care for the well-being of nature. Everyone’s Rights define what you can and cannot do in nature. Additionally, protected areas have various regulations that you should familiarize yourself with in advance.