Canoeing Route in South-East of Finland: Väliväylä & River Kymijoki
The South-East canoeing route consists of two separate routes: The Väliväylä canoeing route between Lappeenranta and Kouvola, and the Hirvikoskenhaara canoeing route on the Kymijoki River towards the Gulf of Finland.
Along the route you will experience Finland in miniature. On the diverse water route you will see river valleys, evergreen forests, groves and spectacular river and lake scenery. You can paddle the whole route or choose the section that interests you and is the right challenge for you. If you wish, you can continue your journey all the way to the Gulf of Finland! Between the Väliväylä and the Kymijoki River canoeing routes there is a stretch of some ten kilometres that cannot be paddled due to the power plants, but you can order a canoe transport from a local operator to bypass it.
The Väliväylä is a historic waterway between Saimaa and Kymijoki river. It is the southernmost waterway in Järvi-Suomi proper, and its story is coloured by the romanticism of the logging industry and the history of Finnish industrialisation. The route canoes through narrow lakes, wilderness rivers and easy rapids, as well as passing small dams. Along the Väliväylä waterway you will find good rest stops as well as excellent fishing opportunities. The Väliväylä is one of the cleanest waterways in Southern Finland.
The wide and mighty River Kymijoki, which runs through Kymenlaakso, is one of the largest rivers in Finland. The Kymijoki River has many hydroelectric power plants and used to be an important timber transport route. Located below the Ankkapurha Cultural Park and the Industrial Museum, the largest free rapids in Southern Finland are used by both recreational fishermen and hikers who enjoy fast-paced whitewater rafting. The canoeing route continues along Hirvikoski, the westernmost branch of the Kymijoki River, to Strömfors Ironworks, that is one of the best-preserved ironworks communities in Finland.
Check more detailed route maps and services along the route:
Canoeing route Väliväylä, Lappeenranta-Kouvola
Hirvikoski branch canoeing route of Kymijoki River, Kouvola-Kotka-Pyhtää-Loviisa