Lappeenranta for hikers

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Hike a couple of hours in the areas surrounding the city, admire the lake scenery from a bicycle saddle or go on a cross-country ski trip on Lake Saimaa. The Lappeenranta and South Karelia areas offer a spectacular network of routes for adventurers of all skill levels. There are also about 1,500 geocaches in South Karelia.

Places to visit

The Rantaraitti lakeside route – accessible to all

Mikonsaari Nature Trail

Hämmäauteensuo Mire Nature Trail

Saimaa Canal Trail

Karhusaari island

Pappilanniemi Nature Trail

Ilkonsaari island

Vipeleensuo nature trail

Joutseno multifunction hut

Uus-Lavola health trail

Naurissaari island

Hiking Routes

The culture path that sets out from the Canal Museum of the Saimaa Canal has Finnish signposts but, if you use QR codes, the signs are in English, too. The path is 1.5 km long. For more demanding hiking tours, you can take the European E10 long distance trail that traverses South Karelia.
Find out more about the routes in the Lappeenranta area:

Walking trails in the Lappeenranta region.pdf

Wanderstrecken in der gegend von Lappeenranta.pdf

Hiking trails in South Karelia

Retkikartta.fi

Outdooractive

Discover the hidden treasures of Lake Saimaa

Saimaa is an Eastern Finland's treasure known for its beautiful landscapes, distinctive cities and lovely villages. Saimaa has unique geological, archaeological and cultural attractions waiting for visitors.

Saimaa Geopark map.pdf

The Promenade

The Promenade that winds along the City Bay is a must see for all tourists! The convenient walkway follows the Saimaa shore from the Myllysaari Beach and family park via the Harbour Square, down along the old fortifications of the Fortress to Pikisaari Island, and from there, back to the city centre, through the Fortress.

Cycling routes

Lappeenranta is a cycling city, and there are plenty of routes for cycling trips. Admire the architecture in Lappeenranta on a cycling tour, and there is a 30 km cycling route with views of the archipelago that starts at the Harbour.
Bicycle hire:
Lappeenranta Sandcastle. Many hotels can lend their guests bicycles.

SUP Boarding (Stand Up Paddling)

You can go SUPping in the heart of the City! On a SUP board, you stand up on a wide surfboard and paddle. Why not hire a SUP board at the Sandcastle and paddle all the way to the lean-to on Karhusaari Island?

Canoeing routes

“Little Saimaa” (Pien-Saimaa) is a great destination for a day trip by canoe. There are several places to go ashore along the way. The Väliväylä route from Lappeenranta to Kouvola takes 4-8 days, with the possibility of overnighting in the lean-tos. There are also excellent day trip tours.
Kayaks, canoes or a row boat are available for hire at the Sandcastle.

South Karelia Outdoors

The green nature and the bustling history invite you to a memorable trip to South Karelia! Here you can find easy access to nearby destinations, island destinations and longer hiking trails. Instructions for moving around in the nature and water, as well as for litter-free hiking and for using saunas in some excursion spots can be also be found on the South Karelia Hiking site.

Visit South Karelia Hiking Site