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Seven Lakes kayaking route

—•Kayaking Routes

40 km

Route

Description

Visit Saarijärvi – Seven Lakes Canoe Route+

Description

The Seven Lakes kayaking route is a long lake loop of about 40 km around central Saarijärvi in Keski-Suomi (Central Finland). It strings together seven lake basins—Saarijärvi, Kallinjärvi, Summasjärvi, Kiimasjärvi, Pyhäjärvi, Iso-Lumperoinen, and Pieni-Lumperoinen—so you can tour varied shoreline and open water in one trip. Visit Saarijärvi presents the route as a town-centre circuit with rest stops and kota-style shelters where you can break for lunch or overnight. The City of Saarijärvi summarises safety for paddlers—lifejackets, weather-aware clothing, waterproof packing for phone and maps, avoiding solo paddling, and respecting other water users. Saarijärven Latu notes that printed maps used to show a landing at “Koskikämppä” (number 34 on older sheets); that property is private and not intended as a landing—check current guidance on their paddling page and on Visit Saarijärvi before planning stops. Saarijärven Latu and the city tourism pages point to a combined A3 map (eight pages) covering both this loop and the longer Saarijärven koskireitti rapid run; PDFs are on Visit Saarijärvi, and during the season you can ask the canoe duty phone for a paper copy. The map is advisory and some landing details may be outdated—confirm landing permissions on the water. Guided-event notes on Suomen Latu list three short land carries on the loop and describe the easy Majakoski and Summakoski rapids as places that may need walking past at low water. The national outdoor service Luontoon.fi also lists the route for discovery on Finland’s outdoor map. Along the mapped line you pass near central shore services at the start (beach and sports shore near Mansikkaniemi), a kota shelter at Lamposaari roughly mid-loop, and the Summassaari recreation cluster toward the north-west of the circuit—outdoor stairs, spa and tennis facilities above the beach—useful if you combine paddling with a shore break. The route shares shoreline logic with the separate Saarijärven koskireitti (Saarijärvi) whitewater line where those networks meet—that longer rapid run links the Äänekoski and Saarijärvi areas for multi-day trips. Walkers and skiers use nearby Summassaaren kuntopolut, Kusiaismäen kierros, and other local trails if you stay overnight in town.

Length & route

The route is about 40 km as one continuous loop on the prepared line. The lakes visited, in the order public materials describe the circuit, are Saarijärvi, Kallinjärvi, Summasjärvi, Kiimasjärvi, Pyhäjärvi, Iso-Lumperoinen, and Pieni-Lumperoinen, returning toward Saarijärvi. Short connecting pieces include easy rapids (Majakoski and Summakoski) where organised groups plan up to three land carries depending on water level. Saarijärven Latu warns that one historical map landing is private—do not use Koskikämppä as a public pull-out.

Getting there

Plan access from Saarijärvi town: tourism contacts for maps and updates are travel@saarijarvi.fi and 014 4598 208. For equipment and seasonal canoe duty, Saarijärven Latu uses 045 630 8529 for reservations. Use the published PDF map to choose legal put-ins and take-outs; avoid the private Koskikämppä landing marked on some older sheets. If you combine paddling with the long Saarijärven koskireitti rapid journey toward Äänekoski, study that route’s separate map and shuttle needs—this Seven Lakes loop is a distinct, mainly lake-based circuit.

Good to know

Fishing on many Finnish lakes requires the national fisheries management fee and often a regional permit; the City of Saarijärvi links anglers to permit guidance and maps for local waters. Paddling itself on public water does not replace fishing rules if you fish from the boat. For rentals, Saarijärven Latu offers canoes, kayaks, and SUP boards to members and non-members; a past Saarijärven Latu multi-day event via Suomen Latu quoted example rental rates for two days (30 € per single kayak unit, 40 € per tandem kayak or two-person canoe) for participants who needed club boats—confirm current prices when you book. No fee is charged for simply paddling public water. Wind on open lakes and cool water in spring and autumn mean solid rescue skills, VHF or phone in a waterproof case, and a plan shared with someone ashore.

Itinerary

A common way to enjoy the full loop is two summer days: first day from a morning put-in near central Saarijärvi through Kallinjärvi and Summasjärvi toward an overnight near Summasjärvi or the Lamposaaren kota stretch; second day across Kiimasjärvi and Pyhäjärvi and back through the Lumperoiset to your finish. Fit groups sometimes compress similar distances into one long day. Align breaks with the published map’s legal landings; avoid private yards.

Where to rent kayaks

Saarijärven Latu rents canoes, kayaks, and SUP boards. Call 045 630 8529 for canoe bookings; the City of Saarijärvi repeats this number for rentals. Example two-day rates from a past Saarijärven Latu event published on Suomen Latu were 30 € for a single kayak unit and 40 € for a tandem kayak or two-person canoe—use only as a rough guide and confirm when booking.

Managed by

Saarijärvi

Official Maintenance

Trail info

The tourism description presents a circuit around the town; organised-event notes describe a sample direction from Pieni-Lumperoinen toward Saarijärvi, then along Leuhunjoki toward Kallinjärvi and Summasjärvi, continuing to Kiimasjärvi and Pyhäjärvi and back through the Lumperoiset. You can paddle the loop in either direction; check wind forecasts for open segments.

Route direction

Open / Good Condition

Visit Saarijärvi – Seven Lakes Canoe Route+

Activities allowed

Kayak / Canoe

Activity

Terrain & conditions

40 km

Distance

Typically one long day to two days for the full loop at a relaxed pace, depending on wind, breaks, and portage time at Majakoski and Summakoski.

Est. Time

Loop

Route Type

Has Portages

Portage

Class I (Easy)

Rapids class

Lake Paddling

Water type

Suomen Latu – Seitsemän Järven melontaretki (event description)

Location

62.69692°N, 25.26633°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

Central FinlandRegion

ÄänekoskiCity

Kayaking RoutesCategory

Explore nearby

Saarijärven keskusurheilukenttä

280 m

Summassaaren kylpylä

311 m

Saarijärven jäähalli

371 m

Summassaaren tenniskenttä

237 m

Tarvaalan koulun pallokenttä Saarijärvi

564 m

Ratapihan oikaisu

467 m

Free

Kusiaismäen ladut

315 m

Free

Kusiaismäen kuntopolut

315 m

Free

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Saarijärvi, and other trusted sources, in March 2026. Our route / place GPX data comes from Metsähallitus / Lipas, last updated March 2026. Always check their official website for safety-critical updates.

Finland Central Finland Äänekoski Kayaking RoutesSeven Lakes kayaking route