Stage 1 of the Kainuu Tar Route is a long wilderness paddling journey from the Änätti headwaters to Kuhmo town centre in Kainuu. The route is about 70.8 km end to end and is rated demanding in regional listings: expect open lake crossings, sheltered narrows, easy rapids, and several portage tracks with rails or carts w...
Visit Kuhmo – Kainuu Tar Route stage 1 (Änätti–Kuhmo)+
Description
Stage 1 of the Kainuu Tar Route is a long wilderness paddling journey from the Änätti headwaters to Kuhmo town centre in Kainuu. The route is about 70.8 km end to end and is rated demanding in regional listings: expect open lake crossings, sheltered narrows, easy rapids, and several portage tracks with rails or carts where tar boats were once hauled. Visit Kuhmo describes it as a multi-day trip with daily legs often in the 12–25 km range if you spread the stage over about four paddling days, mixing holiday-village accommodation, reservable or open wilderness huts, and lean-tos at official landings—or camping under everyman’s rights where rules allow.
From the Sääskenniemi–Änättikoski start area you soon reach Lentiira village waters: services such as Lentiiran lomakylä, Taiga Spirit, and Käntinsalmi boat access sit within the first kilometres. Farther west, Rytäniemen laavu and Ränkänsaari offer a lean-to, campfire spots, a wilderness hut, and dry toilets on an island setting suited to a lunch stop or overnight. The Juttua–Lentua link crosses Huuhkajankannaksen vetotaival (Juttua-Lentua), a famous portage where boats were historically moved on rails; Retkipaikka’s long-form Kuhmo paddling article describes the “Kuhmo Riviera” sand beach at Vetotaipale and the same rail-and-cart portage culture along the old tar route. On Lentua, Lehtosaaren autiotupa, a lakeside sauna, and Selkäsaari lean-tos sit inside the Lentua reserve mosaic; overnighting in the protected area follows reserve rules summarised on Luontoon.fi. Near Lentuankoski you pass hire kota, landing docks, and the lower portage between Lentua and Lammasjärvi before the town end at Ruukinranta, Pajakkasuvanto, and Maakunnanranta, with several town harbours offering canoe-friendly landings.
Shorter local loops such as Lentiiran melontareitti and Lentiirajärven halki meloen share shore facilities with this stage. The continuation toward Sotkamo is published separately as Kainuun tervareitti / Etappi 2: Kuhmo – Sotkamo when you want the next province-wide leg.
Koe Kainuu offers FitNord inflatable tandem packrafts for hire in Kuhmo with pump, paddles, and buoyancy aids—about 40 € per day, 90 € for three days, or 140 € per week at the time the rental page was last updated. Other canoe and outfitter options around Lentiira and the centre are named in Retkipaikka’s regional round-up for visitors who prefer a different craft or a shuttle.
Length & route
The full stage is about 70.8 km as one continuous paddling line from the Änätti headwater area to central Kuhmo. Regional route copy rounds to about 70.6 km and labels the stage as demanding, with an indicative moving-time figure around 14 hours for strong groups that treat it as a single push—most touring paddlers still plan several days. The middle section crosses Lentua, Kainuu’s largest unregulated lake in this area, with island shelter networks and two named portage systems on our waypoint list: Huuhkajankannaksen vetotaival between Juttua and Lentua and Lentuankosken vetotaival toward Lammasjärvi. Rapids along the chain are described as straightforward rather than extreme in promotional materials, but wind on big water and loaded boats still require solid open-water skills.
Getting there
Northern end: use Sääskenniemi services and Änättikoski parking as the practical road access to the headwater launch; the area sits northeast of central Kuhmo toward the Änätti–Lentiira road network. Käntinsalmi and Lentiira offer additional parking and launches a few kilometres into the route. Lentua’s south end connects to road access at Lentuankoski and Lentua P-paikka; town landings include Ruukinranta, Maakunnanranta, Uitonlaituri, and Pajakkasuvanto with library and Pajakkakoski parking nearby. Town harbours include canoe-friendly docks at locations such as Talvisotamuseo, Uitonlaituri, Maakunnanranta, Pajakka, and Käntinsalmi for staging gear.
Good to know
On Lentua and linked reserves, follow Metsähallitus guidance for camping, fires, and landing summarised on Luontoon.fi. For lure fishing with more than one rod or lure in flowing water, or for some combinations of gear on state waters around Kuhmo, you need the correct Metsähallitus permit package in addition to the national fishing management fee where applicable—see the Eräluvat area page for 4510 Kuhmo state waters. Respect rapid anglers and private shore zones when you pass Lentuankoski services. During forest-fire warnings open fires may be banned even at maintained fireplaces; check current warnings before you light a campfire.
Virkistys- ja kanoottilaitureita on useilla keskustan rannoilla; tarkista ajantasaiset sijainnit Visit Kuhmon melonnan ja ulkoilusivujen kautta.
History
The Kainuu Tar Route follows waterways that 19th- and early-20th-century tar producers used to float barrelled tar toward Oulu. Retkipaikka’s local paddling account notes tar boats on these same channels and identifies the Huuhkajankannas rail portage as dating from the 1800s, part of that freight story.
Itinerary
Example pacing using on-route shelters (adjust to wind and fitness):
Day 1 – About 10–15 km from Sääskenniemi and Änättikoski into Lentiira: evening near Lentiiran lomakylä or Taiga Spirit if you book lodging.
Day 2 – Cross Lentiirajärvi toward Rytäniemi and Ränkänsaari (roughly 15–25 km depending on line): lean-to lunch at Rytäniemi; overnight at Ränkänsaari autiotupa or nearby campfire spots.
Day 3 – Continue toward Juttua and the Huuhkajankannas portage near km 45: use Vetotaival fireplace and dry toilet after the carry; camp on regulated sites inside the Lentua reserve.
Day 4 – Cross Lentua’s island maze toward Lehtosaari (about km 52): wilderness hut, sauna, and Selkäsaari lean-tos for a rest day or second night.
Day 5 – Finish via Lentua landings and Lentuankoski portages to Ruukinranta and Pajakkasuvanto (town services from about km 70): connect to libraries, museums, and road shuttles as needed.
Visit Kuhmo suggests a broadly similar four-day framework with holiday-village and hut nights when you prefer booked beds.
Where to rent kayaks
Koe Kainuu rents inflatable FitNord tandem packrafts in Kuhmo—about 40 € per day, 90 € for three days, or 140 € per week including pump, paddles, and buoyancy aids, with bookings via the contact options on their rental page. Retkipaikka’s Kuhmo paddling article also points visitors to Lentiiran Lomakylä, Kalevala Camping, and EräPiira for canoes and logistics, depending on whether you start from Lentiira or the town shore. Taiga Spirit in Lentiira advertises B&B accommodation and local paddling context on Visit Kuhmo listings—worth checking if you want a hosted stay near the northern section.
The stage is usually paddled downstream and westward from Änätti headwaters toward Kuhmo; wind and shuttle plans may make an eastbound leg attractive in places.
Route direction
National Park
Area
Recreation Area
Recreation Area
Island
Island
Lake
Lake
River
River
Open / Good Condition
Open / Good Condition
Visit Kuhmo – Kainuu Tar Route stage 1 (Änätti–Kuhmo)
Activities allowed
Kayak / Canoe
Activity
Terrain & conditions
70.8 km
Distance
Visit Kuhmo quotes about 14 hours as an indicative moving time for the full stage in ideal conditions; most paddlers plan several days with daily legs around 12–25 km. Retkipaikka’s five-day Lentiira–Lentua journal is a slower, exploratory pace on overlapping water.
Est. Time
Point-to-Point
Route Type
Has Portages
Portage
Class I (Easy)
Rapids class
Lake Paddling
Water type
River Paddling
Water type
Visit Kuhmo – Kainuu Tar Route stage 1 (Änätti–Kuhmo)+
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Answers to your questions
Our data was researched from Kuhmo, 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.
Stage 1 of the Kainuu Tar Route is a long wilderness paddling journey from the Änätti headwaters to Kuhmo town centre in Kainuu. The route is about 70.8 km end to end and is rated demanding in regional listings: expect open lake crossings, sheltered narrows, easy rapids, and several portage tracks with rails or carts w...
Visit Kuhmo – Kainuu Tar Route stage 1 (Änätti–Kuhmo)+
Description
Stage 1 of the Kainuu Tar Route is a long wilderness paddling journey from the Änätti headwaters to Kuhmo town centre in Kainuu. The route is about 70.8 km end to end and is rated demanding in regional listings: expect open lake crossings, sheltered narrows, easy rapids, and several portage tracks with rails or carts where tar boats were once hauled. Visit Kuhmo describes it as a multi-day trip with daily legs often in the 12–25 km range if you spread the stage over about four paddling days, mixing holiday-village accommodation, reservable or open wilderness huts, and lean-tos at official landings—or camping under everyman’s rights where rules allow.
From the Sääskenniemi–Änättikoski start area you soon reach Lentiira village waters: services such as Lentiiran lomakylä, Taiga Spirit, and Käntinsalmi boat access sit within the first kilometres. Farther west, Rytäniemen laavu and Ränkänsaari offer a lean-to, campfire spots, a wilderness hut, and dry toilets on an island setting suited to a lunch stop or overnight. The Juttua–Lentua link crosses Huuhkajankannaksen vetotaival (Juttua-Lentua), a famous portage where boats were historically moved on rails; Retkipaikka’s long-form Kuhmo paddling article describes the “Kuhmo Riviera” sand beach at Vetotaipale and the same rail-and-cart portage culture along the old tar route. On Lentua, Lehtosaaren autiotupa, a lakeside sauna, and Selkäsaari lean-tos sit inside the Lentua reserve mosaic; overnighting in the protected area follows reserve rules summarised on Luontoon.fi. Near Lentuankoski you pass hire kota, landing docks, and the lower portage between Lentua and Lammasjärvi before the town end at Ruukinranta, Pajakkasuvanto, and Maakunnanranta, with several town harbours offering canoe-friendly landings.
Shorter local loops such as Lentiiran melontareitti and Lentiirajärven halki meloen share shore facilities with this stage. The continuation toward Sotkamo is published separately as Kainuun tervareitti / Etappi 2: Kuhmo – Sotkamo when you want the next province-wide leg.
Koe Kainuu offers FitNord inflatable tandem packrafts for hire in Kuhmo with pump, paddles, and buoyancy aids—about 40 € per day, 90 € for three days, or 140 € per week at the time the rental page was last updated. Other canoe and outfitter options around Lentiira and the centre are named in Retkipaikka’s regional round-up for visitors who prefer a different craft or a shuttle.
Length & route
The full stage is about 70.8 km as one continuous paddling line from the Änätti headwater area to central Kuhmo. Regional route copy rounds to about 70.6 km and labels the stage as demanding, with an indicative moving-time figure around 14 hours for strong groups that treat it as a single push—most touring paddlers still plan several days. The middle section crosses Lentua, Kainuu’s largest unregulated lake in this area, with island shelter networks and two named portage systems on our waypoint list: Huuhkajankannaksen vetotaival between Juttua and Lentua and Lentuankosken vetotaival toward Lammasjärvi. Rapids along the chain are described as straightforward rather than extreme in promotional materials, but wind on big water and loaded boats still require solid open-water skills.
Getting there
Northern end: use Sääskenniemi services and Änättikoski parking as the practical road access to the headwater launch; the area sits northeast of central Kuhmo toward the Änätti–Lentiira road network. Käntinsalmi and Lentiira offer additional parking and launches a few kilometres into the route. Lentua’s south end connects to road access at Lentuankoski and Lentua P-paikka; town landings include Ruukinranta, Maakunnanranta, Uitonlaituri, and Pajakkasuvanto with library and Pajakkakoski parking nearby. Town harbours include canoe-friendly docks at locations such as Talvisotamuseo, Uitonlaituri, Maakunnanranta, Pajakka, and Käntinsalmi for staging gear.
Good to know
On Lentua and linked reserves, follow Metsähallitus guidance for camping, fires, and landing summarised on Luontoon.fi. For lure fishing with more than one rod or lure in flowing water, or for some combinations of gear on state waters around Kuhmo, you need the correct Metsähallitus permit package in addition to the national fishing management fee where applicable—see the Eräluvat area page for 4510 Kuhmo state waters. Respect rapid anglers and private shore zones when you pass Lentuankoski services. During forest-fire warnings open fires may be banned even at maintained fireplaces; check current warnings before you light a campfire.
Virkistys- ja kanoottilaitureita on useilla keskustan rannoilla; tarkista ajantasaiset sijainnit Visit Kuhmon melonnan ja ulkoilusivujen kautta.
History
The Kainuu Tar Route follows waterways that 19th- and early-20th-century tar producers used to float barrelled tar toward Oulu. Retkipaikka’s local paddling account notes tar boats on these same channels and identifies the Huuhkajankannas rail portage as dating from the 1800s, part of that freight story.
Itinerary
Example pacing using on-route shelters (adjust to wind and fitness):
Day 1 – About 10–15 km from Sääskenniemi and Änättikoski into Lentiira: evening near Lentiiran lomakylä or Taiga Spirit if you book lodging.
Day 2 – Cross Lentiirajärvi toward Rytäniemi and Ränkänsaari (roughly 15–25 km depending on line): lean-to lunch at Rytäniemi; overnight at Ränkänsaari autiotupa or nearby campfire spots.
Day 3 – Continue toward Juttua and the Huuhkajankannas portage near km 45: use Vetotaival fireplace and dry toilet after the carry; camp on regulated sites inside the Lentua reserve.
Day 4 – Cross Lentua’s island maze toward Lehtosaari (about km 52): wilderness hut, sauna, and Selkäsaari lean-tos for a rest day or second night.
Day 5 – Finish via Lentua landings and Lentuankoski portages to Ruukinranta and Pajakkasuvanto (town services from about km 70): connect to libraries, museums, and road shuttles as needed.
Visit Kuhmo suggests a broadly similar four-day framework with holiday-village and hut nights when you prefer booked beds.
Where to rent kayaks
Koe Kainuu rents inflatable FitNord tandem packrafts in Kuhmo—about 40 € per day, 90 € for three days, or 140 € per week including pump, paddles, and buoyancy aids, with bookings via the contact options on their rental page. Retkipaikka’s Kuhmo paddling article also points visitors to Lentiiran Lomakylä, Kalevala Camping, and EräPiira for canoes and logistics, depending on whether you start from Lentiira or the town shore. Taiga Spirit in Lentiira advertises B&B accommodation and local paddling context on Visit Kuhmo listings—worth checking if you want a hosted stay near the northern section.
The stage is usually paddled downstream and westward from Änätti headwaters toward Kuhmo; wind and shuttle plans may make an eastbound leg attractive in places.
Route direction
National Park
Area
Recreation Area
Recreation Area
Island
Island
Lake
Lake
River
River
Open / Good Condition
Open / Good Condition
Visit Kuhmo – Kainuu Tar Route stage 1 (Änätti–Kuhmo)
Visit Kuhmo quotes about 14 hours as an indicative moving time for the full stage in ideal conditions; most paddlers plan several days with daily legs around 12–25 km. Retkipaikka’s five-day Lentiira–Lentua journal is a slower, exploratory pace on overlapping water.
Est. Time
Point-to-Point
Route Type
Has Portages
Portage
Class I (Easy)
Rapids class
Lake Paddling
Water type
River Paddling
Water type
Visit Kuhmo – Kainuu Tar Route stage 1 (Änätti–Kuhmo)+
Be the first to write a review for "Kainuu Tar Route – Stage 1: Änätti to Kuhmo"
Share a photo from a recent trip
Answers to your questions
Our data was researched from Kuhmo, 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.
