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Kauvonsaari loop

—•Kayaking Routes

6.6 km

Route

P 1

Description

Luontoon.fi – Kauvonsaaren lenkki+

Description

Kauvonsaaren lenkki is a day-trip paddling loop on Lake Oulujärvi and the Oulujoki reach near Vaala, about 6.6 km as a closed circuit on open water. Luontoon.fi is the primary official source for this line: it notes a paddling-centre role with landing docks and equipment care, a kayak dock, campfire place, and dry toilet at Kauvonsaari, and it spells out hazards on Oulujoki—the current can strengthen suddenly when hydro plants release water, you must keep at least 300 m from the Jylhämä power plant, and on the return west of Kauvonsaari there are stone shallows built as fish spawning areas where you should watch your course. Oulujärvi recreation area pages from City of Vaala place the wider lake-and-island network in context: Finland’s only statutory inland-water recreation area, with services on many islands. For the canoe hall, slip, and practical staging at Sahanranta, City of Vaala’s paddling pages are the clearest municipal overview. Together with Oulujärven Melojat ry, who run the hall and local trips, that covers where to rig boats and ask advice before you set off. On the water, the loop ties together river and lake character: you work along Oulujoki past Ahmala and the busy Sahanranna shore—guest docks and a swimming beach sit here—then past Uiton harbour and the Vaalanlammi shore before the line reaches Jylhämän vieraslaituri on the western side. That mixes sheltered harbour corners with wider open fetches; plan for wind on Oulujärvi’s big selät. Ashore near Ahmala, the Jylhämä Lower Canal Nature Trail branches inland if you want to stretch your legs, and the longer Honkinen ja Pikku-Palonen kayaking loop shares the same Sahanranna paddling hub if you want a second day on the lake. The Vaala–Rokua Trail passes near Ahmala parking inland from the shore, and a short Sahanrannan ulkoilureitti walks the immediate beach edge. Fishing from a kayak may require the national fisheries management fee and any regional lure permits that apply; check Eräluvat before you fish from the boat.

Length & route

About 6.6 km as one closed loop combining Oulujoki and Oulujärvi shoreline near Vaala. No portages or whitewater on this line; difficulty is mostly navigation, wind on open water, and the river current and hazard notes described on Luontoon.fi. Allow roughly half a day including breaks.

Getting there

Most paddlers stage from Vaala Sahanranta at the end of Uitontie, where City of Vaala describes Oulujärven Melontakeskus: a restored timber canoe hall with rack space, a slip to the lake, and association-run activities. Guest docks and the beach along Sahanrannantie support launching before you follow the loop toward Jylhämä and back. Ahmala parkkipaikka offers car access inland from the shore near the nature-trail junction. Kauvonsaari’s own kayak dock and services are summarised together with river hazards on Luontoon.fi.

Good to know

Respect private shore strips and everyman’s rights when landing outside public docks and beaches. If conditions feel marginal—strong wind, cold water, or uncertain current below dams—wait for a better window. For fishing rules and payments, see Eräluvat.

History

The Oulujärvi recreation area on the Vaala side was established in 1993 and covers about 78 km²; Metsähallitus nature services maintain routes and structures. It is Finland’s only statutory inland-water recreation area.

Where to rent kayaks

Oulujärven Melontakeskus at Vaala Sahanranta (end of Uitontie) uses a restored timber hall with rack space for private kayaks, a slip to the lake, and room to rig boats indoors; Oulujärven Melojat ry runs the hall, organises trips, and answers questions about paddling on the Kainuu “inland sea”.

Managed by

Vaala

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Closed loop; direction is usually chosen to suit wind and current along Oulujoki and the lake shore—no mandatory one-way corridor is stated on the official overview.

Route direction

Open / Good Condition

Luontoon.fi – Kauvonsaaren lenkki

Activities allowed

Kayak / Canoe

Activity

Terrain & conditions

6.6 km

Distance

About 2–4 hours of paddling for many groups on a ~6.6 km loop, plus breaks; wind and current checks can add time.

Est. Time

Loop

Route Type

Lake Paddling

Water type

River Paddling

Water type

Location

64.55655°N, 26.81652°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

KainuuRegion

VaalaCity

JylhämäVillage

Kayaking RoutesCategory

Explore nearby

Sahanrannan vieraslaituri

286 m

Vaalan Fysioterapian kuntosali

613 m

Vaalanlammen vieraslaituri

291 m

Vaalan luistelualue

525 m

Free

Vaalan urheilutalo

398 m

Vaalan tenniskenttä-jääkiekkokenttä

433 m

Sahanrannan uimapaikka

587 m

Free

Vaalan yleisurheilukenttä

538 m

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Vaala, 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 Kainuu Vaala Kayaking RoutesKauvonsaari loop

Kauvonsaari loop6.6 km

Route

P 1

Parking 1

0.0 km|Free

Ahmala parkkipaikka

1.6 km|Free

Free Parking

Ahmalan kesateatteri

1.6 km|Free

TheatersTheater is open in the summer.

Vaalan lähiliikuntapaikan ulkokuntoiluvälineet

2.7 km|Free

Outdoor Gyms

Uiton sataman vieraslaituri

3.0 km|Free

Boat Ramps

Uiton avantouintipaikka

3.0 km|Free

Winter Swimming

Description

Luontoon.fi – Kauvonsaaren lenkki+

Description

Length & route

Getting there

Good to know

History

Where to rent kayaks

Managed by

Vaala

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Location

Closed loop; direction is usually chosen to suit wind and current along Oulujoki and the lake shore—no mandatory one-way corridor is stated on the official overview.

Route direction

Open / Good Condition

Luontoon.fi – Kauvonsaaren lenkki