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Kuovinkallio–Gulf of Finland paddling route

—•Kayaking Routes

10.2 km

Route

Kuovinkallion taukopaikka

0.5 km|Free

Wilderness HutsPier, 30 people full canopy, dining, fireplace, wooden liter, toilet.

Description

Visit Kotka-Hamina – Hirvikoskenhaara paddling route+

Description

This route is about 10.2 km of paddling on Kymijoki’s Hirvikoskenhaara branch between the Kuovinkallio shore in Ahvio and the Suomenlahti (Gulf of Finland) shoreline near Kotka. It is a point-to-point day section of the wider Hirvikoskenhaara network, which Visit Kotka-Hamina describes as a roughly 52 km, moderate-difficulty journey through varied river, island, and rapid scenery ending near Strömfors ironworks to the east. Here you move from the last major rest area below Ahvion toward open estuary water: expect river current, island channels, and a shift toward coastal conditions as you approach the gulf. Upstream, Melontareitti Susikoski-Kuovinkallio joins at the same Kuovinkallio stop; for longer trips on the same system, Kymijoen - Suomenlahden melontareitti and Kymijoen reitti, Inkeroinen-Talluslahti Itään extend the line toward Inkeroinen and Talluslahti. Kuovinkallion taukopaikka sits a short distance along the line from the Kuovinkallio access. The City of Kouvola’s South Kymijoki pages describe it as the last easy landing before the river splits into eastern and western branches, with a shelter, fireplace, composting toilet, firewood shed, and a pontoon jetty suited to steep rock shores. From the rock you can look out over Osolahti and the start of the free-flowing Ahvionkosket run—about 1.2 km of moving water where the Visit Kotka-Hamina partner materials note island mazes, optional lines, and two louder drops (Martinkoski and Kotokoski) that experienced paddlers scout while others portage harder slots. Grey herons are common along Hirvikoskenhaara; the same overview highlights typical rapids safety expectations—judge water levels, choose your line on site, and never treat published lines as mandatory. Retkipaikka’s trip from Kuovinkallio toward Hirvivuolle illustrates how wild this middle reach can feel: forested banks, small rapids, and quiet side channels even though fields are never far away on the full Kymijoki system. That article also names Langinkoski and Kotka’s coastal paddling as natural extensions once you reach the lower river—useful context if you link onward from Suomenlahti. If you fish, the Kuovinkallio and Ahvion reach falls under the Keski-Kymi special fishing permit area; check licence rules and purchase options before casting.

Length & route

The mapped line is about 10.2 km as one continuous segment between Kuovinkallio and the Suomenlahti shore. Within the wider Hirvikoskenhaara description, Visit Kotka-Hamina’s overview places the full branch at roughly 52 km with moderate difficulty and many optional island routes along the main current. Rapids and channel choice on the Ahvion reach depend on flow: the same materials note two rapid sections where skill and scouting matter.

Getting there

Kuovinkallio: from Ahvio village, drive Kuovinkalliontie from Ahviontie; the City of Kouvola notes a narrow gravel road to the shelter and jetty, with the nearest long-distance buses at Inkeroinen and local buses toward Anjala. For the Suomenlahti end in Kotka, use regional road access toward shoreline launch points in the city; combine with Visit Kotka-Hamina’s Hirvikoskenhaara materials for put-in ideas along the same branch. If you connect from Inkeroiset or Ankkapurha, the regional tourism pages describe public transport links toward Inkeroinen.

Good to know

Carry standard whitewater and open-water kit: spray deck or flotation for kayaks, buoyancy aid, helmet in rapids if you run them, and a means to portage if levels rise. The Hirvikoskenhaara partner text stresses weather awareness, spare food, and emergency contact planning on long Kymijoki days. Fishing needs the correct regional licence on this water.

Where to rent kayaks

Visit Kotka-Hamina lists regional partners on its paddling pages—operators such as SeikkailuViikari and LUONTO VOITTAA AINA offer guided canoeing and equipment hire in the Kymi coast area, sometimes with transport between sections; check their current offers and Hillosensalmi base options when planning Hirvikoskenhaara legs. Book directly with the operator for models, prices, and shuttle details.

Managed by

Kouvola

Official Maintenance

020 615 7518

Trail info

Downstream with the main current from the Kuovinkallio/Ahvio area toward Suomenlahti is the natural reading of the name and matches how regional descriptions present travel toward the coast.

Route direction

Recreation Area

Archipelago

Island

River

Open / Good Condition

Visit Kotka-Hamina – Hirvikoskenhaara paddling route+

Activities allowed

Kayak / Canoe

Activity

Terrain & conditions

10.2 km

Distance

Allow roughly half a day to a full day for about 10 km with breaks, scouting, and possible portages; the full Hirvikoskenhaara is described as a multi-hour to multi-day proposition depending on craft and line choice.

Est. Time

Point-to-Point

Route Type

Has Portages

Portage

Class I (Easy)

Rapids class

Class II (Moderate)

Rapids class

River Paddling

Water type

Sea / Coastal Paddling

Water type

Visit Kotka-Hamina – Hirvikoskenhaara paddling route

Location

60.57591°N, 26.75449°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

KymenlaaksoRegion

KotkaCity

AhvioVillage

Kayaking RoutesCategory

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Kouvola, 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 Kymenlaakso Kotka Kayaking RoutesKuovinkallio–Gulf of Finland paddling route

Kuovinkallio–Gulf of Finland paddling route10.2 km

Route

Kuovinkallion taukopaikka

0.5 km|Free

Wilderness HutsPier, 30 people full canopy, dining, fireplace, wooden liter, toilet.

Description

Visit Kotka-Hamina – Hirvikoskenhaara paddling route+

Description

Length & route

Getting there

Good to know

Where to rent kayaks

Managed by

Kouvola

Official Maintenance

020 615 7518

Trail info

Location

Downstream with the main current from the Kuovinkallio/Ahvio area toward Suomenlahti is the natural reading of the name and matches how regional descriptions present travel toward the coast.

Route direction

Recreation Area

Archipelago

Island

River

Open / Good Condition

Visit Kotka-Hamina – Hirvikoskenhaara paddling route+

Location

60.57591°N, 26.75449°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

KymenlaaksoRegion

KotkaCity

AhvioVillage

Kayaking RoutesCategory

Activities allowed

Kayak / Canoe

Activity

Terrain & conditions

10.2 km

Distance

Est. Time

Point-to-Point

Route Type

Has Portages

Portage

Class I (Easy)

Rapids class

Class II (Moderate)

Rapids class

River Paddling

Water type

Sea / Coastal Paddling

Water type

Visit Kotka-Hamina – Hirvikoskenhaara paddling route

Rate & Review

Be the first to write a review for "Kuovinkallio–Gulf of Finland paddling route"

Share a photo from a recent trip

Answers to your questions

Finland Kymenlaakso Kotka Kayaking RoutesKuovinkallio–Gulf of Finland paddling route