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Rahja Archipelago boating routes

—•Kayaking Routes

26.6 km

Route

Description

Visit Kalajoki – Rahjan saaristo+

Description

The Rahja Archipelago boating routes are a long day or overnight paddling and small-boat line—about 26.6 km on our map—in the Bothnian Bay off Kalajoki, threading through roughly a hundred islets and skerries between sheltered inner basins and more exposed outer rocks. Visit Kalajoki describes the archipelago as a summer destination for fishing, kayaking, SUP, and winter ski or ice-fishing trips, and points to Metsähallitus for deeper nature guidance. The Rahjan saaristo destination page on Luontoon.fi is the place to check Metsähallitus landing areas, services, and responsible access on the water. The Natura 2000 site description for Rahjan saaristo explains why the mosaic matters: land uplift has left ancient shorelines, lagoons, and drumlin-like islands that host rare plants and rich birdlife in meadows, islets, and shallow bays. Metsähallitus Merellä’s EMMA feature highlights Rahja as an example of geodiversity on the land-uplift coast—worth reading if you like context for the rock shapes and basins you paddle past. On the water you move between calm inlets and more open fetches toward the outer skerries; wind and swell can change quickly, so plan crossings and breaks with weather in mind. About 13 km along the line you reach the Putkikari and Koivukari area: campfire spots, a lean-to, and a wilderness hut cluster make this a natural lunch or overnight zone, and the route links logically to the shorter Melontareitti Hevoskariin if you want a focused side trip toward Hevoskari. Further along, near the Venekari and Kuusimällä stops, you find another hut, day-shelter, and lean-to grouping—Visit Kalajoki’s paddling overview names Venekarin päivätupa and Koivukarin autiotupa as key shelters in the archipelago, and the same pages note Safaritalo’s guided trips into Rahja and Siiponjoki. The unofficial Rahjan epävirallinen melontareitti and the short Melontareitti Venekarin päivätuvalle share many of the same landings if you want alternative lines in the same waters. Dry toilets sit with the main stop clusters, so you can plan longer legs without guessing where basic sanitation is. City of Kalajoki boating services pages list maintained channel depths (about 0.8–1.8 m on the marked boating route), annual buoy checks before midsummer, and seasonal restrictions that can prohibit boating and paddling in some zones from mid-April through late July to protect nesting birds—read the current rules before you launch. Fishing permits for the archipelago are sold locally; Visit Kalajoki mentions Tapion Tupa as a permit outlet with a phone contact. Kalajoki lies in North Ostrobothnia. North Ostrobothnia’s open coast toward the Bothnian Bay makes archipelago trips like this a natural fit. For equipment, Kalajoen Latu rents single and tandem kayaks from the Konikarvon paddling dock; the association’s activities page describes Rahja’s landings with laavut and wilderness huts and gives practical access notes.

Length & route

The route is about 26.6 km as one continuous line on our map—no portages on this water route, but wind, fetch, and shallow rocky shores set the pace. The City of Kalajoki maintains a marked boating route in the archipelago with published depths on the municipal boating services pages. Shorter published kayaking options in the same archipelago—such as connections toward Hevoskari or Venekari day shelter—are separate lines you can combine with this longer circuit.

Getting there

Put in at Konikarvon kalasatama, where Kalajoen Latu keeps kayaks beside the paddling dock; the association recommends this as the easiest access to Rahja’s waters. Parking, a campfire, and a nature shelter with land-uplift interpretation sit near the accessible paddling pier, which is designed for barrier-free access to the water. Puojiniemen pienvenesatama is another small-craft harbour in the Rahja area if you arrive by motorboat or trailer. For channel marks and any seasonal closures affecting your track, follow City of Kalajoki boating services pages before you go.

Good to know

Respect Natura 2000 values: keep distance from nesting birds in spring and early summer, land only at designated or durable spots, and carry out waste. From mid-April through late July some water areas may be closed to boating and paddling—confirm on City of Kalajoki boating services pages. Fishing requires the correct regional permit; Visit Kalajoki lists Tapion Tupa as a local sales point. Wear a buoyancy aid, monitor VHF or phone weather, and avoid offshore crossings in building wind.

History

Traditional seal hunting, fishing, and meadow culture shaped Rahja’s islands; land uplift continues to lift ancient shorelines above the sea, which is why the archipelago shows such a full gradient from inner forests to outer skerries.

Where to rent kayaks

Kalajoen Latu rents single and tandem kayaks from Konikarvon satama; contact the association for bookings and advice, as described on its paddling section. Visit Kalajoki lists phone +358 41 313 6892 for kayak rental enquiries at Konikarvon.

Guided tours & Experiences

Safaritalo runs guided kayaking that includes Rahjan saaristo and Siiponjoki options; see their paddling activity page for booking.

Managed by

Kalajoki

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Either direction along the line depending on wind and where you launch; there is no single mandatory travel direction for the full archipelago circuit.

Route direction

Nature Reserve

Area

Recreation Area

Archipelago

Island

Open / Good Condition

Activities allowed

Kayak / Canoe

Activity

Terrain & conditions

26.6 km

Distance

Allow a full day for fit paddlers in calm conditions, or plan an overnight using the huts and lean-tos; add time for wind, photo stops, and fishing breaks.

Est. Time

Point-to-Point

Route Type

Sea / Coastal Paddling

Water type

Location

64.13737°N, 23.64747°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

North OstrobothniaRegion

KalajokiCity

RahjaVillage

Kayaking RoutesCategory

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Kalajoki, 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 North Ostrobothnia Kalajoki Kayaking RoutesRahja Archipelago boating routes

Rahja Archipelago boating routes26.6 km

Route

Putkikari tulentekopaikka

13.2 km|Free

Campfire Spots

Putkikari laavu

13.2 km|Free

Wilderness Huts

Koivukari käymälä

14.1 km|Free

Outdoor Toilets

Koivukari autiotupa

14.1 km|Free

Wilderness HutsKalajoki, Rahjan saaristo, Koivukari, Autiotupa

Koivukari tulentekopaikka

14.1 km|Free

Campfire Spots

Venekari käymälä

22.6 km|Free

Outdoor Toilets

Description

Visit Kalajoki – Rahjan saaristo+

Description

Length & route

Getting there

Good to know

History

Where to rent kayaks

Guided tours & Experiences

Safaritalo runs guided kayaking that includes Rahjan saaristo and Siiponjoki options; see their paddling activity page for booking.

Managed by

Kalajoki

Official Maintenance

Trail info

Location

Either direction along the line depending on wind and where you launch; there is no single mandatory travel direction for the full archipelago circuit.

Route direction

Nature Reserve

Area

Recreation Area

Archipelago

Island

Open / Good Condition

Location

64.13737°N, 23.64747°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

North OstrobothniaRegion

KalajokiCity

RahjaVillage

Kayaking RoutesCategory

Activities allowed

Kayak / Canoe

Activity

Terrain & conditions

26.6 km

Distance

Allow a full day for fit paddlers in calm conditions, or plan an overnight using the huts and lean-tos; add time for wind, photo stops, and fishing breaks.

Est. Time

Point-to-Point

Route Type

Sea / Coastal Paddling

Water type

Rate & Review

Be the first to write a review for "Rahja Archipelago boating routes"

Share a photo from a recent trip

Answers to your questions

Finland North Ostrobothnia Kalajoki Kayaking RoutesRahja Archipelago boating routes

Rahja Archipelago boating routes

Route

Putkikari tulentekopaikka

Putkikari laavu

Koivukari käymälä

Koivukari autiotupa

Koivukari tulentekopaikka

Venekari käymälä

Venekari autiotupa

Venekari tulentekopaikka

Kuusimällä laavu

Kuusimällä käymälä

Description

Managed by

Trail info

Activities allowed

Terrain & conditions

Location

Rate & Review

Answers to your questions

Rahja Archipelago boating routes26.6 km

Route

Putkikari tulentekopaikka

Putkikari laavu

Koivukari käymälä

Koivukari autiotupa

Koivukari tulentekopaikka

Venekari käymälä

Venekari autiotupa

Venekari tulentekopaikka

Kuusimällä laavu

Kuusimällä käymälä

Description

Managed by

Trail info

Location

Location

Activities allowed

Terrain & conditions

Rate & Review

Answers to your questions