Vaasa Walking Trails

Variskarit walking path is about 0.3 km as the line on the map: a short, point-to-point stretch on Variskarit island in Isolahti, Vaasa, toward the Variskarit Grillikota and Variskarit Nuotiopaikka 1. The City of Vaasa’s district pages for Gerby, Isolahti, Vetokannas, and Pukinjärvi explain the wider setting: Variskarit island was opened for recreation when the city built a causeway and bridge from the mainland and a walking route around the island in 2008, and the island is a well-used local outdoor spot maintained by the city and active residents(1). Along this short segment you reach a public grill kota and a campfire spot that the city lists among its free-to-use sites at Huvilatie beside the small-boat harbour—concrete fire rings and benches, with users bringing their own firewood, lighters, and barbecue gear and taking litter to the bins(2). Vaasa lies on the Ostrobothnian coast; Isolahti is a green, sea-oriented neighbourhood in the north of the city with beaches, a guarded marina, and many local paths. For any change in maintenance or fire rules, check the city’s public campfire listings(2)(3).

Onkilahden ulkoilureitti is about 10.2 km of urban waterfront walking in Vaasa, linking the Suvilahti shoreline, Hietalahti parks, the inner harbour, and the Onkilahdi–Palosaari shore. It is a point-to-point style city trail: you can start from Suvilahden kuntoradan parkkipaikka and follow the paved and gravel paths past beaches, sports venues, and fishing spots toward Onkilahdi Activity Park and Palosaari. For birdlife, birch shoreline woods, and Putusilta bridge across the bay, the City of Vaasa’s Onkilahti page is the best seasonal guide(1). South of the centre, the City of Vaasa’s Eteläinen kaupunginselkä page describes Eteläinen kaupunginselkä bay, the Kaupunginselän reitti stages, partly lit and mostly unobstructed walking and cycling along the shore to Majakkakivi, with nature signs and rest places(2). From the Suvilahti end, the route passes Suvilahden koulun liikuntasali and Ahvensaaren uimaranta, then Vaasan Sähkö Areena before reaching Hietalahden kuntoradan ulkokuntoilupaikka and Hietalahden puisto – Sandviksparken with parking, baseball and winter ice facilities. Kustaanlinnan uimaranta and Kalaranta bring you onto the inner-bay shore: Veneenlaskupaikka – Kalaranta, fishing piers, winter-swimming spots, and Setterbergin puisto lead through the harbour front toward Onkilahdi, where Onkilahden ulkokuntosali, Onkilahden skeittiparkki, and Onkilahden laivapuisto add outdoor gym, skate park, and seasonal ice and beach-volleyball areas. Near the northern shore, Onkilahden nuotiopaikka and fishing spots sit close to Palosaaren parkkipaikka. The route shares corridors with Hietalahden kuntorata and Hietalahden kuntoradan latu around Sandviksparken, Suvilahden kuntorata and Suvilahden kuntoradan latu near the Suvilahti track parking, and Palosaaren kuntorata and Palosaaren urheilukentän latu toward Palosaari if you want a shorter fitness or ski loop beside the walk. Within Onkilahti itself, a separate short accessible nature trail in Onkilahti opened in 2025 east of the activity park: roughly 220 metres on metal grating with handrails, pets allowed with care on the grate, benches and wildlife signs including Braille planned for early 2026, and no winter maintenance on that short forest loop(3). Ilkka-Pohjalainen columnist Erkki Rantamäki describes how the southern Onkilahdi shore has gained a high-quality shared path, skate facilities, outdoor gym, and a traffic park—popular with residents year-round(4).