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Parkano canoeing route

—•Kayaking Routes

45.6 km

Route

P 1

Description

City of Parkano – Outdoor routes and paddling guides+

Description

The Parkano canoeing route (Parkanon reitti) is a long lake-and-river paddle of about 45.6 km as mapped here, linking Kihniö and the Kankarinjärvi–Sulkuejärvi chain with Parkanonjärvi, the Vaarajoki reach, and Kyrösjärvi’s Heittolanlahti bay at Ikaalinen. For planning, portaging, and the downloadable regional guide pages, the City of Parkano publishes the route under the name Parkanon reitti together with the older Pirkanmaa MRO paddling guide PDF, and reminds paddlers that guide details may be dated and that paddling is always at your own risk. Visit Ikaalinen describes the lower Vääräjoki arm from Parkanonjärvi toward Heittolanlahti—including the Kukkurakoski dam carry and a fire place at the dam—as part of the same lake-and-river network around Kyrösjärvi, and points to local outfitters for boats and trip packages on that corridor. Hiking Travel Hit is named there as a source for inflatables, kayaks, and tailored trips on the Vääräjoki–Kyrösjärvi link. From the water you move through a mosaic of forest lakes and connecting streams: after the early lake chain toward Kankarinjärvi you can use sandy bays such as Pyhäniemen uimaranta for a swim break; further along, Riuttasjärvi and the Metsämuseon laavu ja nuotiopaikka cluster offers a shore pause before the Käenkoski–Hiihtokeskus shore. Through Parkano town the route follows the steep, boulder-lined Viinikanjoki rapids; Parkanon Urheilukalastajat ry explains flow regulation from Käenkosken voimala and the three rapid reaches (Kairokoski, Haapaskoski, Lehtiskoski), and notes that the fishing association sells permits for the sport-fishing zone—separate from general navigation. The MRO guide stresses that Viinikanjoki’s armoured rapids are for skilled paddlers in high water only, that many Koskelanjoki rapids between Kankarinjärvi and Linnanjärvi are not runnable at flood, and that Käenkoski dam must be portaged with a marked landing and a long land shuttle option toward Turpeuslampi if you choose to end the trip there. The lower Vaarajoki run to Heittolanlahti is described as gentler for less experienced paddlers on a day section from the Lapiolahti bridge. Near the finish, Heittolan satama and Heittolan yhteisranta give a clear take-out on Heittolanlahti; HARTIKKALA kämppä sits a few kilometres upstream on the approach for those staging a night on the water. Pyhäniemen Lomakylä on Kankarinjärvi advertises accommodation and is listed in regional guides as a contact point for boats and local services at the northern end of the chain.

Length & route

The mapped route is about 45.6 km as one continuous line. The City of Parkano and the archived Pirkanmaa MRO guide both describe the classic Parkanon reitti chain as roughly 45 km from the Kihniö lake area through Parkano to Heittolanlahti on Kyrösjärvi. Expect long lake crossings, narrow sounds, and several river legs with mandatory portages around hydropower structures and boulder rapids—especially on Viinikanjoki through central Parkano and at Käenkoski and Kukkurakoski. High water widens runnable lines on some rapids but can make others impossible to run; the city notes best conditions in the general high-water season and that rapids sections should be carried on land when needed.

Getting there

The MRO guide lists several put-in options: Kihniö village and the south end of Sulkuejärvi at the road bridge, multiple access points on Kankarinjärvi including the Pyhäniemi shore, and Rannarinlahti if you want a shorter trip; for a late start on the lower section only, Lapiolahti bridge is a practical Vaarajoki put-in. Plan a vehicle shuttle for this one-way lake-and-river journey. Heittolanlahti offers a described landing with services on the right bank near the harbour area. City of Parkano points to its map service and Lipas for locating launches and parking along the urban shore.

Good to know

If you fish in the Viinikanjoki sport-fishing zone, buy the association permit sold by Parkanon Urheilukalastajat ry and follow catch-and-release rules for trout; carry the national fisheries management fee through Eräluvat when your age requires it. Respect private shore cottages, keep noise low at night, and check flow messages mentally against the power-station peaking pattern described for Viinikanjoki. For Kyrösjärvi-wide boat rental and packaged trips, Visit Ikaalinen lists Hiking Travel Hit and other operators serving the Vääräjoki–Kyrösjärvi corridor.

Itinerary

At roughly 46 km, many paddlers treat Parkanon reitti as a two-day trip: a first day from the Kihniö–Sulkuejärvi chain across Kankarinjärvi toward Riuttasjärvi and the Käenkoski shore uses about 12–20 km depending on wind and put-in; a second day covers Parkanonjärvi, Viinikanjoki portages, and Vaarajoki into Heittolanlahti, with HARTIKKALA kämppä roughly 2 km before the harbour beaches as a possible overnight hut stop. Strong groups in stable weather sometimes compress to a long single day, but scouting Viinikanjoki and dam carries adds time. For a family-friendly sample without the upper lakes, the MRO guide recommends a day trip on the lower Vaarajoki only from Lapiolahti bridge.

Where to rent kayaks

Pyhäniemen Lomakylä (Holiday Club Pyhäniemi, Kankarinjärvi): regional guides list the resort as a contact for canoe use and accommodation at the north end of the lake chain—confirm seasonal canoe availability and booking by phone or through the resort website. Visit Ikaalinen points to Hiking Travel Hit (Liisa ja Pekka Tyllilä) for inflatable canoes, kayaks, paddles, PFDs, and tailored trips on the Vääräjoki–Kyrösjärvi corridor, including equipment suited to dam portages. Ikaalinen Spa & Resort rents canoes for open-water paddling on Kyrösjärvi when you stage days on the big lake.

Managed by

Parkano

Official Maintenance

Trail info

One-way from the northern lake chain (Kihniö–Kankarinjärvi) south and east toward Kyrösjärvi’s Heittolanlahti; the current assists on several river legs but wind on open lakes dominates pacing.

Route direction

Open / Good Condition

Pirkanmaa MRO – Parkanon reitti (PDF guide)

Activities allowed

Kayak / Canoe

Activity

Terrain & conditions

45.6 km

Distance

Typically two days for the full chain at a touring pace; one long summer day is possible for fit groups in favourable conditions. A half-day section on lower Vaarajoki alone suits beginners when sticking to the calm reach described by the regional guide.

Est. Time

Point-to-Point

Route Type

Has Portages

Portage

Class I (Easy)

Rapids class

Class II (Moderate)

Rapids class

Lake Paddling

Water type

River Paddling

Water type

Pirkanmaa MRO – Parkanon reitti (PDF guide)

Location

62.08449°N, 23.05994°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

PirkanmaaRegion

IkaalinenCity

HeittolaVillage

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Parkano, 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 Pirkanmaa Ikaalinen Kayaking RoutesParkano canoeing route