Pirkanmaa Kayaking Routes

The Pyhäjärven melontareitti is a mapped paddling line of about 14.5 km on Lake Pyhäjärvi in Tampere. City of Tampere publishes overview maps and links to deeper service pages for kayaking on Pyhäjärvi together with neighbouring Lake Näsijärvi(1). Outdoorstampere lists landing spots, campfire sites, and rental hubs around both lakes and notes that paddling services were expanded markedly in 2021(2). Together, the two lakes are described with roughly 35 km of suggested paddling lines, 11 campfire sites, and 19 landing places; on Pyhäjärvi itself the main service islands named in those materials are Viikinsaari, Lehtisaari, and Saunasaari(2). Along this mapped line you move through distinct shore zones rather than a single open crossing. Near the start, Lehtisaaren nuotiopaikka sits a few hundred metres into the trip, and the route soon reaches Viikinsaaren rantautumispaikka and Viikinsaaren nuotiopaikka, plus the short Viikinsaaren luontopolku loop for a leg stretch away from the water. Saunasaaren nuotiopaikka is another marked stop on the island side before you continue along the city shore. Further along you pass Pereensaaren nuotiopaikka and, toward the Uittotunneli narrows, Pyhäjärven melontareitti - Uittotunnelin rantautumispaikka and Pyhäjärven melontareitti - Varala rantautumispaikka, where Outdoorstampere notes a rental point, café, and parking(2). The shore here parallels Pyhäjärven maisemareitti ja Pyhäjärven kierros for cyclists who share the waterfront. The Pyynikki and Jalkasaari shore segment sits below the famous ridge; Pyhäjärven melontareitti - Jalkasaari rantautumispaikka sits under Pyynikki, while Härmälän luontopolku and Pyynikki luontopolku run inland from nearby banks for walkers who combine paddling with hiking. Pyhäjärven melontareitti - Härmälänsaari rantautumispaikka and Pyhäjärven melontareitti - Arboretum rantautumispaikka add quieter pull-out options before Pyhäjärven melontareitti - Soutukeskuksen rantautumispaikka at Tampere Rowing Centre, another hub with rental, signage, and parking in city materials(2). Wind matters on this lake: Hiking Travel, Hit describes Pyhäjärvi as a curved basin where open bays and narrows between shallows can make windy weather surprisingly challenging for the lake’s size, with few fully sheltered lines across every open water(3). That makes checking the forecast and planning shorter legs or shore-hugging sensible on blustery days. For equipment and programmes, Visit Tampere lists regional canoeing services and contacts for guided experiences that use Pyhäjärvi(4). Independent outfitters also run rentals and courses from Tampere bases; see the rental notes below. This page’s mapped geometry is the Pyhäjärvi kayaking route only. A separate mapped line on Näsijärven melontareitti continues the wider network to the north.

Aurejoen melontareitti is a long lake-and-river paddle of about 51.6 km as mapped here through northern Pirkanmaa, linking the Aurejärvi–Petäjäjärvi–Vahojärvi–Ruojärvi–Leppäsjärvi chain with Aurejoki and Kyrösjärvi’s Heittolanlahti bay at Ikaalinen. For Kyrösjärvi access, outfitters, and how the Heittolanlahti end connects to the wider paddling network, Visit Ikaalinen is the best regional hub for Ikaalinen(1). The archived Kurun route notes (Parkkuu paikaltaan) still give the most detailed hop-by-hop reading of Aurejoki’s rapids, dams, and portages—while warning that service details and maintenance notes may be dated(2). The City of Parkano hosts the Pirkanmaa kayaking route guide PDF together with Parkanon reitti, useful for comparing the same lake-and-river system from the Parkano side(3). Metsähallitus publishes visitor services and safety context for Seitsemisen kansallispuisto near Aure village on Luontoon.fi(6). From the water the line mixes open lake crossings, narrow sounds, and river legs with repeated portages around old timber-floating structures and hydropower sites. The archived description highlights named rapids and dam carries—including Aurekosken pato at the south end of Aurejärvi, Kiviojan padon kantaminen after Petäjäkoski, the difficult Kalliokoski carry before Leppäsjärvi, Leppäkosken voimalaitospadon ohitus, and the Vääräjoki confluence before the quieter run toward Luhalahden tie and Heittolanlahti(2). Near the lower end, the route meets the same Heittolanlahti shore where Parkanon melontareitti finishes: HARTIKKALA kämppä, Heittolan satama, and Heittolan yhteisranta give clear staging on the bay, and LEVEELAHTI eräkämppä sits farther north along the mapped line for an overnight hut option. Ikaalinen Spa & Resort rents canoes on Kyrösjärvi for open-water days staged from town(4). Visit Ikaalinen points to Hiking Travel Hit for inflatables, kayaks, paddles, PFDs, and tailored trips on the Vääräjoki–Kyrösjärvi corridor, including equipment suited to dam portages(1)(5).

This mapped line is the shorter Pitkäjärvi arm of the wider Kopsamo–Purnu water network in Pirkanmaa: about 8.7 km point-to-point on open Längelmävesi water between the Kaivannanjoki mouth area and Pitkäjärvi Kylänlahti, with wilderness stops on Piikainluoto and at Lehtinen. The City of Orivesi describes a renewed branch of roughly nine kilometres from Kaivannanjoki via islands including Piikainluoto and Lehtisensaari, where wind on the big lake can demand more experience than the quieter river sections upstream on the classic Kopsamo–Purnu corridor(1). The same segment is listed on Luontoon.fi under the inventory name Kopsamo–Purnu (Juupajoki), which groups it with the larger Kopsamo–Purnu system even though the waterbody here is chiefly Orivesi-side Längelmävesi(2). On our line, Piikainluoto sits near the halfway point with a laavu and room to stretch, and Lehtinen marks the far end of this short crossing—both pair naturally with a lunch or overnight pause before you take out toward Pitkäjärvi services. If you want the full journey from Juupajoki’s Kopsamo put-in through rapids and farmland to Purnu, follow the longer Kopsamo–Purnu kayaking route (Orivesi) entry instead; this page covers only the newer lake crossing that the city markets as an add-on to the main trail(1). Independent paddlers on Melomalla.fi wrote a vivid through-paddle of the wider Kopsamo–Purnu corridor—pasture views, birdlife, and practical notes at Kokkilansalmi and the rapid portages that sit on other branches of the network—worth reading before you mix this lake segment with the longer day(3). The City of Orivesi also publishes PDF route maps, written route notes, landing guidance for Purnu, and a 360° on-water preview that helps you rehearse landings and wind exposure before launching(1).

Haukkajoki Kayaking Route (Ruovesi) is a 4.4 km river paddling route that starts at Heinälahti on the edge of Helvetinjärvi National Park in Ruovesi, Pirkanmaa, and follows Haukkajoki downstream before connecting to the Haukkajoen melontareitti (Ylöjärvi), which continues the river journey south for another 15 km toward Näsijärvi. For paddling conditions and national park visitor information, Luontoon.fi covers Helvetinjärvi National Park's paddling possibilities in detail. The Municipality of Ruovesi also provides an overview of the park area on their tourism pages. Haukkajoki has two distinct characters. Near Heinälahti the river winds through open, boggy terrain with almost no current. The banks are dense with beaver-gnawed stumps and several beaver lodges are visible from the water — beavers have shaped the upper stretch significantly, creating log jams that are passable without climbing out. Further downstream the river picks up pace with rocky sections and a few Class I rapids. Signs along the route mark where the water shallows and a short portage or wade may be needed. The melomalla.fi paddling blog described a June paddle where the river runs quieter than in spring: April–May flood conditions are the prime season when the water flows freely and the route is most popular, while summer paddles are perfectly doable with patience at the marked shallow sections. Old log-driving infrastructure — wooden uittorännit (flume channels) from the era of river log driving — appears at several points along the river, lending a layer of history to the paddle. The route starts at Heinälahti, where you will find the Heinälahti tulipaikka campfire site and the Heinälahti Telttailualue tent camping area with a dry toilet nearby. This calm sandy bay is one of the most scenic overnight spots in the Helvetinjärvi area. The river mouth is about 100 meters from the camping area through the forest. You enter Haukkajoki under a small wooden footbridge at the Heinälahti bay. At the end of this 4.4 km section the route connects to the Haukkajoen melontareitti (Ylöjärvi), where the journey continues past Karhukosken laavu and Ruukinkosken laavu lean-tos before reaching Näsijärvi. On foot, the Haukanhieta-Haukkajoki reitti is a 2 km hiking trail sharing the Heinälahti trailhead area and leads up to the Haukanhieta beach and camping facilities with cooking shelters and campfire spots — a convenient base for a combined paddling and walking trip. For equipment rental, RetkiEvä is a Metsähallitus partner operating in the Virrat–Jämsä region, including Ruovesi. They rent touring kayaks, sea kayaks, and canoes from €40 per day for a single kayak. Guided canoe trips on Haukkajoki are offered by Hiking Travel HIT from Tampere in April–May and October, with full-day excursions in Indian canoes or kayaks that include rapids further downstream on the river. Read more on our Heinälahti tulipaikka page and our Heinälahti Telttailualue page.

Kovesjoen melontareitti is a point-to-point lake-and-river paddle of about 16.3 km along Kovesjoki in the Kokemäenjoki drainage, linking the upper lake country of Parkano with Ikaalinen on Kyrösjärvi. Open landscape descriptions in the Finnish Wikipedia articles on Kovesjärvi and Kotojärvi summarise the same corridor: the river run starts from Kovesjärvi, passes through narrow Kotojärvi, and reaches Kyrösjärvi—giving you a mix of open lake surfaces, a short lake crossing at Kotojärvi, and meandering river paddling on Kovesjoki between them(2)(3). For Kyrösjärvi-area planning—where to hire canoes, what other river arms are like, and how outfitters package day trips—Visit Ikaalinen’s paddling routes and trips hub is the natural place to start(1). The City of Parkano hosts the regional Pirkanmaa paddling guide PDF together with its outdoor recreation pages; the guide focuses on the longer Parkanon reitti network but situates Kovesjoki in the same lake-and-river world around Kyrösjärvi and reminds paddlers that guide details age and that paddling is always at your own risk(6). Near the mapped finish on Kyrösjärvi’s shore, the Kovelahti side offers a clear cluster of services: Kovelahden uimapaikka sits by the water for a swim after the paddle, while Kovelahden pallokenttä, Kovelahden kaukalo, and Kovelahden luistelukenttä lie a few hundred metres inland along Aholantie—handy orientation points if you are meeting a support car or stretching your legs after landing. Ikaalinen is the main municipality for this Kyrösjärven end; Pirkanmaa wraps the whole Ikaalinen–Parkano lake plateau.

This paddling line follows the Saikkalanjoki waterway from Lake Mätikkö in Mouhijärvi through Lake Tupurlanjärvi to the Otamus recreation area in Salmi, Sastamala. The Luontoon.fi trail page documents the route as part of the national paddling and outdoor route catalogue for Pirkanmaa(1). At the downstream end, Visit Sastamala presents Otamus as an experience park run by the local school-district residents’ association: summer café, lean-to, barbecue spots, guest docks, boat ramp, swimming rocks with piers, spring water, nature and history boards, and marked shore trails—plus kayak, canoe, and SUP hire on site, with road, bike, or water access to the site(2). The water connection matches a historic travel axis: regular boat traffic ran from Mätikkö along the Saikkalanjoki and Tupurlanjärvi to Kulovesi and onward toward Siuro railway station until 1925, when buses took over(2). Today the current is described as gentle, and the river can be paddled in either direction depending on wind and your shuttle plan(2). From Otamus you can also continue toward Siuro and Kulovesi for a longer day on the wider lake network(2). The mapped line is about 11.1 km point-to-point; it mixes open lake paddling on Mätikkö and Tupurlanjärvi with the narrower Saikkalanjoki channel—expect farmland-backed banks in places and short lake-like widenings before the river reaches the regulated Tupurlanjärvi–Kulovesi basin. On land, the Otamus shore links to several marked walking routes that start or pass nearby, including Tilankierros, Salmin kierros, and Salmin luontopolku, and the Ellivuori–Otamus–Häijää cycling route crosses the same corner of Sastamala—useful if you combine paddling with hiking or biking(2). Near the Mouhijärvi end, Mätikön uimaranta sits close to the put-in area for a swim or a family stop before you launch.

Haukkajoen melontareitti (Ylöjärvi) is the Pirkanmaa section of Haukkajoki that continues downstream after Haukkajoen melontareitti (Ruovesi): on our map it is about 15.1 km as one line from the Ruovesi–Ylöjärvi municipal boundary toward Näsijärvi, not a loop. The river flows from Helvetinjärvi National Park through Ruovesi and Ylöjärvi to Kurunlahti on Näsijärvi. For lean-tos and firewood along the Ylöjärvi-maintained stops on this reach, the City of Ylöjärvi publishes its laavu list and map links(1). Upstream paddling in the national park and general water etiquette are covered on Metsähallitus Luontoon.fi(2), and the Municipality of Ruovesi summarises the park area for visitors(3). The character alternates between slow, beaver-influenced pools and rockier stretches where summer low water makes the hull scrape—trip blogs describe shallow runs marked in advance, short wades or lining with ropes, and leftover log-driving timber slides (uittorännät) as part of the scenery(4). A regional paddling overview from the 2000s describes Haukkajoki as the safest and most consistently paddle-friendly of the Kuru-area river routes, with marked portage paths and rest spots with firewood and toilets along the full river corridor; note that some operational detail is dated(5). Guided full-day trips with Class II rapids (including Karhunkoski further downstream on the full river) run in spring and autumn through Hiking Travel HIT(6). RetkiEvä rents touring kayaks and canoes in the Virrat–Jämsä area, including trips toward this water system(7). Along this segment, about 4 km from the upstream connection you pass Karhukosken laavu on the west bank of Haukkajoki—an obvious lunch or overnight lean-to where the hiking route Pirkan taival Talvisilta- Ruovesi crosses the valley; Riuttaskorvi day-hike facilities sit on that trail network nearby. Closer to the lake, about 14 km along the line, Ruukinkosken laavu sits in Kuru near Karjulanjoki with a shelter and dry toilet, a last break before open water. Where the route meets the big-lake shoreline, it links into the long Näsijärvireitti cycling corridor for mixed land-and-water trip planning. The walking route Pirkan taival - Ruukiinkosken retkeilyalue shares Ruukinkosken laavu as a landmark on its own line. Ruovesi and Ylöjärvi both figure in a full Haukkajoki journey: Ruovesi for Heinälahti and the national-park start, Ylöjärvi for the mid-river laavut and Kuru-side services.

This mapped line is an open-water swimming route on deep, clear Lake Pukalajärvi in western Pirkanmaa, about 12 km west of Orivesi centre toward Enonkunta. The City of Orivesi open-water swimming route page(1) describes a swim that keeps shore and islands within reach along roughly four kilometres of water, passing rocky islets and mainland bays in Pukala recreation forest. The lake is often called “South Finland’s Inari” in local tourism copy for its wilderness feel; islands in the recreation forest are protected, and everyman’s rights apply when landing for short breaks. Halfway along the described swim, Onkisaari is the main rest point—suitable for a longer break or tenting—with no laavu, fireplace, or toilet on the island, so overnight visitors need full camp kit. The swim starts and finishes at the Roninmaa rocky islet area: from Majalahti parking you follow a blue-marked land path of about 800 metres south to Roninmaa laavu (fireplace and dry toilet), then a short bridge and steps onto the islet where the water leg begins. Pukalan saaren nuotiopaikka sits on the islet by the bridge—another natural stop before or after swimming. Metsähallitus manages the recreation forest; maps and maintenance for the wider trail network are on the Luontoon.fi Pukalan kierros trail page(2). For context on land access, parking clusters, and how the marked hiking loops connect around the lakes, the City of Orivesi Pukala recreation forest page(4) and a detailed Retkipaikka field report on Pukala(3) complement the swim-focused material. If you cast a line from shore or a swim break, check Eräluvat fishing permit pages for the fisheries management fee and any area rules(5). Local feature stories on the same site stress a visible swim buoy and careful packing for overnight gear—see the same swim hub for downloadable PDF maps(1).

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(1)(2). 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(3). Hiking Travel Hit is named there as a source for inflatables, kayaks, and tailored trips on the Vääräjoki–Kyrösjärvi link(3)(7). 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(4). 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(2). The lower Vaarajoki run to Heittolanlahti is described as gentler for less experienced paddlers on a day section from the Lapiolahti bridge(2). 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(5).

The City of Tampere maintains maps and current guidance for the Pyhäjärvi and Näsijärvi paddling network on its outdoor recreation pages(1). Outdoors Tampere describes each landing, campfire, woodshed, and service point along the lakes—including stops named on this Näsijärvi line such as Reuharinniemi, Kauppi, Tapatora, Toimela, and Hangasniemi(2). Visit Tampere notes that landfill work at Näsinsaari in Lielahti can block landing on the Näsijärvi side of the timber floating tunnel, so confirm access before planning a link toward Pyhäjärvi(3). Näsijärven melontareitti is about 19.5 km as one point-to-point line on Lake Näsijärvi in Tampere. The western end sits near Pispala and Sahansaari, with an early cluster around Reuharinniemi and Halkoniemi where landings and a campfire sit close together within the first couple of kilometres. Farther along, Santalahti and Rauhaniemi sit in the same mid-lake band as public beaches and Rauhaniemi’s spa shore—useful mental anchors when reading a town map. The Kauppi recreation shore brings together Kaupinoja’s boat and canoe beach, the Kauppi campfire, and the UKK Institute sports campus; the same forest links to the long Näsijärvireitti cycling route along the shore and to Kauppi mountain bike trails where you share the forest edge with paddlers stepping ashore. Around Toimela and Tapatora you find paired landings and campfires before the line approaches Hangasniemi near Lassinlinna, where Outdoors Tampere lists parking and an information board beside the water(2). From Toimela’s landing you can connect on land to Niihama Nature Trail and Niihama’s day-use hut and grill shelter—handy if you want a short hike after beaching the boat. Independent trip writing shows how families reach nearby islands such as Keissaari for a campfire day, launching from sheltered inshore water toward longer open fetches(4). Hiking Travel, Hit runs a summer rental base at Kaupinoja a few kilometres from the centre, with canoes, kayaks, and SUP boards, and explains that Näsiselkä opens to wind while more sheltered options lie toward Aitolahden suunta—worth weighing when you choose a segment(5). If you fish from the craft, carry the appropriate regional permit and follow local rules(6).

The Sikkilänjoen melontareitti is a roughly 9.4 km mapped paddle along the Sikkilänjoki and Pyhäjärvi shoreline in Ylöjärvi, Pirkanmaa—it is not a loop. For paddling routes, landing points, and other outdoor layers across the municipality, the City of Ylöjärvi maintains the Ylöjärvi Retkelle map service with over 250 points, including paddling routes and mooring or landing categories you can switch on in the viewer(1). On open water this line sits in the same Pyhäjärvi regional paddling picture as Tampere’s large-lake network: the City of Tampere describes about 35 km of suggested paddling routes on Pyhäjärvi and Näsijärvi together, with multiple campfires and landing places and a downloadable overview map for trip planning(2). Outdoorstampere summarises the same service development on both lakes, lists major landings and rental points, and hosts the web version of the paddling map(4). Along the mapped line, the route passes near the Parkkuu shore around 7.6–7.9 km from the start—aligned with Parkkuun koulun pallokenttä and Parkkuun pallokenttä—useful as land references when coordinating shuttles or spotting the village from the water. The long-distance Näsijärvireitti cycling route passes the same broad area, so bike-and-boat shuttles are a natural combination if your group mixes cyclists and paddlers. Parkkuu paikaltaan still hosts a legacy, step-by-step description of the wider Sikkilänjoki chain in the Kurun–Parkkuu area (last revised in the early 2000s and labelled as not fully up to date) that outlines how the river and lake sections fit together: the full Sikkilänjoki run is presented as about 25 km, mainly through lakes from Perijärvi via Jakama toward Parkkuunlahti, with spring paddling on Kettuoja, mandatory portages around a dangerous dam drop near Myllyoja and at Ylisen Parkkuunkoski before open water on Parkkuunlahti and Kukkulanselkä(3). Treat that narrative as orientation, not live hazard reporting—check water levels and inspect rapids, dams, and wood in person. For canoe and kayak hire with large fleets and transport to agreed put-ins around Tampere and Pirkanmaa, Hiking Travel, HIT Ky advertises long-running rental and instruction services on the Näsijärvi shore(5).

Jyllinjoen melontareitti follows the Jyllinjoki, a river that links Lake Jämijärvi with Lake Kyrösjärvi through forested Hämeenkangas terrain in Jämijärvi and Ikaalinen. On the map this line is about 12.6 km point-to-point along the Ikaalinen reach, from the Jyllin village shore zone toward the Vatula inlet on Kyrösjärvi—downstream with the current in typical use. The full river is about 15 km end to end; the Finnish Wikipedia article on Jyllinjoki summarises how the water drops through a chain of rapids and pools, with roughly 18 m of fall overall and the mouth at Vatula facing Kyrösjärvi(1). Independent paddling is possible along most of the river, but Jyllinkoski is a mandatory carry: you must take boats around that rapid, not run it in place(1). Several other rapids—Kalliokoski, Nurmikoski, Lanttumaankoski, Sunikoski, and Särkikoski—are described as runnable only by skilled paddlers who accept real risk and scout each drop(1). For where to land before Jyllinkoski and the former power-plant structures beside the local road bridge, see Visit Ikaalinen’s Melontareitit ja retket page(2). Along the mapped segment you pass the Jyllin sports cluster—near the line around 3 km from the start you are close to Jyllin yleisöluistelukenttä and Jyllin pallokenttä on the bank—and finish in the Vatula shore area where Vatulan uimapaikka offers a swimming beach. That page also points to Korsuretket for guided canoe trips on Jyllinjoki and for equipment, and describes rich birdlife along the tree-lined channel(2). Commercial trips from Korsukylä use stable Indian canoes on a calm downstream leg, include a shuttle-style return in a themed cart, and stop at Uhrilähde springs on the way back—priced and timed for groups on the operator’s published schedule(3). Self-hire Indian canoes for two hours on Jyllinjoki, including life jackets, are bookable through Korsuretket’s shop with the trip staged from Korsukylä(4). For lake days on Kyrösjärvi itself, Ikaalinen Spa & Resort advertises canoe hire for guests exploring the big lake—useful if you combine river and lake legs(2). The mountain bike route Maastopyöräilyreitti Ikaalisten kylpylä-Jämi crosses the same Jyllin area on land, so mixed groups sometimes split a day between water and trails. Respect private shorelines, anglers, and any temporary closures or dam works; confirm water levels and your skill level before attempting any rapid.

Kopsamo–Purnu is a classic Pirkanmaa canoe and kayak journey from the northern end of Lake Kopsamo in Juupajoki through river and lake channels toward Purnu and Lake Längelmävesi in Orivesi. On our map the line is about 31.3 km as one continuous water route, point-to-point. The City of Orivesi describes it as passing through some of the region’s most attractive cultural countryside and farmland, with calm river sections, narrow lake bays, and two rapid stretches that shape planning(1). The same corridor is listed on the national outdoor route service for map context(2). The Municipality of Juupajoki positions the signed put-in beside Kopsamo beach: follow the separate access road marked from Sahrajärventie after the swimming beach; the launch area has a route map board, dry toilet, and departure dock rather than using the beach itself(3). Along the mapped line you pass Kopsamon uimapaikka at the start, then Pusuvuoren laavu roughly 2.3 km into the trip—a strong stop for a fire and a short climb into forest on the shore. Kokkilansalmi landing sits near the 5.4 km mark, and Leppähampaankoski boat launch around 11.8 km marks the first rapid: the City of Orivesi requires Putaankoski to be portaged on land in all conditions, while Leppähampaankoski may be runnable only by experienced paddlers at high water after scouting from the bridge(1). Aurikkolahden taukopaikka on Aurikkojärvi offers a rest fireplace and shore access in the mid section; the municipal page highlights Aurikkivuori as a viewpoint above the bay(1). Toward the Längelmävesi end, Piikainluoto and the Lehtinen wilderness huts sit on the same waterway cluster as the shorter Kopsamo–Purnu (Juupajoki) segment in our database—useful if you split the trip or link an overnight. In winter the Kopsamon kylälatu ski track touches Kopsamon uimapaikka, and the Kirkonkylä school ski trails start near the same shore access roads if you return by snow after a summer scouting run. Independent paddlers writing on Melomalla.fi captured the mix of pasture, small fields, and birdlife along Kokkilansalmi and the workaday feel of the portage paths at Leppähampaankoski and Putaankoski, including the short road carry and the distinctive flume assist beside Putaankoski when water is low enough to line a canoe through(5). Regional destination marketing summarises the corridor as family-friendly in calm conditions with short carries(4). The City of Orivesi also publishes PDF route maps, a written route description, landing notes for Purnu, and a 360° video preview so you can rehearse the corridor before launching(1).

The City of Tampere publishes the official PDF paddling map and updates for Kiimajoen melontareitti on its outdoor recreation pages(1). Outdoors Tampere walks through each lake link, rapid, portage, and landing from the Velaatta area toward Lake Näsijärvi’s Terälahti, including rapid classes, carry routes around Kalmakurjenkoski and the Teräkoski mill dam, and seasonal condition notes from local stewards(2). Visit Tampere summarises the same Teisko setting and services for visitors(3). Metsähallitus also lists the route on Luontoon.fi for nationwide discovery(4). Kiimajoen melontareitti is about 17.7 km as one point-to-point line through North Tampere’s Teisko countryside. The water journey threads Lake Velaatta, smaller lakes and narrows toward Kiimajoki, then follows the river’s historic log-floating channel toward Terälahti on Näsijärvi. Along the way you pass landings and rest points that match what you see on the map: Veneenlaskupaikka - P1 Velaatan uimaranta and Velaatan uimapaikka frame the main Velaatta shore, while Kiimajoen melontareitti - Velaatan laavu sits on the north shore with a fireplace, woodshed, and dry toilet—the route’s only laavu. Downstream, Kiimajoen melontareitti - Mustametsän tulipaikka and Veneenlaskupaikka - Mustametsän nuotiopaikka pair a campfire stop with a carry-friendly bank. Terälahden laavu lies near the mid-river band, and Veneenlaskupaikka - Salen ranta brings you beside grocery services and bus line 90. Frantsinlammi and Veneenlaskupaikka - Frantsinlammi mark the eastern end of the chain, while toward Terälahti you reach Veneenlaskupaikka - P2 Kapeentien mattoranta and Veneenlaskupaikka - P3 Terälahden uimapaikka as alternative finish options on the bay. Kiimajoen melontareitti - Nallin tulipaikka and veneenlaskupaikka - Nallin rantautumispaikka cluster the Nalli shore with a fireplace and pull-out. Rapids range from straightforward class I water to a mandatory portage at Kalmakurjenkoski and a dam portage at Teräkoski; Niinikoski is often scouted from shore before running(2). The same shore corridor meets Näsijärvireitti where cyclists use the long lakeside bike route, and the short hiking line Terälahden laavun reitti touches Terälahden laavu if you want a foot connection after beaching the boat. Independent trip writing on Hold the Bells shows how a compact inflatable kayak handled the meandering river, used local buses between Velaatta and Terälahti, and paced a summer day with several rapids and portages(5). Hiking Travel, Hit runs seasonal canoe, kayak, and SUP hire from Kaupinoja with published safety guidance for Tampere lake paddling—useful if you need a boat rather than bringing your own(6).