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Mellonlahti nature trail

—•Hiking Trails

2.7 km

Route

Description

City of Imatra – Mellonlahden luontolenkki+

Description

The Mellonlahti nature trail is a short, easy-to-reach riverside walk in Imatra below Imatrankoski, a few minutes from the city centre. The City of Imatra publishes the route description, downloadable brochure, checkpoint list, and notes on accessibility. GoSaimaa summarises the same corridor for visitors: the path starts from Valtionhotelli Park and Inkerinaukio near the Imatrankoski bridge and follows the old Vuoksi river landscape downstream toward Mellonlahti bay, which today sits behind an embankment and forms its own quieter water and vegetation community. The trail is about 2.7 km. Official materials round the distance to about 3 km and describe 22 numbered checkpoints with a printed guide on local plants, birds, butterflies, Vuoksi fish, and cultural history. An optional side branch climbs Mellonmäki for a higher view over the rapids and toward the Russian border town of Svetogorsk on clear days. The overall shape is often described as an upside-down Y: one arm follows the embankment and Mellonlahti shores; another climbs toward Mellonmäki recreation ground. Along the first minutes you are beside Imatrankoski and the state hotel quarter. Imatran valtionhotellin kylpylä and Imatran valtionhotellin tenniskenttä sit right next to the same park and path network many walkers use before or after a stroll. Farther toward Mellonmäki the route passes the ski-jump hills Mellonmäen hyppyrimäki K38 and Mellonmäen hyppyrimäki K53 and Mellonmäen frisbeegolfrata, so the trail doubles as a pleasant link between the rapids viewpoint and the hill’s sports facilities. The same area connects logically to Vuoksen luonto- ja kulttuurilenkki along the wider Vuoksi corridor, to Kruununpuiston ja Ivoniemen luontopolut for a shorter nature loop near the shore, and to paved exercise loops such as Mellonmäen kuntorata and Mellonmäen kuntoradan latu if you want to mix walking with skiing or running. Retkipaikka’s Luontopolkumies article adds practical colour: views from the imperial observation deck toward the dam, a long embankment path with frequent benches, a small wooden bridge with a simple campfire spot, and a steeper climb up Mellonmäki if you take a direct shortcut to the top. The piece also notes that marking is workable but not always obvious everywhere, so carrying the city PDF or Outdoor Active trace on your phone helps. For the latest brochure, map PDF, and any route changes, rely on the City of Imatra.

Length & route

The trail is about 2.7 km. The City of Imatra and GoSaimaa describe roughly 3 km and 22 themed checkpoints with a guide booklet. If you add both Mellonlahden branches and the Mellonmäki climb, on-foot distance can approach what independent walkers report as about 5 km for all spurs combined. Surfaces mix wide light-traffic paths near the river, the embankment footway, short duckboard sections, and narrower shore paths on the northern arm.

Getting there

The City of Imatra places the departure board in the park beside Inkerinaukio (Imatrankoskentie 1), next to Valtionhotelli Park and the Imatrankoski bridge. GoSaimaa repeats the same address as the starting information point. By car you can drive down Vellamonkatu to checkpoint 9 for a shorter on-foot section; people with reduced mobility can use that access to move between checkpoints 5 and 15 as described on the city page. Independent visitors often use short-term street parking in the centre; one practical pattern noted on Retkipaikka is two-hour disc parking along Helsingintie a short walk from the hotel quarter.

Good to know

The city links a water-body monitoring PDF for Mellonlahti and lists the route on Outdoor Active for GPS-style browsing. GoSaimaa states the walk can also be cycled where surfaces allow. No dedicated trail overview video meeting quality criteria surfaced in YouTube-only searches; rely on the city brochure and map for orientation.

Managed by

Imatra

Official Maintenance

020 617 111

Trail info

The City of Imatra describes starting from Inkerinaukio, following the old rapids channel margin downstream to Mellonlahti, with an optional ascent to the top of Mellonmäki. GoSaimaa presents the same order from Valtionhotelli Park toward Mellonlahti. The walk is not a single closed loop in the materials; you typically return along the embankment or via parallel paths.

Route direction

Recreation Area

Lake

River

22 numbered checkpoints with a printed nature guide; blue arrow markers appear in places along the shore section.

Route Signs

Stroller Friendly

Accessibility

Open / Good Condition

City of Imatra – Mellonlahden luontolenkki+

Activities allowed

Run

Activity

Hike / Walk

Activity

Bike

Activity

Terrain & conditions

2.7 km

Distance

Allow about 45–90 minutes on foot depending on whether you take the Mellonmäki side branch, stop at checkpoints, and photograph the rapids.

Est. Time

Dirt / Gravel

Surface

Wide Track

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

Location

61.16230°N, 28.76772°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

South KareliaRegion

ImatraCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

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Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Imatra, 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 South Karelia Imatra Hiking TrailsMellonlahti nature trail