For the island itself—trails, services, and how people reach the shore—the Mikonsaaren luontopolku page on Visit Lappeenranta is the clearest starting point. It describes Mikonsaari as a summer day-trip destination about 10 km by road from the city centre, popular as a canoe and kayak circuit around the island, and...
Visit Lappeenranta – Mikonsaaren luontopolku+
Description
For the island itself—trails, services, and how people reach the shore—the Mikonsaaren luontopolku page on Visit Lappeenranta is the clearest starting point. It describes Mikonsaari as a summer day-trip destination about 10 km by road from the city centre, popular as a canoe and kayak circuit around the island, and family-friendly on the water. GoSaimaa summarises the same arrival along VT6 and Lauritsalta past the Kaukas mills toward Vehkataipale (road 4081), then left onto Mikonsaaren tie after Luukkaansalmi bridge, with parking where the nature trail begins.
This mapped kayaking route is about 15.3 km as one continuous line on western Pien-Saimaa in Lappeenranta, South Karelia. It is not recorded as a closed loop in trail data, but the line tours the same lake district Visit Lappeenranta promotes for paddling around Mikonsaari. Early along the water you pass the Kivisalmen uimaranta beach area—useful for a shore break before longer open-water legs. Further on, Mikonsaari- veneenlaskupaikka on Mikonsaarentie gives a formal boat launch if you are combining car access with paddling. Closer to the city basin you pass Karhusaari, where Etelä-Karjalan virkistysaluesäätiö maintains Karhusaaren laavu; Ekvas notes the foundation has cared for that lean-to since 2008 and that summer access to the island is by paddle or private boat while winter visitors often cross the ice. The line then approaches the Myllysaari shore, where the city clusters beaches, sports fields, and harbour-side recreation—handy if you finish near the central harbour services.
Expect sheltered lake channels typical of the Saimaa labyrinth, but wind can still build fetch on wider bays—plan lee shores and breaks at the beaches and lean-tos along the way. The island’s on-land nature trail (about 2 km, marked in red) is a separate walk from the water route but pairs well if you haul out at Mikonsaari.
Length & route
The route is about 15.3 km end-to-end as one paddling line on Pien-Saimaa. Expect mixed sheltered straits and wider lake surfaces where wind matters. The Visit Lappeenranta island page describes the on-land nature trail as roughly 2 km for walkers—separate from this water line.
Getting there
By car toward Mikonsaari, follow Visit Lappeenranta and GoSaimaa: from VT6 via Lauritsalta and Kaukas toward Vehkataipale, after Luukkaansalmi bridge turn left onto Mikonsaaren tie; parking is at the nature-trail trailhead lot where coordinates are given on the official page. For paddling, use public launches such as Mikonsaari- veneenlaskupaikka (Mikonsaarentie 343) or Karhusaari veneenlaskupaikka near the lean-to end of the city basin, matching how Ekvas describes boat access in summer. Harbour-area kayak and canoe hire is available from the Hiekkalinna rental point at Satamatie 19/21; Visit Lappeenranta points to DrakkarSport for bookings and phone numbers.
Good to know
The City of Lappeenranta also maintains a winter Lake Saimaa multi-use ice route for skiers and walkers when ice allows; that is a different season and mode from summer paddling. DrakkarSport publishes the harbour rental contact numbers and booking path referenced from the Visit Lappeenranta equipment page.
History
Visit Lappeenranta recounts a local story that the island was named after a boy, Mikko, who escaped the 1741 battle of Lappeenranta with his mother in a tar barrel that drifted ashore here.
Itinerary
In calm conditions many paddlers treat a route of this length on Pien-Saimaa as a full-day trip with lunch at Karhusaaren laavu or a beach stop at Kivisalmen uimaranta. Pairing with the 2 km Mikonsaaren luontopolku on land requires hauling boats above the high-water line where local rules allow.
Where to rent kayaks
Kayak, canoe, SUP, and rowing-boat hire for the Hiekkalinna harbour desk at Satamatie 19/21 is organised through DrakkarSport, which publishes phone numbers and booking details for the rental season.
Lake paddlers usually plan direction by wind and fetch; the Visit Lappeenranta page notes the island nature trail can be walked either way—on water, choose the lee shore when breeze strengthens.
Route direction
Archipelago
Archipelago
Lake
Lake
Open / Good Condition
Open / Good Condition
Visit Lappeenranta – Mikonsaaren luontopolku
Activities allowed
Kayak / Canoe
Activity
Terrain & conditions
15.3 km
Distance
Typically a full day on the water for about 15 km in mixed conditions, or a brisk half-day if winds stay light and you minimise breaks.
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Answers to your questions
Our data was researched from Lappeenranta, 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.
For the island itself—trails, services, and how people reach the shore—the Mikonsaaren luontopolku page on Visit Lappeenranta is the clearest starting point. It describes Mikonsaari as a summer day-trip destination about 10 km by road from the city centre, popular as a canoe and kayak circuit around the island, and...
Visit Lappeenranta – Mikonsaaren luontopolku+
Description
For the island itself—trails, services, and how people reach the shore—the Mikonsaaren luontopolku page on Visit Lappeenranta is the clearest starting point. It describes Mikonsaari as a summer day-trip destination about 10 km by road from the city centre, popular as a canoe and kayak circuit around the island, and family-friendly on the water. GoSaimaa summarises the same arrival along VT6 and Lauritsalta past the Kaukas mills toward Vehkataipale (road 4081), then left onto Mikonsaaren tie after Luukkaansalmi bridge, with parking where the nature trail begins.
This mapped kayaking route is about 15.3 km as one continuous line on western Pien-Saimaa in Lappeenranta, South Karelia. It is not recorded as a closed loop in trail data, but the line tours the same lake district Visit Lappeenranta promotes for paddling around Mikonsaari. Early along the water you pass the Kivisalmen uimaranta beach area—useful for a shore break before longer open-water legs. Further on, Mikonsaari- veneenlaskupaikka on Mikonsaarentie gives a formal boat launch if you are combining car access with paddling. Closer to the city basin you pass Karhusaari, where Etelä-Karjalan virkistysaluesäätiö maintains Karhusaaren laavu; Ekvas notes the foundation has cared for that lean-to since 2008 and that summer access to the island is by paddle or private boat while winter visitors often cross the ice. The line then approaches the Myllysaari shore, where the city clusters beaches, sports fields, and harbour-side recreation—handy if you finish near the central harbour services.
Expect sheltered lake channels typical of the Saimaa labyrinth, but wind can still build fetch on wider bays—plan lee shores and breaks at the beaches and lean-tos along the way. The island’s on-land nature trail (about 2 km, marked in red) is a separate walk from the water route but pairs well if you haul out at Mikonsaari.
Length & route
The route is about 15.3 km end-to-end as one paddling line on Pien-Saimaa. Expect mixed sheltered straits and wider lake surfaces where wind matters. The Visit Lappeenranta island page describes the on-land nature trail as roughly 2 km for walkers—separate from this water line.
Getting there
By car toward Mikonsaari, follow Visit Lappeenranta and GoSaimaa: from VT6 via Lauritsalta and Kaukas toward Vehkataipale, after Luukkaansalmi bridge turn left onto Mikonsaaren tie; parking is at the nature-trail trailhead lot where coordinates are given on the official page. For paddling, use public launches such as Mikonsaari- veneenlaskupaikka (Mikonsaarentie 343) or Karhusaari veneenlaskupaikka near the lean-to end of the city basin, matching how Ekvas describes boat access in summer. Harbour-area kayak and canoe hire is available from the Hiekkalinna rental point at Satamatie 19/21; Visit Lappeenranta points to DrakkarSport for bookings and phone numbers.
Good to know
The City of Lappeenranta also maintains a winter Lake Saimaa multi-use ice route for skiers and walkers when ice allows; that is a different season and mode from summer paddling. DrakkarSport publishes the harbour rental contact numbers and booking path referenced from the Visit Lappeenranta equipment page.
History
Visit Lappeenranta recounts a local story that the island was named after a boy, Mikko, who escaped the 1741 battle of Lappeenranta with his mother in a tar barrel that drifted ashore here.
Itinerary
In calm conditions many paddlers treat a route of this length on Pien-Saimaa as a full-day trip with lunch at Karhusaaren laavu or a beach stop at Kivisalmen uimaranta. Pairing with the 2 km Mikonsaaren luontopolku on land requires hauling boats above the high-water line where local rules allow.
Where to rent kayaks
Kayak, canoe, SUP, and rowing-boat hire for the Hiekkalinna harbour desk at Satamatie 19/21 is organised through DrakkarSport, which publishes phone numbers and booking details for the rental season.
Lake paddlers usually plan direction by wind and fetch; the Visit Lappeenranta page notes the island nature trail can be walked either way—on water, choose the lee shore when breeze strengthens.
Be the first to write a review for "Mikonsaari circuit kayaking route"
Share a photo from a recent trip
Answers to your questions
Our data was researched from Lappeenranta, 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.