Rautjärvi Map

The lean -to unobstructed access from the direction of the former Kangaskoski guard (now Naturopoint).

The lean-to and campfire site are at the end of the road at P-site. The Haukkavuori border mark and the viewpoint are about 1 km away.

Start with the Haukkavuoren luontopolku trail page on Luontoon.fi(1) for Metsähallitus maps and route facts. The Municipality of Rautjärvi's Haukkavuori visitor page(2) explains driving directions, the carved boundary markers, and how the hill sits on the historic border between Rautjärvi and Ruokolahti. The trail is about 2.3 km as a loop on forested slopes around Haukkavuori. Published walk-throughs and regional listings often describe a longer outing of about 4–5 km when hikers include the climb from the parking area to the summit viewpoint and the full marked circuit—worth planning for if you want the full summit and loop experience(3)(4). Haukkavuori is the highest point in South Karelia at about 172 m above sea level, with roughly 80 m of relief above Lake Sarajärvi below(2)(4). From the clifftops you look out over lake-and-forest scenery typical of the Saimaa lake plateau. The hill has been a border landmark for centuries: the peace treaties of Nöteborg (1323), Teusina (1595), and Nystad (1721) all ran through this landscape, and a survey marker carved in 1722 is still visible on the rock(2). Haukkavuori is part of the Saimaa UNESCO Global Geopark and is listed as a Natura area; the Finnish Heritage Foundation is named as a governing body on regional tourism pages(4). The same area connects to longer hiking lines: the Simpele–Haukkavuori hiking trail approaches from Simpele, and the Rautjärvi E10 hiking trail (Rajojen reitti / E10) passes through—both share Haukkavuoren laavu as a resupply and rest stop. On Retkipaikka, Luontopolkumies describes sturdy boardwalks and steps on the steeps, orange marks where the path shares the wider Ruokolahti–Rautjärvi–Parikkala network, and blue marks on the nature-trail loop, with counterclockwise travel feeling easier on the loop(3). GoSaimaa recommends waterproof footwear in wet weather because the forest can be dense and the clifftops have no guard rails(4). For a quick aerial sense of the view, the GoSaimaa page links a short drone clip of Haukkavuori(4).

The Simpele–Haukkavuori hiking trail is about 13.9 km as one continuous route in Rautjärvi, South Karelia. It links the Simpele area with the Haukkavuori hill landscape on the South Karelia–South Savo border. For Metsähallitus route information and map context, see the Retkeilyreitti Simpele-Haukkavuori page on Luontoon.fi(1). City of Rautjärvi(2) describes Haukkavuori as the highest point in South Karelia, part of the Rajojen reitti (E10) long-distance trail, with a nature trail, laavu, and campfire place. GoSaimaa(3) notes the site sits in Saimaa UNESCO Global Geopark and summarises driving from Simpele and services at the Haukkavuori parking area. Retkipaikka(4) gives a detailed on-the-ground account of markings and terrain on Haukkavuoren luontopolku and the wider orange-marked hiking network in the same landscape. The route is not a loop. From the Simpele side the line crosses mixed forest and local recreation land, then reaches Haukkavuoren laavu roughly 1.5 km from the start of our geometry—an obvious stop for shelter, fire, and a break before or after climbing the Haukkavuori slopes. Haukkavuori itself rises steeply above Sarajärvi; the summit area is known for views, historical border markers from the Treaty of Nystad line, and connections to the shorter Haukkavuoren luontopolku and to Rautjärven retkeilyreitti E10 along the Rajojen reitti. Toward the far end of this route, Koantauksen uimapaika offers a swimming spot by the water for a summer cool-down after a long walk. Terrain around Haukkavuori is often steep and can be slippery when wet; sources recommend sturdy footwear and care on slopes. Orange paint marks tie into the broader Ruokolahti–Rautjärvi–Parikkala hiking network in places, while the dedicated nature-trail loop near the top uses its own colour coding. Expect quiet forest roads and paths, with more built-up edge sections closer to Simpele.

For maps, services, and background on the Ritakoski–Lahnasenkoski stretch of Hiitolanjoki, start with the Luontoon.fi recreation area page(1). Visit Lakeland Finland packages the same outing as the Hiitolanjoki scenic trail for travellers and notes contact details for the South Karelia Recreation Area Foundation(3). Hiitolanjoki trails is about 3,5 km of marked walking along that border river in Rautjärvi, South Karelia, threaded through mill and rapids scenery between Ritakoski and Lahnasenkoski. The South Karelia Recreation Area Foundation owns and develops visitor infrastructure along the river; entry is free(3). From the river corridor you quickly reach pocket destinations spaced by distance: roughly 2 km from the start you pass Rautjärven kuntoportaat, where the long-distance Rautaesirippureitti Etelä-Karjala cycling trail touches the shore—handy if you combine a bike approach with an on-foot loop along the bank. A little farther on, Korkeamäenojansuu - veneenlaskupaikka offers a small-boat put-in on a side channel. Near the Lahnasenkoski mills, Lahnasen lintulava gives a sheltered view over wetlands and shallows; Retkipaikka describes recent upgrades including an accessible approach to the bird-watching structure(2). The Lahnasen grillikatos sits a few hundred metres farther along Ritakoskentie and works as the main covered campfire and picnic stop on this segment; Visit Lakeland Finland mentions a barbecue shed and outdoor toilet on the far side of the Lahnasenkoski plant area(3). Underfoot you alternate between riverbank path, woodland side trails, and duckboards over wet ground—Retkipaikka recommends trainers in a dry summer but rubber boots in spring when planks can sit under high water(2). The outing is gently rolling with short staircases near old power-plant structures; the same blog rates it as moderate verging on easy family walking(2). Major dam removals and habitat work on Lahnasenkoski finished in 2022, restoring free-flowing rapids and fish spawning habitats that interpretive boards along the path explain(2). Some bloggers walk a longer riverside circuit of about 4,7 km; the line on our map follows about 3,5 km as one continuous path through the same core landscape(2). Rautjärvi lists Hiitolanjoen maisemapolku among its local nature trails together with Haukkavuori and Rajojen reitti when you want a second hike in the municipality(4).

Äpätinkangas Nature Trail is a short out-and-back hike of about 0.9 km one way in Laikko, Rautjärvi, South Karelia—plan on roughly 2 km total walking if you return the same way. The City of Rautjärvi lists Äpätinkangas with other municipal nature trails and gives the Latvajärventie address on its hiking and nature trails page(1). Rautjärvi lies in South Karelia near the Russian border; the outing is an easy way to see state-owned forest that is also part of an important old-growth protection mosaic for the region. Retkipaikka’s article by Maija Mehto describes walking an old forestry road bed past interpretation boards (some with QR codes) and halved pine benches for quiet stops(2). The path leads to a lookout tower on a glacial ice-marginal ridge with views over extensive July 2010 windthrow—the storm left trunks where they fell, so the forest reads more like a natural disturbance laboratory than a thinned plantation(2). Retkipaikka notes heavy deadwood (reportedly on the order of tens of times more coarse woody debris than a typical managed pine stand) and habitat for many deadwood-dependent species(2). A picnic table and a separate lean-to shelter sit along the route; there is no fire place on the sensitive dry heath, and the same piece points travellers who want a campfire toward a nearby Hannula lean-to with directions on the parking information board(2). Underfoot it stays gentle for an old woods road: families can budget a couple of hours if you stop to read boards and watch for wildlife sign. The European Environment Agency’s EUNIS summary for Natura site FI0417009 lists western taiga, spruce-rich herb forest, and bog woodland, and records the flying squirrel as a protected species for the site(3)—light footsteps and dogs under full control help. Combine with other Rautjärvi walks such as Hiitolanjoki’s landscape paths when you are in the area; the city page groups them together(1).

Lahnasen grillikatos. Polttopuuhuolto ja mahdollisimman esteetön käymälä läheisyydessä. Katos käytettävissä ympäri vuoden. Poluilla ei ole talvikunnossapitoa!

Jonkin verran korkeuseroja. 9-, 18- ja 20-väyläiset ratavaihtoehdot.

Radan ylläpidosta vastaa Kekäleniemen kyläyhdistys ry.

220 askelmaa, nousua 25 m. Ei talvikunnossapitoa.

Omistaja Simpeleen Hahlo ry. Pienoiskiväärirata 25 m, pistoolirata 50 m.

Omistaja Rautjärven rhy. Pistoolirata 8 paikkaa, kiväärirata 8 paikkaa, haulikkorata, hirvirata.

Lintulava n. 2 m, näkyvyys Lahnasen suvannolle. Joki pysyy avoimena läpi talven.