When did huts.fi research the data for Mäntysalo Trail?

Huts.fi

Mäntysalo Trail

—•Hiking Trails

3.6 km

Route

Description

Luontoon.fi – Mäntysalon polku+

Description

The Mäntysalo Trail is about 3.6 km in Heinävesi, South Savo, winding across Mäntysalo and Pitkäsaari inside Kolovesi National Park. Metsähallitus describes it on Luontoon.fi as a demanding footpath with strong elevation change and forests that range from near-natural old stands to managed woodland; the trail is on an island and reachable only by water, with no winter maintenance, and travel on the whole of Mäntysalo is prohibited from 1 January to 30 April. Visit Savonlinna places Mäntysalo among Kolovesi’s large islands and notes park rules such as widespread motor-boat bans—while the north shore of Mäntysalo lies outside the strictest motor zone, you still plan access by paddle craft or by motor only where regulations allow. Luontopolkumies Mika Markkanen’s Retkipaikka walk-through adds practical detail: orange paint blazes, a T-shaped junction where a circular main walk is usually taken to the left, steep climbs from the landing, lake views toward landmarks such as Koukunpolvi on the mainland shore, short stretches of duckboards, benches partway round, and realistic timing of roughly two hours for the island loop without a long detour to Mäntysalon kämppä. Heinävesi is the municipality around this part of Kolovesi. From the north shore landing, Mäntysalo veneenkiinnitysrengas (2 kpl) and Mäntysalo veneenkiinnityspoiju are where many boats tie up before the path heads inland. Within about 150 m, the Pitkäsaari pohjoinen cluster brings you to Pitkäsaari pohjoinen tulentekopaikka, Pitkäsaari veneenkiinnitysrengas, and Pitkäsaari pohjoinen telttailualue; dry toilets sit nearby for that stop. Further along the line, the south end of Pitkäsaari groups Pitkäsaari eteläinen tulentekopaikka, Pitkäsaari etelä telttailualue, Pitkäsaari kanoottilaituri, Pitkäsaari eteläinen veneenkiinnitysrengas, and Pitkäsaari etelä huussi—handy if you arrive from the water with a canoe or need a campfire or tent pitch before paddling on. The same waters tie into longer paddling itineraries: Koloveden kierros Oravista and the route Melontaa Koloveden kansallispuistossa overlap this shore network near Mäntysalo. Day hikers sometimes combine the main island circuit with Mätysalo kämpän polku (Trail to Mäntysalo rental cabin) to visit Mäntysalon kämppä vuokratupa, Mäntysalo sauna, Mäntysalo venelaituri, and Mäntysalo tulentekopaikka at the rental-cabin end—check Metsähallitus booking rules for the cabin and respect that its lakeside fireplace and jetty are for guests. For a wider Saimaa picture, Visit Savonlinna also points to canoe rental hubs and multi-day ideas starting from Oravi.

Length & route

The trail is about 3.6 km along our line across Mäntysalo and Pitkäsaari. Metsähallitus groups it in the short-hiking bracket on Luontoon.fi and stresses demanding terrain with large height differences. Visit Savonlinna quotes about 3.8 km for the island circuit in similarly rugged, varied ground. Luontopolkumies measured a somewhat longer walk from the north-shore landing, especially when counting the full painted loop and viewpoints, and reports about two hours for the main circuit without a long rental-cabin detour.

Getting there

You reach Mäntysalo only by boat. Luontopolkumies describes tying up at the small north-shore harbour and trail signs beside Pitkäsaari’s visitor shore, with many paddlers approaching from Kirkkoranta on a trip of roughly ten kilometres, or by motor boat from the north side of Kolovesi via the Pilppaa lock area for a crossing on the order of four kilometres—always matching harbour and boat rules to the season. Metsähallitus underlines island access and the winter closure window on the official trail page. Visit Savonlinna lists canoe and kayak rental products around Oravi and broader Kolovesi services that help if you need a craft or a guided outing.

Good to know

From 1 January to 30 April all travel on Mäntysalo is prohibited; Metsähallitus repeats this on Luontoon.fi together with the no winter-maintenance note, and Luontopolkumies flags the same restriction window with links to the park rules PDF. Before lighting fires or landing overnight outside marked camping patches, read Kolovesi National Park instructions on Luontoon.fi and the park brochure. Boat access to Pitkäsaari campfire and tent sites assumes you follow everyman’s rights and national-park camping rules for marked zones only.

Where to rent equipment

Canoe and kayak outfitters for Kolovesi are listed under the national park’s cooperation partners on Luontoon.fi and through Visit Savonlinna’s Oravi-area rental listings.

Managed by

Heinävesi

Official Maintenance

GPX data from: © Metsähallitus, 2024

Trail info

Where the path meets a T-junction shortly after the landing, sources recommend following the circular main route to the left (counter-clockwise).

Route direction

National Park

Area

Lake

orange paint blazes

Route Signs

Open / Good Condition

Retkipaikka – Mäntysalon luontopolku (Luontopolkumies)

Activities allowed

Hike / Walk

Activity

Terrain & conditions

3.6 km

Distance

about 2 hours for the main island circuit on foot without a long cabin detour

Est. Time

Duckboards / Dirt

Surface

Point-to-Point, Single Track

Route Type

Light Traffic

Traffic

Partial Shade

Shade

Location

62.30735°N, 28.74160°E

Approximate location

FinlandCountry

South SavoRegion

HeinävesiCity

Hiking TrailsCategory

Explore nearby

Pitkäsaari veneenkiinnitysrengas

222 m

Free

Pitkäsaari eteläinen veneenkiinnitysrengas

234 m

Free

Rate & Review

Be the first to write a review for "Mäntysalo Trail"

Share a photo from a recent trip

Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Heinävesi, 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 Savo Heinävesi Hiking TrailsMäntysalo Trail

Photo: Visit Saimaa, Kolovesi National Park is Lake Finland at its best., 2026

Mäntysalo Trail3.6 km

Route

Mäntysalo veneenkiinnitysrengas (2 kpl)

0.0 km|Free

Mooring Rings

Mäntysalo veneenkiinnityspoiju

0.0 km|Free

Mooring Buoys

Pitkäsaari pohjoinen tulentekopaikka

0.1 km|Free

Campfire Spots

Pitkäsaari pohjoinen huussi

0.1 km|Free

Outdoor Toilets

Pitkäsaari pohjoinen telttailualue

0.1 km|Free

Tent Camping

Pitkäsaari eteläinen tulentekopaikka

3.4 km|Free

Campfire Spots

Description

Luontoon.fi – Mäntysalon polku+

Description

Length & route

Getting there

Good to know

Where to rent equipment

Canoe and kayak outfitters for Kolovesi are listed under the national park’s cooperation partners on Luontoon.fi and through Visit Savonlinna’s Oravi-area rental listings.