Savonlinna Hiking Trails

Tuohisaari GeoTour is about 8.4 km of easy hiking on Tuohisaari island in Lake Pihlajavesi, in the Savonlinna area. Visit Savonlinna publishes the route as a geological themed walk around Aluslammi, with display boards and numbered stop ideas tied to Finnish bedrock stories(1). The same guide explains how the island pairs some of Europe’s oldest crystalline rocks with younger formations, and how today’s low Saimaa shorelines are fragments of ancient mountain belts raised by Palaeoproterozoic collisions(1). For ferry times and winter ice-road notes for reaching the island, check Tuohisaaren lautta’s schedule pages(2). Wider accommodation and event ideas for the Savonlinna lakeland appear on the regional tourism homepage in English(3). The trail is a loop on our map. The published itinerary starts at the information board near the Rapakiventie–Tuohisaarentie junction, follows local roads and forest tracks past a long sequence of named rock and landscape stops, and uses Karhupolku as a link toward add-on segments beside Valkiajärvi and the Kaakkolampi circuit(1). Treat the GeoTour text as a self-guided geology walk: the route description encourages clicking each photo’s info icon for stop-by-stop geology(1). Terrain is mostly forest roads and woodland floor with modest height change; the published profile lists only a few tens of metres of ascent for the full loop(1). Wildlife is part of the island’s character. Visit Savonlinna notes that moose occur occasionally and bears are seen regularly, especially in the wilder northern ground near Kaakkolampi(1). Give large mammals space, keep food stored cleanly, and favour calm behaviour in forest(1). Savonlinna is a lakeside city with a long sailing and island culture; South Savo is the surrounding region of forests and Saimaa arms.

Timon's Trail is about 2.8 km point-to-point through forest in Savonranta, part of the City of Savonlinna in South Savo, on the shores of Lake Saimaa. Savonlinna sits in eastern Lakeland and is known for Saimaa’s winding shoreline. Metsähallitus lists route facts and updates for hikers on the Timon taival page on Luontoon.fi(1). The line is an easy way to connect the Timon Taival parkkipaikka trailhead with the mill end at Säimenen myllymuseo parkkipaikka while passing Eräkämmen laavu roughly midway. From Timon Taival parkkipaikka the path rolls through mixed woodland toward Eräkämmen laavu, a lean-to that works well for a fire or a longer picnic stop. Dry toilets sit with the shelter area, so you can plan a relaxed break without packing everything back to the car. Continuing toward the Säimenen end, you reach Säimenen myllymuseo parkkipaikka beside the Säimenen Mill Museum grounds. South Savo Museums describes a nature trail with a lean-to near the museum campus; summer visitors can tour the mill buildings and open-air exhibits on scheduled July opening days with free admission(2). Visit Savonlinna presents the mill’s Savonranta story, the 1937 mill house and older milling history on the site, and practical coordinates for finding the destination(3). The same trail network ties into longer hikes for anyone wanting more kilometres. Haapavuoren voipolku shares parking and the Eräkämmen laavu waypoint, Kangasjärven metsätien polku crosses the northern sector, and Niemen kierto finishes near the mill parking—handy if you want to stitch loops for a half-day outing. For wider trail ideas and seasonal tips around Lake Saimaa, the regional tourism pages(3) complement the national portal. The City of Savonlinna’s sports and outdoor staff publish general recreation contacts for residents and visitors(4).

Raikuu Salpa Line fortification trail is about 1.7 km on the west bank of Raikuu Canal in Pistala, in the Savonlinna municipality area north of old Kerimäki. The Salpa Line was one of the largest construction efforts of its era; this short restored path is built to introduce the bunker line’s story on the ground(1). For the full route description, difficulty notes, and safety bulletin, Visit Savonlinna publishes a partner route listing you should read before a visit(4). The circuit is marked for visitors and passes six information points alongside three reinforced concrete bunkers (63, 64, and 65), anti-tank stone obstacles in two designs, earthworks, and stretches at the lake shore where a high stone wall ramps toward the water—a layout visitors often highlight as unusual on the Salpa Line(3)(4). The first two bunkers have motion-triggered lights that stay on about fifteen minutes; interiors are low, with steep access stairs, worn concrete edges, and possible water on the floor when the canal is high(3)(4). Take care on wet days because treads and duckboards in the bunkers can be slippery(4). The Finnish Heritage Agency(2) summarises how the canal narrows between Puruvesi and Orivesi and why the banks were fortified in phases: older works from the late 1700s and First World War layers later tied into the 1940–1941 Salpa burst aimed at Finland’s eastern border defence. The fortifications are protected as Second World War memorial fabric—stay on the marked trail and skip crossing into separately posted private parcels beside the route(4). Retkipoluilla’s 2018 visit write-up underlines that signage was refreshed around 2015 and that season and water levels can still block entry to one bunker while another stays fully explorable(3). Savonlinna is the natural base for combining this stop with canal scenery at the bridge and nearby lake views(1).

The Jäniksenpolku family trail is an easy loop of about 3 km through forest in the Mannila area on the Punkaharju side of Savonlinna. The circuit starts from Jäniksen parkkipaikka and angles through quiet woodland before passing Mannilan Ratsutallin kenttä, the outdoor riding arena at Mannilan Ratsutalli, then closes back toward the parking. For ideas on walking in Savonlinna, Punkaharju viewpoints, and Sulosaari town walks, Visit Savonlinna’s walking and hiking section is the clearest regional hub(1). Visit Saimaa also curates family-oriented route ideas around Lake Saimaa’s lakefront towns(2). The City of Savonlinna publishes its two principal marked nature trails, Karhuvuori and Soininmäki, with maps and service details on its nature trail pages—useful if you want a longer outing after this short loop(3). The route is short and mainly level, suited to families with children and anyone who wants a calm forest stroll without committing to Savonlinna’s longer nature circuits. Terrain is typical southern boreal forest track: mostly dirt and fine gravel between trees, with no lean-to, campfire point, or toilet listed on our map for this circuit. Treat the riding-arena stretch as a working stable yard: give horses and lessons space, keep dogs under control, and avoid cutting across the arena fence line. South Savo combines lake views, island scenery, and forested trails; Savonlinna itself is a practical base for day walks between lake cruises and castle visits.

The Three Kaijas Circuit is about 6.5 km as a day hike in Niittylahti near Savonlinna, South Savo. The name follows the local trio of features: Kaijanharju ridge, the Kaijansuo mire, and Iso Kaijanlampi; together the wider patch was chosen as one of Finland’s “100 nature gems” for the centenary(3)(4). For who maintains local trails, services, and contacts, the City of Savonlinna’s Liikunta ja ulkoilu hub is the practical starting point(1). Visit Savonlinna rounds up nature routes, campfire places, and seasonal outdoor ideas for visitors(2). Most walkers park at Kolmen Kaijan kierros - parkkipaikka on Niittylahdentie by Herajärvi; from there it is a short pull up onto Kaijanharju following the marked line toward Kaijansuo. Alternatively you can approach from the small Kaijanlaavu car park off Niittylahdentie via Pöntönharjuntie, roughly a fifteen-minute forest walk to Kaijanlammen laavu on Iso Kaijanlampi(3). Kaijanlammen laavu sits right at the lake with a fireplace; firewood and a dry toilet are stocked for visitors, and the shelter is kept comfortable with rag rugs(4). Simple jetties invite a dip on calm days before you climb onto the clear-cut margin and ridge trail marked with blue paint on posts(3). Kaijanharju gives easy, dry walking with lakes on both sides: Iso Kaijanlampi and Iso-Korteikko feature in many trip notes, and there is a sturdy bench for a pause(3). Where the path drops toward the mire edge, expect softer, wetter ground: Kaijansuo is a near-natural raised bog without continuous duckboards, so waterproof boots are the sensible choice if you explore the margin(3)(4). Cranberries colour the hummocks into late autumn in quieter corners writers love(4). About 4.5 km along, the route meets the same junction used by Kievarin kierros latu and Kievarin kierroksen kävelyreitti; the last kilometre returns on a firm, wide forest road with kilometre posts tied to the long Kievarin kierros line from central Savonlinna(3). You finish back at Herajärven uimalaituri on the city swimming jetty at Niittylahdentie 690, a few steps from the main parking. Retkipaikka’s illustrated walk-through adds pacing notes, marker colours, and the reflector metre sidetrack near Kaijanlaavu for after-dark experimenters(3). Suomen Luonto mixes ecology with practicality and captures why local conservation voices promote Kaijansuo’s mosaic of mire types(4). Together those articles complement the municipal pages when you want more trail colour than a listings hub provides(3)(4).

Hakin helpompi accessible trail is about 1.5 km of demanding barrier-free hiking on Karjalankallio in Punkaharju, Savonlinna: wide stone-dust surfacing keeps the tread even, while the gentle climbs still earn the vaativa esteetön classification Metsähallitus publishes for this exact line on Luontoon.fi(1). Natural Resources Institute Finland presents Punkaharju Research Park as a year-round, free-to-visit showcase of long-term forest research, and Karjalankallion taukopaikka remains one of its most visited stops among the marked walking networks(4). Visit Savonlinna summarises how the tree-species park paths link toward Karjalankallio viewpoint and lean-to for lake-and-ridge visitors planning a wider Punkaharju day(5). You begin from the Karjalankallio parking cluster beside Karjalankallio laavu, where dry toilets and the firewood lean-to sit a few steps from Lake Puruvesi; counting both Hakin helpompi and the shorter Karjalankallion huilaus ring, visitors often walk a figure eight that returns through this shelter knot(2). Longer Hakinkierros shares the same laavu halfway along its tour of the research forest, and the walking route Puulajipuisto ja Karjalankallion laavu threads the arboretum toward the same rocky viewpoint(4). In winter the Metlan lenkki latu ski trail also meets the Karjalankallio service point, so the lean-to works as a cross-season rest hub(4). Maaseudun Tulevaisuus described the 2022 opening: Metsähallitus surfaced the two new barriers-aware loops with crushed stone, added benches and QR-linked audio for the information boards, and routed them along existing Puulajireitti and Hakinkierros footways instead of cutting brand-new clearings(3). Maaseudun Tulevaisuus also notes that some parties may want an assistant along these vaativa esteettömät sections despite the smooth tread(3). Retkipaikka’s visit underlines how approachable the shelter space feels for mixed-age groups, while still reminding everyone to keep campfires to the maintained fireplace so the open rock by Puruvesi stays undamaged(2).

For trail facts and visitor guidance, Metsähallitus publishes Nahkiaissalo Nature Trail on Luontoon.fi(1). Visit Savonlinna presents Kolovesi National Park as a lakeland maze of narrow sounds, old-growth forest, and famously quiet paddling water inland from Savonlinna(2). Retkipaikka’s trail report by Luontopolkumies notes orange paint markings on tree trunks, a short but sharp climb onto piney rock, and slow footing over roots and boulders—sturdy boots are a good idea(3). The trail is about 3.8 km between the Lohilahti shore and the Nahkiaissalo parking cluster in Kolovesi National Park. Savonlinna is the host municipality on our site, and South Savo is the wider lakeland frame. Near the water you pass Lohilahti länsi telttailualue, Lohilahti länsi tulentekopaikka, and Lohilahti kanoottilaituri; Lohilahti kotalaavu and Lohilahti itä telttailualue sit slightly east along the bay with Lohilahti kuivakäymälä close by—read more on our pages for those campsites and the kota lean-to when you want firewood rules or overnight nuance. After roughly 3.7 km you reach Nahkiaissalo P-alue, with Nahkiaissalo huussi beside the lot. From that parking you can continue onto Hirviniemen polku, an accessible loop toward Hirviniemi Camping and more sheltered paddling access. The same quiet-water atmosphere also shows up in Melontaa Koloveden kansallispuistossa, the long kayaking circuit through the national park—useful context if you arrive by canoe or kayak and step ashore at Lohilahti.

Harjureitti is about 4 km point-to-point along the Punkaharju esker between Lake Pihlajavesi and Lake Puruvesi, in Savonlinna’s Punkaharju district in South Savo. Metsähallitus lists the trail on Luontoon.fi as part of the Punkaharju Nature Reserve setting(1). Visit Punkaharju describes it as an easy-going path renovated in summer 2013 with fresh signage, well suited to steady Nordic walking, tying together the Tuunaansaari resort side, Hotelli Punkaharju (the state hotel) and the Kruunupuisto hotel area(2). Visit Savonlinna places Punkaharju among Finland’s national landscapes and notes that marked routes let you explore the ridge year-round(3). From the north end near Punkaharjun retkiluistelureitti on Tuunaansaarentie you pass winter-swimming and sauna infrastructure tied to Tuunaansaari (Punkaharju Avanto, Punkaharjun Rantasauna). About 2.2 km along, Kokonharju P-alue makes a handy mid-route car break. Suomen Metsämuseo Lusto sits just off the line—an easy detour for the Finnish Forest Museum. Around the high middle, Kaarnaniemi laivalaituri marks a small-ship berth on the narrow esker squeeze. The Lammasharju cluster adds Lammasharjun kämppä, Lammasharju sauna, Lammasharju laituri, Lammasharju tulentekopaikka and a dry toilet in the same patch—natural lunch or swim-and-sauna planning points above tight lake views. Further south you pass Uimaranta - Luonnonsuojelualue on the conservation shoreline, then parkkipaikka - Mäntyranta before the route reaches Takaharjun parkkipaikka and the Kruunupuisto forecourt. There Kruunupuiston ranta and Kruunupuiston Grillikatos sit beside commercial services, with Inkeritalon Vohvelikahvila and Inkeritalon sauna in the same yard if you want a waffle stop or sauna booking rather than only woods time. Visit Punkaharju also highlights Finland’s first barefoot therapy path on the Kruunupuisto hotel grounds for families who want a short sensory add-on after the main walk(2). The walking corridor meets longer winter ski infrastructure and lakeside ice routes nearby, and the long Puruvesi cycle circuit Puruveden ympäriajo shares some shoreline links in the same recreation belt. Luontohetkiblogi’s Punkaharju write-up notes very wide main paths in places, steeper pinewood pitches with steps on some shortcuts, and—when starting from Kruunupuiston parking—a roughly 300 m accessible spur to a viewpoint before they detoured toward Valkialampi side paths(4). Some listings describe the signed walking line as about 3.2 km while the full through-route on the ground is closer to 4 km—plan the shorter figure if you only need the manicured hotel-to-hotel connector, and the longer one if you include the northern resort links and parking approaches(2).

The Kuikonsalpa Trail is a very short hiking path of about 0.7 km on Kuikonniemi in the Punkaharju ridge landscape near Savonlinna. Metsähallitus publishes the trail on Luontoon.fi for current visitor information and route rules(1). The wider Punkaharju area is one of the best-known national scenery destinations around Lake Saimaa, which Visit Savonlinna introduces as a place to stroll and snowshoe between wooded ridges and lake views(4). The path crosses bright pine forest on the Punkaharju nature reserve edge. Kruunupuisto describes orange paint markers, the sandy beach right along the walk, dry toilets with the parking area, and borrowing a shelter key from Kuikonniemi kioski when it is open(5). Along the way you can enter a restored crew trench shelter and walk rebuilt trench lines from Finland’s east-border fortification years; information boards explain the story for readers of all ages(2), and Polkuja’s Punkaharju trip write-up captures how children experience the earthworks(3). About halfway along the route, Mustaniemi rantautumislaituri sits near the water. Kuikonniemi kioski P-alue is the practical place to leave a car; Kuikonniemi kioski sells drinks and snacks. Confirm current kiosk hours on Luontoon.fi before counting on shelter keys(1). Cyclists on the long lakeshore bike itineraries Puruveden ympäriajo, Pihlajaveden Polkasu -pyöräilyreitti, Punkaharju-Puumala pyöräilyreitti and walkers on Pyhät Polut pass the same Kuikonniemi corner, so it is easy to combine a few minutes on this footpath with a longer day by bike or on other trails. South Savo spreads across the Saimaa lake district inland from Savonlinna.

The Topelius Trail is about 2.5 km one-way through Punkaharju’s esker forests in Savonlinna, South Savo, on the shore maze of Lake Saimaa. Luontoon.fi publishes it under Topelius trail with accessibility classification for visitors who need a demanding accessible route profile in places(1). The Finnish Forest Museum Lusto introduces the trail as an illuminated path on the west side of Harjutie, along Valkialampi and Kaarnalahti, suited to walking and snowshoeing in winter with a ski track often beside the corridor(2). You can treat the Hotel Punkaharju end and Kruunupuisto as the main anchors: the path threads old pine stands and lake views, passing places such as Ratavartija kaivo near the start, Kaarnaniemi laivalaituri about midway, and the Lammasharju shore cluster—Lammasharju sauna, Lammasharjun kämppä, Lammasharju laituri, and Lammasharju tulentekopaikka—with a dry toilet in the same band. Takaharjun parkkipaikka and parkkipaikka - Mäntyranta offer parking toward the Kruunupuisto end; at Kruunupuisto itself you are near Kruunupuiston Grillikatos, Kruunupuiston ranta, Inkeritalon Vohvelikahvila, Inkeritalon sauna, and Kruunupuiston ulkokuntosali. The route finishes near Uimaranta - Luonnonsuojelualue. Winter visitors should expect a packed surface rather than ploughing or gritting; Harjun Portti states lights run in the dark season from 6:30 to 21:30(3). The ridge has drawn writers and painters since the 1800s; Polkuja notes Zachris Topelius praised Punkaharju’s national landscape as nature’s own amusement park(4). 1000 kilometriä’s walk report from Hotel Punkaharju across Potkusalmi toward Kruunupuisto underlines how easy the footpath feels in summer and how long some of the pines have stood above Saimaa(5). The long biking circuit Puruveden ympäriajo shares shoreline links in the same band if you are combining rides with a short walk.

Romu-Heikin polku is an easy, marked loop of about 2.1 km on Hytermä’s main island in crystal-clear Puruvesi, part of the Lake Saimaa system near Kerimäki in Savonlinna. Plan first with Visit Savonlinna: the Hytermä page explains the 1932 nature reserve, the “Työnmuisto” millstone monument, fine sandy beaches, and strict rules—no campfires and no designated fire pit on the reserve islands—and links rowing-boat booking(1). Step-by-step driving from Kerimäki to the rowing-boat parking and a reminder that the islands are boat-only appear in the tourism site’s English arrival guide(2). Retkipaikka’s Luontopolkumies article from 2023 adds how the orange paint marks read in the forest, why people often land by the monument beach first, and how the sturdy Hytermä laituri doubles as a sensible start if you arrive by boat at the official jetty(3). The outing starts after a short row from the rental point: Activity Maker operates Hytermä rowing boats from Hälvänsaarentie 80 in Kerimäki, with online booking and code pickup for keys and life jackets(4). On foot, the trail rolls over easy esker and pine heath, with short steeper pulls where stone steps help. About 1.4 km into the loop you pass Hytermän kuivakäymälä; a few tens of metres further, Hytermä laituri sits where larger boats can tie up and an information board summarises Puruvesi. Interpretation on the island points to Romu-Heikki—the nickname of district chief Heikki Häyrynen—and his wife Lilli, whose stewardship kept three islands almost wild while they populated the shore with curious stone structures, sheds, and a windmill refurbished in 2022 after years laid flat(3). A marked side path leads across a small stone causeway to Laviasaari and the Häyrynen family graveyard if you want a quiet detour before rejoining the main loop past the Suutarilampi pond and back toward Työnmuisto(3). Swimming from the sand beaches is lovely on calm days, but remember the reserve bans open flames and hunting and forbids damaging trees, soils, or shoreline(1). The trail is in Savonlinna in South Savo.

For the dedicated trail sheet and map context, start with Luontoon.fi(1). The loop lies in Punkaharju, part of Savonlinna in South Savo, inside the Natural Resources Institute Finland research forest that has welcomed visitors free of charge year-round for decades(2). The trail is about 7.6 km as mapped and forms a forest loop through experimental plots and lakeshore meadows beside Puruvesi. About 3 km in you reach Karjalankallio laavu with a roofed cooking shelter, tables, and Karjalankallio polttopuusuoja kuivakäymälä nearby—dry toilets are available without naming each structure as a waypoint. The bedrock here drops toward the lake and makes a natural long break before you swing inland past gravel road links and second-growth larch stands. Karjalankallio P-alue is the practical parking link for that shore section if you approach from the ridge side, while Kokonharju P-alue sits closer to the southern ascent over Kokonharju. Near the close of the loop, Ratavartija kaivo marks an old well beside the track, and Suomen Metsämuseo Lusto sits a short detour away across the main road for anyone combining forest science with the Finnish Forest Museum visit. Natural Resources Institute Finland highlights that Hakinkierros is a good place to watch for the eurasian nuthatch, the namesake pähkinähakki that still nests in the mixed stands(2). Interpretive signs and demonstration plots introduce exotic conifers, grafted pine trials, numbered spruce provenance tests, and the celebrated tall European larch—visitor accounts measured the showpiece tree at roughly 47 m tall and 300 cm in circumference after updated signage(3). Shoreline grasslands can stay soaking after rain; Luontopolkumies on Retkipaikka recommends waterproof leg cover and checking for ticks after the wet meadow sections even though the overall grade is easy(3). Within the same trail network you can stitch shorter alternatives: Kokonharjun polku splits early toward the highway shoulder, Metlan lenkki latu follows a groomed ski corridor in winter, Puulajipuisto ja Karjalankallion laavu and Puulajireitti explore the arboretum-heavy ground, Karjalankallion huilaus and Hakin helpompi stay near Karjalankallio for quick loops, and Karjalankallio polku links the parking pockets around the lean-to(2)(3).

Kokonharjun polku is about 2.4 km of marked path on Kokonharju in the Punkaharju national landscape in Savonlinna, South Savo. It climbs and descends the esker through natural pine forest and passes the Punkaharju research forest exotic species plots, including a larch stand planted about 140 years ago and some of Finland's tallest pines. The ridge top sits roughly 30 metres above the surface of Lake Kokonselkä, with partly framed lake glimpses through the trees. For rules, trail context, and neighbouring official routes in the nature reserve, start with Metsähallitus on Luontoon.fi(1). The Natural Resources Institute Finland describes Kokonharjun reitti as starting from the old school parking by the research park and quotes about three kilometres walking(2)—some printed and blog walkthroughs round the full circuit the same way, while the GPX line we publish is about 2.4 km. Luontopolkumies writes colourfully on Retkipaikka about orange paint blazes, a bench a little over a kilometre in, and short overlaps with Hakin kierros through the arboretum(3). Kruunupuisto's trails page highlights steep ups and downs on the ridge in places, still following orange marks, and notes that services sit only a few hundred metres away from the route(4). Along the line, about 0.35 km from the start, you pass Ratavartija kaivo. The route meets Puruveden ympäriajo, the long lake circuit bike trail, in the same general harju area—useful if you are linking a walk with a wider cycling day. The walking geometry ends near Kokonharju P-alue, a small parking spot at the eastern end of the segment. Many hikers drive to Tutkimuspuisto at Puistometsäntie 14 by Finland’s Forest Museum Lusto, where signage points to both Kokonharjun polku and Hakin kierros; if you begin there, expect a few hundred metres through the tree-species park before the Kokonharju-only loop branches(2)(3). Terrain is mostly easy but the esker climbs are noticeable; mountain bikers also use the overlapping harju paths respectfully(3). There is no maintained campfire on Kokonharjun polku itself(3).

Iso-Kankainen Trail is about 2.3 km as a loop around Iso-Kankainen, a small recreation island on Pihlajavesi a short boat trip south of Savonlinna, South Savo. Metsähallitus publishes this route on Luontoon.fi, which is the place to double-check campfire rules, waste policies, and any seasonal notices before you go(1). The island is a mixed pine forest, rock, and sandy-shore patch of Saimaa archipelago that feels quiet despite sitting just off the main channel—Veneilysaimaa’s harbour note praises the westward view along the Pihlajavesi basin and the sunset-friendly beach(2). The wider Pihlajavesi waterbody falls within the Pihlajavesi Natura 2000 network; ymparisto.fi summarises how the area safeguards Lake Saimaa habitats and the Saimaa ringed seal(3). Treat shorelines and wildlife with extra care during sensitive seasons. You reach the island by boat or canoe from Savonlinna; there is no road bridge. Iso-Kankainen Uimaranta offers a sandy landing for small craft, while Iso-Kankainen kiinnityspoiju (4 kpl) gives four mooring buoys if you arrive with a bigger boat—there is no pier, so plan a soft beach or buoy approach(2). Around the ring you pass Iso Kankainen pohjoinen and Iso Kankainen etelä, both tent-friendly stopping points with space for hammocks as well as ordinary pitches. Iso-Kankainen tulentekopaikka, Iso-Kankainen, tulentekopaikka, and Iso-Kankainen, katettu tulentekopaikka give you open and rain-sheltered grilling spots; the wood shed and serviced waste point beside Iso-Kankainen, polttopuusuoja- kuivakäymälä-jätehuoltopiste and the separate Iso-Kankainen polttopuusuoja-kuivakäymälä cluster support longer visits without leaving rubbish behind. In winter the long Talvipyöräilyreitti jääteillä saaristossa winter fat-biking line on lake ice shares the same island stops around Iso-Kankainen, so summer hikers and winter ice cyclists encounter the same beaches and campfire areas from very different seasons. Dedicated YouTube searches did not turn up a short clip that clearly showcases only this foot loop—if you watch winter or boating footage of the island, make sure the title or map matches Iso-Kankainen rather than a generic Saimaa montage.

The Punkaharju tree species trail is about 1,3 km and runs through Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) research forest near Highway 14 north of Lusto Forest Museum, in the Punkaharju part of Savonlinna. The South Savo lakeland setting is Luke’s long-running outdoor laboratory: the Punkaharju research forests cover some 750 hectares and the intensive study core, Tutkimuspuisto, is where most trails and demonstration plots sit. For current visiting rules, season tips, and how the arboretum fits the wider experiment network, the Punkaharju research forest visitor pages from Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)(1) are the best place to start. On the ground you are between two well-known parking areas used across the research-forest route family. Karjalankallio P-alue lies roughly 0,3 km along from the direction of travel on this line, and Kokonharju P-alue is near the far end (about 0,76 km). That makes this section a practical forest link if you are combining loops such as Hakinkierros or shorter spurs like Karjalankallion huilaus. The terrain is easy, with fine gravel or sand forest roads and footpaths typical of the demonstration area. The wider Puulajipuisto (arboretum) is the signature classroom for foreign and domestic tree species beside the esker: Luke describes over a hundred taxa after expansion and renewal from the 1990s onward, grouped so visitors can compare relatives side by side, plus special forms such as snake-bark and golden spruces. A separate Montell larch stand planted in 1877 is highlighted on Luke’s route descriptions as a classic photo stop on longer marked variants(1). Visit Punkaharju’s “Hei, me bongataan puita!” outing starts from the Puulajipuisto parking and café on Harjutie and explains two signed options, Puulajireitti and Montellin reitti, on sandy maintenance tracks with small name tags beside specimen trees(2). Those marked tours are a longer experience (they quote about 3,2–3,5 km) than this 1,3 km connector; if you want the full tree-spotting loop with café access, combine using their page(2). Karjalankallio is the famous viewpoint and picnic rock above the straits. Luontoon.fi lists Karjalankallio laavu as a reservable lean-to with a fireplace and dry toilet in the Punkaharju nature reserve service network(4). It is a natural break when you approach from Karjalankallio P-alue on Hakinkierros or related routes; Retkipaikka’s long write-up on Hakin kierros praises the fireplace shelter, tables, and lake views after about 4 km on that 8 km loop, and notes even more interpretation signs after 2020(3). Our pages for Karjalankallio laavu go deeper on booking and etiquette. Winter visitors often share the corridor with Luke’s maintained ski network (for example Metlan lenkki latu plugs into the same car parks). Whatever season you choose, carry normal forest footwear, respect research plots and closed experiment blocks, and pack out litter so the demonstration forest stays welcoming.

For the thirteen forest-theme posts, the trailhead mailbox with nature-trail booklets, boardwalks, marking colour, and driving directions, the City of Savonlinna nature trails page is the place to check(1). Päiväretkellä adds useful on-the-ground notes about Hirvasjärventie, parking on the opposite shoulder, junctions, the climb beside the rock face, and benches on the hilltop(2). An open map listing shows the trailhead along Hirvasjärventie for cross-checking(3). The trail is about 2 km on our map on the east side of Savonlinna, South Savo. It starts from the Hirvasjärventie roadside where a large wooden sign marks the footpath; Karhuvuoren parkkipaikka sits across the road from that start. About eight tenths of a kilometre along the route you reach Karhuvuoren laavu with a nearby fire place—good for a break or grill stop. The city asks visitors to bring a few splits for the fire to be sure of fuel(1). There is no dry toilet on this trail(1). Early on, boardwalks cross wet ground before the path works up toward Karhuvuori; one steep pitch runs beside a cliff line with wooden handrails, and walkers describe a milder alternative line around the other side of the outcrop(2). Benches sit on the high ground, without a summit campfire(2). Elsewhere the footing varies through forest, with some handsome spruce(2). In the same wider trail network, Nyrkkimäen valaistu latu and Nyrkkimäen kuntorata pass near Karhuvuoren laavu for winter skiing and running loops; Talvipyöräilyreitti jääteillä saaristossa is a long seasonal ice route that can share the laavu stop in the regional outdoor layer. Savonlinna maintains this route as urban forest recreation; check their page before you go if conditions or access change(1).

Soininmäki nature trail is about 7.6 km of marked day hiking west of Savonlinna, climbing from Lake Saimaa shoreline forest to the Soininmäki ridge and the Mustalampi lean-to area before returning toward Vuohimäki. For marking, duckboards in wet sections, the Mustalampi dry toilet, firewood arrangements, and driving directions from the city centre, savonlinna.fi(1) is the municipal listing to trust. Visit Savonlinna publishes a PDF map centred on Mustalammen laavu that is handy to save offline(3). Retkipaikka’s walk-through by Luontopolkumies correspondent Mika Markkanen describes the yellow marks, the saddle where you can branch toward Olavin Retkeilijät’s Tervastupa–Suurjärvi–Kuikankolo directions, the bench renewal at Mustalammen laavu in 2019, and how wet the tread can feel in autumn rubber-boot weather(2). The western trailhead sits between Vuohimäen ratsastuskoulun riding arena cluster and the neighbouring campsite parking: follow the city’s Poukkusalmentie and Vuohimäentie instructions to the large gravel area and the signboards at the forest corner(1). Early kilometres mix spruce forest, short gravel-road carries, and stretches near Saimaa. About 3.5 km from the start you reach Mustalammen laavu - Savonlinna on a rocky shelf above Mustalampi—pause here for a fire if you carry food, and use the maintained firewood respectfully. This corner is also where printed network routes meet our map: Soininmäentie-Kuikankorpi and Soininmäentie - Mustalampi continue the yellow corridor, Laavujen kierros stitches longer lean-to circuits through Tervastupa and Kuikankolo, Tervastupa- Mustalampi ladut serves skiers in season, and Vuohimäki-Mustalampi-Tervastupa pyöräilyreitti gives cyclists a broader loop through the same shelters. Climbing from that junction, the ridge crossing is the dramatic middle: Markkanen logged more than 70 metres of gain from the lake shore to the open benches on Soininmäki, with distant lake-and-hill views that feel unexpectedly northern(2). The return leg partly retraces forest tracks, passes Pullinlahden laavu closer to Vuohimäki, and finishes near Vuohimäen ratsastuskoulun maneesi and the adjacent riding fields—useful landmarks when you recognise the address Vuohimäentie 40 from city directions(1). Where the path nears Vuohimäki-Aholahti ulkoilureitti, winter day-trippers sometimes connect toward Aholahti sports parking and local ski or disc-golf facilities if they are combining errands. Savonlinna lies on the Saimaa waterways in South Savo.

Niemen kierto is a compact forest-and-lake hiking loop of about 2.6 km in Savonlinna, part of the Säimenen countryside that locals still describe as Savonranta. The trail sits in the South Savo lake district and follows Kangasjärvi shoreline for long stretches, with shifting forest floor and roots underfoot. Etelä-Savon museot notes a nature loop near Säimenen myllymuseo with a lean-to along the way(1). Savonranta.com lays out practical directions, safety notes, and what the shore sections feel like underfoot(2). Visit Savonlinna lists the mill itself for visitors pairing a short cultural stop with walking(3). On our map the circuit is a clear loop. Parking is easiest at Säimenen myllymuseo parkkipaikka—see our page for that lot and the mill area. Very early on the route you reach Eräkämmen laavu, a natural break spot with a fireplace; read more on our Eräkämmen laavu page for how to use the shelter. Savonranta.com highlights Lemmenkallio about halfway around as a steep lakeshore rock with views across Kangasjärvi—treat it as a viewpoint, not a climbing goal, especially if the rock is wet(2). Orange markings on trunks and ribbons keep you oriented, and a few wooden crossings help over wet ground(2). The same Säimenen trail junctions connect to Kangasjärven metsätien polku, Timon Taival, and Haapavuoren voipolku if you want a longer day; local notes describe the Säimenen set as four loops with the longest options approaching roughly 7 km in total when everything is linked(2).

Moskunpolku is about 1.6 km of hiking in Savonlinna, South Savo, as a compact loop in the Pihlajaniemi recreation area west of the city centre. The trail sits in the same lakeshore and forest network as Tervastupa, Suurijärvi, and the Koivukanta cable ferry, so it works well as a short add-on when you are already visiting the beach, sauna, or lean-to stops in this corner of Lake Saimaa. For regional route ideas, opening hours for the winter trail café at Tervastupa, and how Pihlajaniemi links walking, skiing, and cycling in winter, see Visit Savonlinna(1). The City of Savonlinna publishes driving directions to the wider Pihlajaniemi trailheads along Suuri Savontie and Pihlajaniementie, including the turn toward Vuohimäki used for Soininmäen luontopolku(2). Along the loop you pass within a few hundred metres of Koivukanta Lossi 191, the cable ferry across the Koivukanta strait; Finferries lists the route length as 721 m and identifies the Koivukanta ferry as lautta #191(5). The circuit then returns toward the Tervastupa cluster, where Tervaskota, Tervastupa, Tervastuvan sauna, Tervastuvan uimaranta, and Tervastuvan Avanto sit close together. That puts swimming, rental-friendly kota and hut space, sauna, and winter swimming in one place if you plan a longer stop after the walk. Out in the Nature describes a full Suurijärvi lake walk starting from Tervastupa at Pihlajaniementie 705 and connecting to Kuikankolo, Kollaa Laavu, and marked forest sectors on a longer loop around the lake(4). On our map, Moskunpolku is a separate short loop that meets that world at Tervastupa rather than repeating the whole Suurijärvi circuit. If you want to extend the day, the same hub ties into suurijärven kierros (Suurijärvi Lake Loop), Aholahti–Tervastupa Trail, Laavujen kierros (Shelters Circuit), and Jorinsatama on foot or skis; Metsähallitus lists suurijärven kierros on Luontoon.fi as the official long loop around Lake Suurijärvi starting from the Tervastupa area(3). Savonlinna is easy to name as a destination on its own: the trail is only a short drive from the centre, and Pihlajaniemi is a practical base for both quick walks and full-day lake circuits(1)(4).

The Suurijärvi–Kuikankolo trail is about 0.6 km of hiking in Savonlinna, South Savo, on the forested shore of Lake Suurijärvi in the Pihlajaniemi recreation area. It is a short point-to-point link between the Kuikankolo wilderness hut and Kollaa Laavu, handy as part of a longer day on the Pihlajaniemi trail network. For trail-specific planning and the official trail listing, start from Luontoon.fi(1). Visit Savonlinna summarises maintained walking and biking routes in the region and points to laavu and campfire stops that are easy to combine with lake walks(2). The route begins a few tens of metres from Kuikankolo, then follows the shoreline toward Kollaa Laavu at the far end of this segment. Kuikankolo is a reservable wilderness hut in the same landscape; Kollaa Laavu offers a lakeside lean-to stop with space to grill or pause on longer circuits. This short section sits inside the same marked network that Out in the Nature describes around Suurijärvi: they followed blue-painted marks toward Aholahti and Kuikankolo on a rocky, steep lakeshore sector, and passed Kollaan laavu right by the water on their loop(3). You can stitch this segment into Laavujen kierros, suurijärven kierros, Kuikankolo polku, or the Vuohimäki–Kuikankolo–Tervastupa walking route when you want to move between the hut, the laavu, and Tervastupa services without backtracking on roads. Savonlinna is a busy Lake Saimaa city; Pihlajaniemi lies west of the centre with Tervastupa, beaches, and saunas often used as the main car-accessible hub for these trails(2)(3). The City of Savonlinna publishes driving notes and nature-trail context for the wider Soininmäki–Pihlajaniemi system if you are combining approaches from different trailheads(4).

For maintained nature trails, laavut, and official access notes on the west side of town, the City of Savonlinna nature trails hub is the right place to start(1). Yhdysreitti Savonlinna is a very short hiking link—about 0.3 km and not a loop—on Savonlinna’s Pihlajaniemi west-side outdoor network. It stitches together longer routes and facilities around Kuikankolo, Mustalampi, and Tervastupa rather than being a destination hike on its own. The same landscape is part of the wider municipal trail mesh that Luontoon.fi also lists for segments such as Soininmäentie–Kuikankorpi(2). In practice you will use this connector when moving between pieces of the network—for example joining Soininmäentie–Kuikankorpi toward Mustalammen laavu - Savonlinna, stepping onto Kuikankolo polku toward Kuikankolo, following Kuikankolon yhdyslatu in winter, or continuing along Vuohimäki-Kuikankolo-Tervastupa ulkoilureitti, Laavujen kierros, Soininmäentie to Mustalampi trail, Tervastupa- Mustalampi ladut, or Vuohimäki-Mustalampi-Tervastupa pyöräilyreitti. A detailed walk-through of the main Soininmäen luontopolku loop—where branches head toward Kuikankolo, Tervastupa, and Suurijärvi—appears on Retkipaikka(3). Lake Saimaa shore forests and national-park trips farther afield are summarised for visitors by Visit Savonlinna(4). The trail lies in Savonlinna, South Savo.

Soininmäentie–Mustalampi is a short hiking segment on Savonlinna’s Pihlajaniemi outdoor network, about 1.5 km as one path toward Lake Mustalampi and the Mustalammen laavu lean-to. It sits on the same marked system as the longer Soininmäen luontopolku loop. For the national trail listing and map entry for this exact leg, see Luontoon.fi(1). The City of Savonlinna’s Luontopolut pages describe the wider Soininmäki area trails, parking at Vuohimäentie 40, yellow paint and arrow markings, duckboards on wet sections of the full loop, and the dry toilet and firewood arrangement at Mustalammen laavu maintained by Olavin Retkeilijät(2). Luontopolkumies’ walk report on Retkipaikka adds practical colour: much of Soininmäki lies in WWF heritage forest, the ground can stay wet in autumn, and the laavu sits on rock a few metres above the lake—worth packing a few extra fire logs as backup(3). The route stop at Mustalammen laavu - Savonlinna is the natural break point: fireplace, woodshed, and association-maintained firewood. The same trail hub ties into winter ski tracks (Tervastupa–Mustalampi), the full Soininmäen luontopolku, the Laavujen kierros shelter circuit, the Vuohimäki–Mustalampi–Tervastupa cycling route, and the short Soininmäentie–Kuikankorpi link—so you can combine this leg with skiing, cycling, or longer walking days without changing area. Savonlinna lies in South Savo on the Saimaa shore; this section is west of the centre toward Pihlajaniemi. The trail suits an easy half-hour to hour outing or as part of a longer day on the network.

Shelters Circuit (Laavujen kierros) is about 11.1 km of hiking in Savonlinna, South Savo, mainly through the Pihlajaniemi recreation area west of the city centre. The route strings together forest paths and lake shores around Suurijärvi, Kuikkalampi, and Mustalampi, with several laavut and huts where you can pause, grill, or plan an overnight. For the wider Pihlajaniemi network, services at Tervastupa, and other walking ideas in the region, Visit Savonlinna is a practical place to start(1). Metsähallitus lists the overlapping Aholahti–Tervastupa trail in the same landscape on Luontoon.fi(2). The circuit is best thought of as starting from the Tervastupa service cluster: Tervastuvan sauna, Tervastuvan uimaranta, Tervaskota, Tervastuvan Avanto winter swimming, and Tervastupa sit together within about a kilometre of trail, so you can swim, use the kota, or warm up in the sauna before a longer loop. Visit Savonlinna describes Pihlajaniemi winter recreation with Tervastupa as a car-accessible hub, a campfire spot, laavu, and a volunteer-run trail café on winter weekends(1). Along the main circuit, Kollaa Laavu and Kuikankolo offer lakeside shelter stops in the Suurijärvi–Kuikkalampi section; Mustalammen laavu - Savonlinna sits near the Mustalampi end of the round, with a dry toilet maintained by the City of Savonlinna’s Soininmäki nature trail partnership(4). Out in the Nature walked a shorter Suurijärvi circuit from the same area and describes red- and blue-painted route marks in different sectors, rocky and steep lakeshore walking with duckboards, and wider, easier forest-road sections toward the end of their loop(3). That write-up also names Laavujen kierros explicitly as roughly 13 km around the three lakes, with Kuikankolo and Mustalampi laavut noted as suitable for overnight stays(3). The route meshes with other Pihlajaniemi trails at Tervastupa: Jorinsatama toward Koivukanta harbour, Moskunpolku, Suurijärvi Lake Loop, the Aholahti–Tervastupa Trail, ski and bike connectors, and shorter links toward Soininmäen luontopolku and Vuohimäki—handy if you want to shorten the day or stitch together a different shape.

Jorinsatama Trail is a short point-to-point hike of about 1.7 km in Savonlinna, South Savo. It links the Tervastupa recreation cluster on Pihlajaniemi with Koivukanta harbour (Jori Hokkasen satama) at the shore of Pihlajavesi, where the route meets the Moskunpolku trail and the Koivukanta cable ferry. For the wider Pihlajaniemi trail network, seasonal services at Tervastupa, and other walking options in the region, Visit Savonlinna is a practical place to start(1). You begin in the same service area as Tervastuvan sauna, Tervastuvan uimaranta, Tervastupa wilderness hut, Tervastuvan Avanto winter swimming, and Tervaskota: a compact shore and forest pocket where families often pause before longer loops. Visit Savonlinna describes Pihlajaniemi winter recreation trails with Tervastupa as the car-accessible hub, a campfire spot, laavu, and a volunteer-run trail café on winter weekends(1). Itä-Savo’s reporting on the Pihlajaniemi network notes renewed field signage and a new nature trail aimed at families starting from Tervastupa, with Soininmäki heritage forest as a highlight of the wider route system(4). The trail runs roughly southeast toward Koivukanta. At the harbour end you pass Koivukanta (Jori Hokkasen satama) GrilliKatos and arrive beside Koivukanta Lossi 191, the cable ferry across the Koivukanta sound. Finferries lists the crossing length at 721 metres and places the ferry stop on Pihlajaniementie in Savonlinna(2). Veneilysaimaa describes Koivukanta as a Metsähallitus-owned recreation harbour maintained by Pidä Saaristo Siistinä ry, with road access, trailer ramp, grill shelter, campfire, waste point, and an accessible dry toilet; the site notes that the ferry runs around the clock and can be audible on still summer nights(3). From Koivukanta you can continue on Moskunpolku, stitch in Suurijärvi Lake Loop, Laavujen kierros, or the Aholahti–Tervastupa Trail depending on how long a day you want, all of which share parts of this shore and forest network.

The trail is about 2.1 km. It is a short, linear hiking segment in Savonlinna’s Pihlajaniemi outdoor area in South Savo. It follows the Timonlammentie multi-use corridor starting from the Kuikankolo wilderness hut, which sits at the trailhead of this line. For the wider picture—car access to Tervastupa, winter multi-use circuits toward Mustalampi, and the laavu network around Suurijärvi—start with Visit Savonlinna(1). Olavin Retkeilijät maintains winter maps and guidance for Pihlajaniemi and names the Timonlammentie–Kuikankolo multi-use route explicitly on its winter routes page, where the same corridor is shown as a shared winter and multi-activity connection between Kuikankolo and the surrounding ski and walking network(2). In winter, the association describes multi-use routes as suitable for skiing, walking, cycling, snowshoeing, and dogs on a leash, and asks users not to damage ski tracks(2). The City of Savonlinna publishes driving directions and general maintenance context for the marked nature-trail network centred on Vuohimäentie and Mustalammen laavu in the same forest block as Kuikankolo, including firewood stewardship notes for shelters on longer loops(3). Out in the Nature’s walk around Suurijärvi explains how day hikers join colour-marked paths toward Aholahti and Kuikankolo from junctions on the lake circuit—useful background for how this short approach road sits inside the busier Suurijärvi and laavu network, even though your 2.1 km here is the dedicated Timonlammentie link from the hut(4). From Kuikankolo you can continue onto Kuikankolo Trail, the Kuikankolon yhdyslatu ski link, Suurijärvi Lake Loop, Laavujen kierros, Suurijärvi – Kuikankolo, and Kuikankolo-Kaukalomäki depending on season and equipment. Read more on our pages for Kuikankolo and each connecting route when you plan a longer day.

The trail is about 6 km as a loop around forest-lined Suurijärvi in Savonlinna’s Pihlajaniemi recreation area in South Savo. For services at the trailhead and seasonal ideas across the wider network, start with Visit Savonlinna(1); Out in the Nature’s walk around the lake adds on-the-ground detail about how the marking colours and terrain change along the shore(2). The City of Savonlinna publishes its own marked nature-trail pages for other parts of the municipality if you want to combine outings from town(3). Most people stage the hike from the Tervastupa shore cluster at Pihlajaniementie 705. Right at the start you pass Tervastuvan uimaranta, Tervaskota, Tervastupa, Tervastuvan sauna, and Tervastuvan Avanto winter swimming—together they form the area’s main rest, swim, and sauna hub beside Lake Saimaa. After about 2.8 km along the loop you reach Kollaa Laavu on the lake shore, a natural lunch or overnight stop with a campfire place. About half a kilometre farther, near 3.3 km from the start, Kuikankolo offers another lean-to shelter in the same woodland band. Independent walkers describe an easier first couple of kilometres through moist forest, then a rockier, steeper lakeshore tread with duckboards and short climbs where the route hugs Suurijärvi; later legs return on broader forest tracks before closing the ring toward Tervastupa(2). The same notes mention following red paint on the opening section and blue marks once the path turns toward Aholahti and Kuikankolo, reflecting the colour-marked network around the lake(2). This loop sits inside a denser trail system: it connects conceptually to Laavujen kierros, which links Suurijärvi with Kuikkalampi and Mustalampi over a longer shelter-to-shelter day, and to shorter legs such as Jorinsatama and Moskunpolku that share the Tervastupa shore. Winter skiers use overlapping tracks such as Tervastupa–Mustalampi ladut from the same trailhead area(1). Savonlinna is the municipality; Etelä-Savo is the region.

The trail is about 5.2 km. It is a linear hiking connection in Savonlinna’s Pihlajaniemi recreation area in South Savo, running between the Tervastupa outdoor hub on Lake Saimaa and the Aholahti sports cluster at the north end. Metsähallitus lists this route on Luontoon.fi(1); use that page together with Visit Savonlinna(2) for seasonal services and the latest conditions. From the Tervastupa end you are right among the area’s main facilities: Tervastuvan uimaranta, Tervastuvan sauna, Tervaskota, and the Tervastupa wilderness hut sit together near the shore, with winter swimming at Tervastuvan Avanto in the same cluster. After roughly two kilometres you pass Kollaa Laavu, and a little farther Kuikankolo—both are natural lunch or overnight stops on longer circuits. The northern end reaches Aholahden harjoitushalli, Aholahden kilpahiihtokeskus, and Aholahden frisbeegolfrata, with parking at Aholahden parkkipaikka and Aholahti Parking for people arriving by car. Independent walkers who circled Suurijärvi describe turning toward Aholahti and Kuikankolo from a forest crossing, then following blue marks while the lakeshore grew rockier and steeper, with duckboards and Kollaan laavu at the water’s edge—terrain that matches the middle part of this line(3). The same write-up notes red marks on an easier opening leg, reflecting the wider colour-marked trail network around the lake(3). The route sits in the same trail and ski ecosystem as Jorinsatama, Moskunpolku, suurijärven kierros, and winter tracks such as Tervastupa–Mustalampi ladut; read more on our pages for those trails if you plan a longer day. Savonlinna is the municipality; the City of Savonlinna maintains other marked nature trails in the same direction from town, including Soininmäen luontopolku with access from Vuohimäki, which many people combine mentally with Pihlajaniemi outings(4).

The trail is about 1 km. Savonlinna lies in South Savo; this path runs in the city’s Pihlajaniemi outdoor area. It is a short, linear hiking segment that leads to the Kuikankolo wilderness hut, which sits a little over half a kilometre along the route from the direction of the wider trail network. For planning around Tervastupa, winter ski and snowshoe circuits, and the laavu network that includes Mustalampi, start with Visit Savonlinna(1). The City of Savonlinna publishes access and maintenance context for the municipality’s marked nature trails in the same Vuohimäki–Mustalampi area, including dry toilets at Mustalammen laavu on longer loops that many hikers combine with Kuikankolo(2). Along the hut you have a typical forest trail setting for this lake district: mixed woodland and shoreline scenery nearby on connected routes. Out in the Nature’s walk around Suurijärvi describes turning toward Aholahti and Kuikankolo from a junction after easy forest walking, then following blue marks until the lake shore grows rockier and more dramatic on the wider circuit—useful background for how Kuikankolo sits in the colour-marked Pihlajaniemi network, even if your kilometre here is the direct approach to the hut(3). From Kuikankolo you can link mentally and on the map to longer hiking and walking routes that use the same hub, including Yhdysreitti Savonlinna, Suurijärvi – Kuikankolo, Laavujen kierros, and the Vuohimäki–Kuikankolo–Tervastupa walking route, plus winter ski tracks such as Poukkusalmi–Kuikankolo–Tervastupa–Mustalampi when snow allows. Read more on our pages for Kuikankolo, Tervastupa, and neighbouring trails when you want to extend the day.

Soininmäentie–Kuikankorpi is about 1.3 km as a short hiking link west of Savonlinna. South Savo is known for lake-and-forest hiking; this segment sits in that landscape. It runs as a point-to-point link toward the Kuikankorpi forest area and sits inside the same Soininmäki outdoor network as the longer Soininmäen luontopolku. The City of Savonlinna maintains the municipal nature trails here and describes the main Soininmäki loop at roughly 9 km with yellow paint and arrow posts, duckboards in wet sections, and a dry toilet at Mustalammen laavu, with firewood upkeep by Olavin Retkeilijät(1). Visit Savonlinna also points visitors to maintained walking routes, lean-tos, and fire places across the region(2). On the ground, this line works well as a connector: it meets Yhdysreitti Savonlinna almost at once and runs alongside or near winter ski routes toward Kuikankolo and Mustalampi. You can combine it with Kuikankolo polku toward the Kuikankolo shelter, with Soininmäentie – Mustalampi, or with the large Soininmäen luontopolku circuit for a full day. Luontopolkumies describes a junction on the main Soininmäki nature trail where you can branch toward Tervastupa and Suurjärvi and the Kuikankolo lean-to—useful context for how Kuikankorpi ties into the same forest mosaic(3). Mustalammen laavu - Savonlinna is the lean-to the city lists for the main Soininmäki trail, with a dry toilet beside Mustalampi; it is a natural break spot when you stitch this connector into a longer walk(1). Read more on our page for Mustalammen laavu - Savonlinna for facilities and photos. Terrain is mostly conifer forest and local paths; in wet weather the wider Soininmäki network can be soft underfoot, so sturdy footwear pays off(3).

Punkaharju cultural trail is a very short hiking segment, about 0.6 km, in Savonlinna on the famous Punkaharju esker national landscape beside Lake Saimaa. South Savo is easy to name as the wider region: the shore-and-ridge mosaic here has drawn travellers for more than two centuries. For route descriptions, reserve rules, and the wider marked trail network, Metsähallitus publishes the Punkaharju strict nature reserve outdoor pages on Luontoon.fi(1). Visit Savonlinna summarises the destination’s history, cultural sites such as the Finnish Forest Museum Lusto, and year-round outdoor options around the ridge(2). The Finnish Museum Card’s cultural trail hub groups Punkaharju’s walking routes as “Punkaharjun retkeilypolut” and points to Luontoon.fi for maps and signage(3). Lusto’s visitor pages describe the museum’s surroundings, the nearby tree-species park, and the illuminated Topelius nature trail that connects Hotelli Punkaharju and Kruunupuisto(4). On the ground, this line is a point-to-point connector toward Lammasharju on Saimaa’s shore. About a quarter of a kilometre into the walk you are close to Lammasharju sauna, Lammasharju laituri, Lammasharju tulentekopaikka, and Lammasharjun kämppä—useful if you want a swim stop, a shelter fire, or a shore pause before or after a longer day. Near the northern end of the sampled line, Kaarnaniemi laivalaituri marks a small-boat landing on Kaarnalahti, while Ratavartija kaivo is a named well point encountered on many Punkaharju outings. The terrain is classic ridge forest and lake shoreline; on steeper shore pitches along the wider trail network, sturdy footwear is kinder than open sandals, as Mia’s Elämää ja Matkoja article on Punkaharju’s national landscape notes from family trips in the area(5). If you want more distance, the same trailhead area ties into other routes on our map: winter skiing follows Topeliuksen jäälatu along the frozen shore network, and cycling links into the long Puruveden ympäriajo circuit around Puruvesi.

Karjalankallio Trail is about 0.2 km of barrier-free forest tread on Karjalankallio in Savonlinna, part of the Punkaharju national landscape above Lake Puruvesi. It connects Karjalankallio P-alue with Karjalankallio laavu and the Karjalankallio polttopuusuoja kuivakäymälä service building at the shore edge of the forested bank. For current shelter details and reserve context, Metsähallitus publishes Karjalankallio laavu on Luontoon.fi(1). Retkipaikka’s write-up on the same site describes wheelchair-friendly access, pram-friendly gradients, and why visitors should keep fires to the maintained fireplace so the open bedrock shoreline stays undamaged(2). Visit Savonlinna notes that in winter you can still reach the Metsähallitus-maintained laavu from ploughed routes in the research forest overlooking Saimaa(3). Natural Resources Institute Finland presents Punkaharju Research Forest as a free year-round outdoor destination where this short approach sits among longer marked walking and ski trails(4). Along the line you reach Karjalankallio laavu roughly a hundred metres into the forest; the lean-to has a fireplace, picnic tables toward the lake, firewood storage, and dry toilets shared with the adjacent shelter shed(2). The final metres of mapped geometry reach the Karjalankallio polttopuusuoja kuivakäymälä marker on the same compact service cluster. A short branch toward the smooth shore rocks is steeper and, per Retkipaikka, not part of the barrier-free profile(2). At Karjalankallio laavu you can continue onto longer loops without returning straight to the car: Karjalankallion huilaus and Hakin helpompi form the accessible figure-eight pair, Hakinkierros follows lakeshore and research-forest scenery, Puulajipuisto ja Karjalankallion laavu links the arboretum network, Metlan lenkki latu reaches the same ski-season rest point, and both Puulajireitti walking and hiking variants pass nearby on shared waypoints(4).

The trail is about 25.2 km as one walking line through Savonlinna in South Savo. For the corridor’s character and winter upkeep, Visit Savonlinna is a practical place to start: they describe Kievarin Kierros as a one-way, about 25 km route with both easier and more demanding sections, three laavut, and a kota along the maintained ski network(1). The same landscape is a long-distance hiking connection in summer; details on markings and junctions toward the Kaijansuo area appear in independent trail writing on Retkipaikka(2), and Suomen Luonto introduces Kaijansuo’s mire–ridge–lake mosaic as one of the regional nature highlights worth planning around(3). From the Nojanmaa sport-and-outdoor side near the route start, you soon reach P-paikka Nojanmaa for parking. The same neighbourhood links to Nojanmaan kuntorata and Nojanmaan valaistu latu for shorter runs or skiing. A few kilometres in, Lintutornin kota offers a birdwatching-themed kota stop. The middle section crosses the Kaijansuo–Kaijanharju–Iso Kaijanlampi complex: Soinilan laavu and Kaijanlammen laavu sit on that arc, with Kolmen Kaijan kierros - parkkipaikka and Herajärven uimalaituri at the Niittylahti shore—useful if you combine with Kolmen Kaijan kierros or Haukiveden kierros. Toward the northwest end, Juppitupa and Toson laavu sit close together for a break before the line finishes near Varparannan kartanon frisbeegolfrata. Haukiveden kierros and Kahden kansallispuiston kierros share parts of this shore and forest network for cyclists planning longer loops. Kolmen Kaijan kierros overlaps as a shorter hiking ring in the same Kaijansuo landscape. On snow, Kievarin kierros latu follows a parallel winter line with grooming information published for the wider Savonlinna track network(1).

Huosionjärvi Lake Circuit is about 4.7 km of hiking trail in Kerimäki, Savonlinna, in South Savo. Kerimäki chapel parish and Pyhät Polut ry built the Huosionjärvi nature trail together; Pyhät Polut ry publishes route directions, what you pass, and how to reach Huosion maja at Ukonmurrontie 74(1). For a detailed on-the-ground walk-through with distances between junctions, Retkipaikka’s Luontopolkumies report is worth reading—it describes Valkeislampi, Huosion laavu, the forest chapel, and how the path feels on the ridges(2). The City of Savonlinna lists Kerimäki outdoor areas including the Huosion orienteering area in the same recreation landscape(3). The trail is a medium-effort circuit on forested esker and shore terrain. Pyhät Polut ry describes a few steeper climbs but otherwise easy going, suitable for families and also for mountain biking(1). Along the route, pastor Sanni Rissanen’s text boards follow a “mountain sermon” theme with psalm texts for reflection(1). At Valkeislampi on the south side of Huosionjärvi, Huosion laavu offers a break and a campfire; the route ends its themed walk at a lakeside forest chapel for quiet reflection before returning along the shore(1)(2). Two campfire places appear in independent write-ups(2). Walkers often follow the circuit counter-clockwise from Huosion maja(2). Marking includes orange arrow markers at least on some sections(2). Parking for Kerimäki’s trails is available at P-paikka Kerimaa and p-paikka Kerimaa, Torvelantie near the Kerimaa outdoor centre; the ski connection Kirkkoranta–Kerimaa latu reaches the same area. The Pyhät Polut walking route network and winter ski tracks including Kerimaan lisäparkkipaikan yhdyslatu pass through the Kerimäki outdoor landscape.

Salpa-polku is a short heritage path of about 0.4 km on Kongonsaari island in Lake Pihlajavesi, part of Saimaa near Savonlinna in South Savo. For descriptions of trails, harbours, and current services across the Pihlajavesi Nature Reserve, the Pihlajavesi hiking and outdoor material on Luontoon.fi(1) is the reliable place to start planning. The path introduces Kongonsaaren Salpa-asema—an unfinished Second World War Salpa Line fortification carved into bedrock. Luontoon.fi(1) notes the shore tunnel was planned for machine-gun nests and crew space, while a fire-control post on the island’s rocky crown would have directed artillery fire toward a gun position farther inland; the work never reached completion, but the chambers, trenches, and large firing opening in the cliff face are still vivid. Ajatusmatkalla(2) describes reaching the island by charter boat from central Savonlinna and how impressive the scale of the rock-cut works feels on the ground, with stairways dropping into the shelter system and wide lake views from the top after you climb back into daylight. Most water visitors tie up at Kongonsaari Salpa-asema, laituri and explore from there; Salpa-asema poiju (2 kpl) appears among the approaches boaters use in this archipelago. A dry toilet is available at the site—handy after time inside the rock rooms. Bring a torch for the cave-like spaces so you can move safely where there is no lighting(2). The Saimaa ringed seal and other reserve values are part of why the lake landscape here is protected; Metsähallitus(3) covers the area’s conservation background for readers who want the wider reserve picture. On land, the long biking corridor Pihlajaveden Polkasu -pyöräilyreitti runs through the same lake district and passes relatively close along the shoreline network—useful if you are pairing a boat day with cycling elsewhere in Pihlajavesi, though this walking trace itself is reached from the water.

Kangasjärvi forest trail is about 3.1 km of walking through forest and lakeshore scenery in Savonlinna’s Säimenen village area in South Savo, beside Kangasjärvi. For the national trail listing and map browsing, start from the dedicated Kangasjärven metsätien polku page on Luontoon.fi(1). Etelä-Savon museot explains that a nature trail with a lean-to runs near Säimenen myllymuseo—useful if you combine hiking with the mill museum, which publishes free summer weekday hours in July(2). Savonranta.com’s Säimenen pages cover shared parking at the mill, the green map mailbox, safety tips, and how the four local paths chain into longer days(3). Visit Savonlinna also promotes the mill for visitors planning a countryside stop(4). On our map the route is point-to-point, not a closed loop. Use Säimenen myllymuseo parkkipaikka on Tyniläntie 35; Savonranta.com still describes leaving cars at the mill yard and walking a few hundred metres to signed starts and paper maps on the Säimenen network(3). About 1 km along this line you reach Eräkämmen laavu, an equipped lean-to with a fireplace—read more on our Eräkämmen laavu page. Savonranta.com praises that shelter for a food break on sibling routes and notes supplied firewood there on those circuits(3). The same junction system links onward to Niemen kierto, Timon Taival, and Haapavuoren voipolku. Savonranta.com still rounds up the Säimenen set as four nature paths whose shortest pieces sit around 2.5–3 km while fully linked options approach roughly 7 km(3).

Metla trail is about 0.4 km one way in Savonlinna on Punkaharju, inside the Natural Resources Institute Finland research-park area often still associated with the former Finnish Forest Research Institute (Metla) name. It works as a short arboretum walk from the research-park car park toward where the longer Kokonharju nature trail begins on the ridge. The trail is not a loop on its own: it links parking, the roughly seven-hectare tree-species collection with over a hundred taxa, and the start of the marked Kokonharju circuit described on the institute’s visitor pages(1). Natural Resources Institute Finland keeps Punkaharju Tutkimuspuisto open year-round at no charge and points walkers to Metsäbiotalous.fi for maps and themed observation sites(1)(5). Luontopolkumies reports good signing at the car park and notes that the Kokonharju nature trail proper starts roughly 400 m past the parking area after a first section through the arboretum—ground-truth that lines up with this very short mapped segment before the main orange-marked hill loop(2). From Kokonharju P-alue you pass interpretation by the exotic and native tree plots; continuing walkers join the about 3 km Kokonharju route with its ridge walking, record-height specimens, and the historic larch stand the institute highlights(1). Cyclists on Puruveden ympäriajo share the wider trail network near Ratavartija kaivo and the research park; Bikeland summarizes that about 126 km lake circuit for gravel, road, or e-bikes(4). Etelä-Savo offers dense lake-and-ridge scenery around Savonlinna; this stretch suits a twenty-minute outing paired with Lusto Forest Museum or a longer day on Kokonharju or Hakinkierros(1). Visit Savonlinna rounds up regional walking and cycling ideas for visitors planning wider itineraries(3).

Säkvuori Trail is a short hiking connection of about half a kilometre through west-side forest in Savonlinna, in the South Savo lake district. It is a point-to-point walk rather than a loop, best suited as a quick stretch of shade and quiet undergrowth between nearby paths or before a longer outing in the same part of town. Dedicated public write-ups or sign plans for this exact name were not found in municipal listings or tourism hubs during research. Savonlinnan kaupunki documents two longer nature trails it maintains with forestry staff—Karhuvuori east of centre and Soininmäki west of centre—and gives full access notes for those routes on its Luontopolut pages(1). This trail is not named there, so treat signage on the ground and seasonal forestry work as the practical authority for day-to-day access. Visit Savonlinna rounds up island strolls, national parks, Punkaharju ridge walks, and Pihlajaniemi winter multi-use tracks for visitors planning around the city(2); that context helps if you are building a longer day west of the bridge district. Retkipaikka walked the nine-kilometre Soininmäki nature loop with korpimainen forest, Mustalampi views, and laavu stops—useful background on how forest hiking feels on Savonlinna’s western edge even though it is a different trail(3). Savonlinna offers extensive lake-and-forest recreation; Etelä-Savo is known for Saimaa shoreline landscapes and easy links to network trails elsewhere in the municipality.

Julunkivi Trail is about 0.7 km one way through old-growth forest reserve to Julunkivi, one of Finland’s largest glacial erratics, on the boundary between Savonlinna and Sulkava in South Savo. For maps and the formal trail listing, see Julunkivi polku on Luontoon.fi(1). Visit Sulkava gives the boulder’s size, the roughly 700 metre forest walk, blue-dot marking, and the shared nuotiopaikka and dry toilet(2). The Municipality of Sulkava repeats the same essentials in its nature sights list(3). Mika Markkanen’s article on Retkipaikka is especially useful for gravel-road access from Sulkava’s Lohilahti shore, sparse roadside signing, roots and occasional windfall, and a bog and small pond about halfway(4). The erratic is about 12.5 m high with a circumference of nearly 60 m; you reach it from the southeast corner of the mass. On the north side, a sheltered spot under the overhang makes a natural picnic and grill stop, with a small woodshed nearby. Julunkivenlahti on Lake Kalajärvi is a short detour for a summer swim in calm weather. Right at the start of the walk you pass Julunkivi tulentekopaikka and Julunkivi kuivakäymälä; the marked footpath then continues toward the boulder.

South Savo is classic Finnish lakeland country. Haapavuori butter path is about 6.1 km of hiking as one point-to-point forest and lake-country segment in Savonlinna, in the Säimenen village area that locals still describe as part of the Savonranta countryside. Metsähallitus publishes a Luontoon.fi page for Kangasjärven metsätien polku in the same Säimenen cluster—use it for national maps, contact details, and the wider trail context while planning this outing(1). Etelä-Savon museot covers opening basics for Säimenen myllymuseo if you finish near the mill museum(2). Savonranta.com still explains parking at the mill, the green map mailbox on the Säimenen network, and how the four local loops link into longer days up to roughly 7 km when combined(3). Visit Savonlinna promotes the mill stop for visitors pairing countryside culture with a walk(4). On our map the route is not a closed loop. It begins beside Timon Taival parkkipaikka within a few dozen metres of the mapped start, rolls through mixed forest toward Eräkämmen laavu roughly 1.3 km along—an equipped lean-to with a fireplace and firewood in line with other Säimenen routes; see our Eräkämmen laavu page for practical use. After that junction you can shorten the day toward Timon Taival, Kangasjärven metsätien polku, or Niemen kierto, or continue toward Säimenen myllymuseo parkkipaikka at Tyniläntie 35, where the mill yard, swimming spot, and museum visit described by the official museum and tourism pages sit a short stroll away(2)(4). Carry sturdy footwear: Savonranta.com still warns that roots, rocks, and wooden crossings put together by volunteers can stay slippery after rain across the sibling paths, and lighting is natural only(3).

Karjalankallio Huilaus is a short, easy wellness trail on Karjalankallio in Punkaharju, part of Savonlinna in South Savo’s national landscape. The trail is about 1.1 km, built so many people can move with a stroller or wheelchair with an assistant. Plan campfire rules, firewood, and seasonal updates with Metsähallitus on Luontoon.fi at the Karjalankallio laavu service point(1). Visit Savonlinna highlights the same Karjalankallio laavu as part of winter and summer outings around the research forest and Saimaa shoreline(3). You usually start from Karjalankallio P-alue and follow a gentle line through pine forest before the path turns toward Karjalankallio laavu on the wooded bluff above Lake Puruvesi. An audioguide published for Savonlinna on izi.TRAVEL describes four wellbeing points along the route: each has a bench and a board about how nature supports health, and a few stops invite small exercises(4). Retkipaikka’s on-the-ground account notes accessible parking bays, the shared firewood and dry-toilet building beside Karjalankallio laavu, and picnic tables facing the lake—plus a short, steeper rocky shore path that is not part of the accessible line but gives a wide open-sky view toward Puruvesi(2). Together with the slightly longer Hakin helpompi demanding accessible ring, the two walks often form a figure eight with Karjalankallio laavu at the knot(2)(4); Hakinkierros, Karjalankallio polku, Puulajipuisto ja Karjalankallion laavu, the Punkaharju tree species trail, and the Metlan lenkki latu ski track meet the same service cluster for longer days. Maaseudun Tulevaisuus covered the 2022 surfacing work that made the new accessible loops usable on stone dust with benches and QR-linked audio rather than brand-new clearings(5).