South Savo Walking Trails

The Vuokala walking tour takes the village of Savonranta. On the route, you can learn about the village's building history through the 20 signs set up.

The Sulosaari loop is an easy urban walking circuit of about 2.5 km around Sulosaari, a small island in the centre of Savonlinna, South Savo. Despite sitting beside the market square and station, the island feels quiet: mixed forest, rocky shoreline on Lake Saimaa, and views across the inner archipelago. For opening hours of Lettukahvila Kalliolinna, the public kota and route context, Visit Savonlinna is the clearest place to start(1). Leena Korhonen’s Retkipaikka piece describes the wide, marked path, the photogenic west shore, and how local regulars keep the trails passable even when there is no winter maintenance(2). Independent trip writing is especially useful for the atmosphere and seal habitat notes(2). From Kasinonsaari you reach the island on footbridges: the walking line passes Spahotel Casinon kylpylä and Casinon kuntosali, then crosses to Sulosaari. Early on the loop, Lettukahvila Kalliolinna sits in the pink Kalliolinna villa (1899), a summer house built for guests of the Saint Olaf spa era; it serves crêpes in season(1). Around two kilometres into the circuit you pass Sulosaaren grillikatos, a chimney-equipped shelter for grilling(1). The path is mostly wide and easy underfoot—gravel and forest floor—with smaller side paths closer to the shore(2). The route is marked and, along the main line, lit for evening use(2). Swimming from the rocky beaches is popular in summer(1)(2); Saimaa ringed seals are occasionally seen in the shallows—keep a respectful distance. The same city-centre bridge network supports longer outings: Siltojen Savonlinna kävelykierros links many waterfront highlights, while the short Kasinosaaren kuntopolku overlaps the casino shore. Paddling and cycling variants are described under the wider bridge-themed route family(3).

For trail-specific planning on this Punkaharju ridge walk, start with the Puulajireitti Tree Species Trail page on Luontoon.fi(1). The Natural Resources Institute Finland describes the Punkaharju research forest and its Research Park: the tree species park (arboretum) showcases forest research and recreation together, and the Tree Species Trail introduces more than thirty tree species with a highlight at the Montell larch stand planted in 1877—the full circuit is just over five kilometres in their overview, which matches the scale of this walk in the same park setting(2). The trail is about 5.3 km as a loop through the Laukansaari research park and Puulajipuisto tree species park in Punkaharju, Savonlinna, in the national landscape between Puruvesi and the ridge forests. You walk forest roads and paths past labelled trees in the arboretum, then climb toward the Karjalankallio rest area on Puruvesi: about 2.5 km from the start of the loop you reach parking, a firewood shelter and dry toilets, and Karjalankallio laavu for a break above the water. Shorter marked options in the same area focus on the arboretum and ridge roads; local visitor materials describe easy sauvakävely loops of roughly 3.2–3.5 km from the Puulajipuisto parking with a choice between Puulajireitti and Montell route markers on sandy forest tracks(3). Retkipaikka’s Karjalankallio write-up stresses smooth shore rock slabs toward Puruvesi and notes wheelchair access along a 200 m approach to the laavu, plus additional accessible ring routes branching from the shelter for visitors who want a shorter, barrier-aware outing in the same scenery(4). From the Karjalankallio cluster the loop returns toward Kokonharju parking at the end of the circuit—use either parking area depending on where you start. The ridge ties into longer walking and cycling networks: Puulajipuisto ja Karjalankallion laavu overlaps this area, Hakinkierros and Harjureitti offer longer hiking options nearby, and Harjun Portti’s summer cycling pages outline riding sections of Puulajireitti together with the scenic road loop—worth combining if you travel with both hikers and cyclists(5).

Puulajipuisto ja Karjalankallion laavu is a walking loop of about 5.8 km through Punkaharju’s research arboretum and lakeshore forest in Savonlinna, South Savo. For the arboretum’s tree collections and how the area fits the wider Punkaharju ridge, Visit Punkaharju’s Punkaharju tree species park page(2) and Visit Savonlinna’s Punkaharju introduction(3) are good starting points. Metsähallitus describes the surrounding Punkaharju Nature Reserve trails and services on Luontoon.fi(1). The Finnish Forest Museum Lusto notes that Puulajipuisto lies a short walk from the museum and belongs to Natural Resources Institute Finland’s Punkaharju research forests, with more than a hundred labelled tree species on site(5). Most walkers start from Kokonharju parking and follow forest roads and paths through the arboretum, where Visit Punkaharju counts 134 species and forms on information boards(2). After roughly two kilometres the route reaches Karjalankallio, a low rocky point above Puruvesi. There you find Karjalankallio laavu with a fireplace, a firewood and tool shed, and an accessible dry toilet beside the shelter; a barrier-free path about two hundred metres long leads from Karjalankallio parking toward the lean-to for wheelchair users and strollers(4). Tables sit between the shelter and the water for a break above the open lake. Retkipaikka’s on-the-ground account stresses how family-friendly the approach feels and reminds visitors to use the maintained fireplace rather than scarring the smooth rock slabs by the shore(4). Near the end of the loop, the route passes Ratavartija kaivo, a hand well beside the path—handy if you carry a bottle. The same trail junctions connect to several other marked routes: the shorter Puulajireitti hiking trail to the tree-species trail, Hakinkierros around the Hakinkierros circuit, and the short Metlan reitti near the research buildings—useful if you want to stitch together a longer day without returning to the car.

Talvisalo day walk (Talvisalon päivälenkki) is about 3.4 km as a loop through the Talvisalo sports and recreation area in central Savonlinna, South Savo. The route threads past school playing fields, ice rinks, and fitness infrastructure on the island, so it works well as a short everyday circuit when you want exercise and services in one place. For current grooming on ski tracks, lit fitness routes, and field-staff contacts, the City of Savonlinna publishes its listings on the ski tracks and fitness trails page(1). There it notes a 2.0 km lit kuntorata at Talvisalo in the city centre alongside the wider network of lit tracks around Savonlinna(1). The South Savo Hyvinvointitarjotin directory repeats the same Talvisalo entry and states that each of the six local tracks is lit(3). That lit network supports walking and running after dark in season on the same island where this loop runs. Along the loop you pass EasyFit Savonlinna near the start, Talvisalon koulun liikuntasali and Talvisalon kumirouhekenttä, and P-paikka Talvisalo if you arrive by car. About 2 km along, Talvisalon kuntoportaat add a short stair workout beside the path. The circuit then runs past Talvisalon jääkiekkokaukalo, Talvisalon jäähalli, and Talvisalon harjoitusjäähalli—together the main ice-sport venues for the district. Visit Savonlinna groups Talvisalo with Sulosaari and the Siltojen Savonlinna themed walks when it suggests how to explore the centre on foot and points readers to the Bridges of Savonlinna materials(2). From this loop you can join the longer Siltojen Savonlinna kävelykierros city walking circuit, overlap Talvisalon valaistu latu in winter, or share sections with Talvisalon kuntorata, -latu for running—useful links if you want to extend the outing.

This mapped walking line runs about 11 km one way from the Haataansaari–Harjun Portti shore area toward the Sumpunlahti recreation bay at the southern tip of Vaahersalo on Punkaharju, in Savonlinna and South Savo. It is a point-to-point day walk through ridge forest, lake views, and the Punkaharju shore network rather than a short city loop. For distance, difficulty, and the gravel-road style approach to Sumpunlahti, Harjun Portti’s destination page is the clearest operator summary(1). The route sits in the Punkaharju national landscape and nature reserve setting described on Luontoon.fi(3). Early on, the line passes a campfire spot at Haataansaaren Nuotiopaikka and reaches Kaarnaniemi laivalaituri with views toward the water. Around the four-kilometre mark the Lammasharju cluster gathers Lammasharju laituri, a fire ring, Lammasharju sauna, Lammasharjun kämppä, and dry toilet access—natural lunch or swim stops beside the shore. Mäntyranta parking sits close to this cluster if you join the path partway along the ridge road network. Nearer Kruunupuisto, Inkeritalon Vohvelikahvila, Kruunupuiston Grillikatos, Inkeritalon sauna, Kruunupuiston ranta, and Kruunupuiston ulkokuntosali sit within a short walk of each other off Vaahersalontie; Takaharjun parkkipaikka supports visits from the harju road side. A swimming beach on a nature reserve shore appears along this section before the line continues south. At Sumpunlahti, the Sumpunlahden Kota ja tulentekopaikka and Sumpunlahden Sauna sit by the bay, with Sumpunlahden virkistysalue parkkipaikka at the end of the road approach. Veneilysaimaa lists fireplaces, a grill kota, sauna, waste management, info boards, and toilets at the harbour, notes shallow sandy landings suited to small craft, and mentions that the sauna is booked separately(2). Itä-Savo reported partnership-funded upgrades at the site, including a cooking shelter, sauna, grill kota, and two jetties(6). In winter, overlapping ice-skate and ski track lines such as Haataansaaren lenkki and Haataansaaren jäälatu use nearby shore segments; the kayaking route Harjun tuntumassa melontareitti and the lit ski line Tuunaansaari valaistu connect through the same shore network for other seasons(4)(5).

Siltojen Savonlinna kävelykierros is an urban walking loop through Savonlinna’s island city centre on Lake Saimaa in South Savo. The trail is about 9.1 km as one continuous circuit on our map, crossing bridges and waterfront promenades between the harbour, Kasinonsaari, Sulosaari, Talvisalo, and back toward the market area. Regional tourism materials present the wider Siltojen Savonlinna theme routes as self-guided ways to explore a town built on several islands—on foot, by bike, or on the water—and publish printable and online maps for planning(1). For the latest route descriptions and downloadable materials, start from Visit Savonlinna’s Siltojen Savonlinna section(1). Along the walk you pass swimming beaches and shoreline paths: early on, Koulukadun uimaranta and the Saimaa Nature Centre on Riihisaari sit beside the old town and Olavinlinna; the City of Savonlinna notes about 1.2 km on foot from the market square to Riihisaari along the waterfront path(2). Sulosaari adds a short nature loop atmosphere: regional tourism walking pages describe a couple of kilometres of path there with ITE birdhouse art and a stop at a lean-to for snacks(3). On this route you also pass Sulosaaren grillikatos and Lettukahvila Kalliolinna—handy for a pancake or coffee break—before the line turns west past services and toward Talvisalo, where P-paikka Talvisalo offers parking if you join the circuit from that side. Shorter printed “Siltojen Savonlinna” brochures sometimes describe a compact central circuit of a few kilometres; the full walking loop here follows the longer bridge-to-bridge line around the centre(1). The same “Bridges of Savonlinna” idea exists as a longer cycling ring and as paddling loops on Lake Saimaa; if you want to stay on shore but add distance, nearby connecting routes include Siltojen Savonlinna pyöräilykierros and shorter walks such as Sulosaaren kierros or Talvisalon päivälenkki. Olavinlinna and the spa and harbour façades sit in the same cityscape—classic photo stops even when you do not enter every venue. South Savo is known for lakeland scenery and summer events; Savonlinna’s centre mixes those views with everyday streets, so expect some shared paths with cyclists and local traffic near shops and harbours(1).

Start planning this winter trail with Metsähallitus’s Linnansaari National Park destination on Luontoon.fi(1), then read day-to-day ice and route status from SaimaaHoliday Oravi’s Linnansaaren jääreitti page(2)—the same operator maintains the marked winter trail and publishes the Oravi Diary and equipment desk hours. Visit Savonlinna’s regional product page(3) summarises the same corridor: a maintained, marked winter route across Lake Saimaa between Oravi, Linnansaari, and Porosalmi at Järvisydän in Rantasalmi, with equipment rental and services at both ends. The mapped line and nearby places are also on our huts.fi route page(6). Matkamies magazine’s Oravi feature(4) adds colour: low-snow winters can favour tour skating on the ice, while snowy winters suit snowshoeing on the island’s marked paths; the magazine notes that ice is measured and the route is maintained for safer travel. On our map the route is about 15 km as one point-to-point line from the Oravi side toward Järvisydän (Hotel & Spa Resort Järvisydän sits near the eastern end). Official descriptions and operators round the total Oravi–Järvisydän crossing to roughly 18–19 km depending on the season and line, so treat the distance as a winter lake crossing rather than a short urban loop. The surface is maintained snow and ice on the frozen lake; the trail is marked with route maintenance and signage described in operator materials(2)(3). You can use the trail on foot, on skis, or with other winter gear such as a kicksled or mountain bike when ice and snow conditions allow (2)(3). Dogs are allowed on a leash(2). Along the line, the Perpulanluhta and Linnavuori cluster sits around six kilometres from the start of our mapped line: tent camping, campfire points, and small-boat moorings at the shore edge of the ice route, plus a small-boat dock and dry toilet at Linnavuori. Further along, the Pieni Lappi area offers a shelter, tent camping, and a campfire spot. At the eastern end, Hotel & Spa Resort Järvisydän marks the resort side of the crossing; the Geologinen luontopolku nature trail starts nearby. In summer, the same national-park shore connects to Linnansaari luontopolku, Tappuvirran kierros, Kahden kansallispuiston kierros, and Koloveden kierros Oravista—useful context if you plan to return in open water.