When did huts.fi research the data for Aura River kayaking route?

Huts.fi

Aura River kayaking route

—•Kayaking Routes

25.5 km

Route

P 1

Description

City of Lieto – Aurajoen melontareitti+

Description

Aurajoen melontareitti is a free, signposted river paddling itinerary through Southwest Finland’s Aura valley, linking Lieto and Turku with mill sites, rapids, and easy shore breaks. On our map the line runs about 25.5 km along the main channel—long enough for a full day or a relaxed two-day trip with stops. The City of Lieto’s Aurajoen melontareitti page describes the route as passing five rapids, with marked carry points and changing water levels to plan around. Tammireitit publishes a stage-by-stage distance table from the Aura–Lieto municipal boundary to Turku Halistenkoski: roughly 19.6 km of paddling plus about 1.2 km of portage paths, depending how you stitch the carries —useful if you compare day stages to our single mapped trace. From upstream toward the sea, the Aura drops through a chain of named rapids; Nautelankoski is the largest and is always taken as a carry on the mapped Nautelankoski portage path, with the Nautelan lintutorni bird tower sitting right beside the river corridor partway along the run. Liedon Vanhalinna and the Nautelankoski museum area are natural cultural stops on the Lieto reach. Aurajokisäätiö’s paddling pages at Myllärintalo explain canoe docks at Halistenkoski and Kurala, seasonal installation of public landings in spring and autumn, and safety at the Halistenkoski rapid zone—life jackets, staying close to shore above the rapid, and respecting private banks. Land trails braid with the water: Paavonpolut and the Kuuden kunnanosan kierros cycling circuit touch the same shoreline in places, and Liedon Vanhalinnan kulttuuri- ja luontopolut offer walking near Vanhalinna when you want to stretch your legs. Shorter mapped legs such as Aurajoen melontareitti (Lieto) and the Nautelankoski portage segment are part of the same overall chain for trip planning. Retkihetki’s article on the Aura’s historic rapid milieu adds colour on how mills and settlement shaped the valley—worth a read if you want narrative context beyond route tables.

Length & route

Our mapped centreline is about 25.5 km along the Aura main stem. In Tammireitit’s published stage list, paddling from Leinakkalankoski toward Turku with the listed portages totals roughly 19.6 km on the water plus about 1.2 km of carries to Halistenkoski—use that table to compare day legs with our single continuous line. Rapids are short sections between longer flat pools; allow extra time for each carry and for birdwatching or museum stops.

Getting there

Many through-paddlers stage the upper Aura from the Lieto–Aura side and work downstream toward Turku. At the Turku end, put-in and take-out for day trips are commonly arranged at Halistenkoski: Aurajoen opastuskeskus Myllärintalo at Valkkimyllynkuja 2 sits beside the rapid, with public canoe docks above and below the drop and an additional landing near the Kurala footbridge—docks are typically placed in spring and lifted in autumn. Aurajokisäätiö notes about 1.5 hours of paddling from Myllärintalo to Liedon Vanhalinna’s canoe dock for a shorter there-and-back sampler. For shuttle planning, combine parking along the valley with the stage distances in Tammireitit.

Good to know

Beginners often start with a shorter Halistenkoski–Vanhalinna return that Lieto and Tammireitit both describe as roughly 5 km one way—plan about three to four hours for the round trip in calm conditions. Respect seasonal variation in flow and any local notices about shore work on the urban banks in Turku. For a narrative take on mills and cultural landscape along the Aura, see Retkihetki’s field article.

Where to rent kayaks

Aurajoen opastuskeskus Myllärintalo at Turku Halistenkoski (Kanoottikuningas) offers open canoes and single kayaks for Aura paddling; contact details and seasonal opening are on Aurajoki and Myllärintalo pages.

Guided tours & Experiences

Kanoottikuningas advertises guided-style Aura trips; check Myllärintalo and Kanoottikuningas for current schedules.

Managed by

Lieto

Official Maintenance

Trail info

The classic through-trip follows the Aura downstream from the upper valley toward Turku and the sea, carrying at each marked rapid. Local day trips from Turku often paddle upstream within comfortable limits, then return with the current toward Halistenkoski.

Route direction

Recreation Area

River

Open / Good Condition

Tammireitit – Aurajoen melontareitti (distances)+

Activities allowed

Kayak / Canoe

Activity

Terrain & conditions

25.5 km

Distance

Allow a full day for the mapped 25.5 km line in typical summer conditions, or split across two shorter days using Vanhalinna, Nautelankoski, or Turku landings. Tammireitit suggests about three to four hours for a 10 km beginner round trip on the Halinen–Vanhalinna section.

Est. Time

Point-to-Point

Route Type

Has Portages

Portage

Class II (Moderate)

Rapids class

Class III+ (Challenging)

Rapids class

River Paddling

Water type

Tammireitit – Aurajoen melontareitti (distances)

Location

60.49456°N, 22.38038°E

Parking coordinates

FinlandCountry

Southwest FinlandRegion

TurkuCity

Kayaking RoutesCategory

Explore nearby

Halisten kaukalo

298 m

Free

Nummenpakan koulu, Aurajoen yksikkö

374 m

Kuuvuoren koripallokenttä

677 m

Free

SuperPark Turku

501 m

Holiday Club Caribian kylpylä

477 m

Caribian kuntosali TaMi

471 m

Alfan nyrkkeilysali

221 m

Alfan painonnostosali

220 m

Rate & Review

Be the first to write a review for "Aura River kayaking route"

Share a photo from a recent trip

Answers to your questions

Our data was researched from Lieto, 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 Southwest Finland Turku Kayaking RoutesAura River kayaking route