Helsinki Kayaking Routes

This route is a short point-to-point paddle on the Vantaanjoki between Tikkurila and the historic Helsingin pitäjän kirkonkylä area in Vantaa. On our map it runs about 4.2 km as one line along the river; it is not a loop. The City of Vantaa lists landing places at both ends of the line and a dock in Viertola at Kaislatie 26, with the service address given at Myllykuja 6, 01510 Vantaa(1). Vantaa’s canoeing service page explains that flow on the Vantaanjoki and Keravanjoki changes with the seasons: from late spring to early autumn the current is usually gentle enough to paddle in either direction, while in early spring and late autumn flow is stronger, flood periods can make the larger rapids attractive for whitewater paddling, and heavy rain can raise levels quickly(2). VHVSY maintains updated Virkisty Vantaanjoella pocket brochures, has placed about fifty wooden route markers beside landings and difficult rapids along the wider Vantaa and Kerava river paddling network, and publishes practical safety advice for river trips(3). Melontaranta beside Tapaninvainio swimming beach in Helsinki rents kayaks, canoes, SUP boards, and rowboats for exploring the same river corridor through Natura Viva(4). Patikalla’s long-form account of paddling the Vantaanjoki in several stages gives a useful feel for how the river changes character along its course, even though it covers longer trips than this 4.2 km segment(5). Where the bank meets trails from our database, the Kuusijärvi–Viertola hiking trail and the Seven Brothers hiking trail – Vantaa western branch intersect the same green corridor and are natural complements if you combine paddling with walking.

This route is a day loop of about 9.9 km on the map through Eastern Helsinki’s inner archipelago, centred on the small recreation island Pikku Leikosaari (chart name Lilla Lekholmen). The main reason to go is the wood-fired public sauna and the rocky islet setting managed as a Uuvi recreation destination: mooring rings and buoys, fireplaces with supplied firewood, a swimming jetty, and an information board, with dogs required to stay on leash(1). The island sits a little under two kilometres south of the Kallahdenniemi peninsula; from Puotila or Vuosaari harbours the straight-line distance is on the order of six kilometres, so the paddle crosses short open stretches even though the island is still inside the inner archipelago(1). Natura Viva describes a practical circuit from Vuosaari Paddling Centre: the most sheltered line to Pikku Leikosaari follows the tip of Kallahdenniemi, crosses the busy boat lane at Haapasaari at its narrowest point, then passes Santinen and Iso Leikosaari before landing on the north side of Pikku Leikosaari, where the kayak landings are best—wet rock is very slippery(2). After the sauna stop, an alternative return when weather allows crosses several fairways toward smaller islands, passes near Kivisaari, and can include stops at Kotiluoto and the Villaluodot group before continuing past Malkasaari back toward the paddling centre—Natura Viva’s published distance for that kind of loop is about nine kilometres with an indicative paddling time of two to four hours(2)(3). Along our mapped line you also pass beaches and services on the Vuosaari–Kallahden shore (for example Villa Ullas café and Kallahdenniemi beach), then the Villaluodot and Kotiluoto cluster mid-loop: Kotiluoto has a seasonal ferry link in summer, cooking shelters, a sauna, and landing spots for paddlers; the three Villaluodot islands differ in whether overnight tents are allowed(3). Malkasaari offers another grill shelter and sauna before you close the loop near Iso Kallahden beach and sports fields. Nearby trail routes on land include Kallahdenniemen luontopolku along the peninsula and the long Itäinen rantareitti waterfront walking route, which shares several shoreline places with this water loop. For the sauna itself, Uuvi states the stove must not be dosed with seawater—bring fresh water for löyly—and visitors book a turn by writing in the notebook in the letterbox on the sauna wall, following Uuvi’s general sauna rules(1). Natura Viva adds that there is no advance booking of shifts; on sunny days you may need to wait, and rainwater barrels on the island supply water for the stones if you did not bring your own(2). Fires are only at designated fireplaces; during wildfire warnings all open fires are prohibited(1). If you fish from a kayak in Helsinki sea areas, check whether you need the city fishing permit in addition to the national fishing management fee, especially when using more than one rod—see the Helsinki fishing permit pages(4). Equipment hire, courses, and route advice are available from Natura Viva at Vuosaari Paddling Centre(5).