Self-guided canoeing trip on the Oulanka River

Thank you for your booking! Below you will find the important information for your canoeing trip.

Arriving at the canoeing starting point

The starting point for canoeing on the lower part of the Oulanka River is Mataraniemi. The parking area does not have its own street address.

The parking area is the Könkään Kuohu parking area, located at the end of a forest road that turns off Liikasenvaarantie.

The forest road turns right from Liikasenvaarantie about 350 metres after the Oulanka Visitor Centre. At the junction, there is a sign to the left for Oulangan Leirintä and wooden signs to the right reading Mataraniemi and Könkään Kuohu. Google Maps link to the junction here.

Departure and equipment

The canoes and kayaks are located at the canoeing site. They are marked with Oulangan Taika and/or Basecamp Oulanka stickers.

• Single-person canoes are located on the left. They can be identified by their darker green colour and have no separate colour marking.
• Two-person canoes are marked with orange tape on the bow grab loop.
• Three-person canoes are marked with black tape on the bow grab loop.
• Four-person canoes are marked with blue tape on the grab loop.
• Our kayaks are locked with a cable lock. The lock code is 00030.

The equipment includes:

• Paddle
• Paddling life vest
• Dry bag for storing your belongings
• Map showing the canoeing route
• Bailer with the canoes
• Spray deck with the kayak
• Please return all equipment together with the canoe/kayak.

Rest stops along the canoeing route

When paddling along the river, it is worth taking breaks and enjoying the scenery. Open fires are only allowed at official campfire sites.

• Merenoja lean-to shelter, 5 km from the start on the right bank of the river
• Nurmisaari campfire site, 8 km from the start on the left bank of the river
• Ansakämppä wilderness hut, 8 km from the start on the right bank of the river
• Sirkkapuro lean-to shelter, 14.8 km from the start on the right bank of the river
• Alaniemi lean-to shelter, 21.6 km from the start on the right bank of the river

When landing, pull the canoe or kayak onto the shore so that it stays securely on land and cannot be carried away by the current.

Please also remember litter-free hiking: take all rubbish with you when you leave nature.

Canoeing end points

The canoeing end points are located at Nurmisaari, about 8–9 km from the start, and at Jäkälämutka, about 25 km from the start.

Nurmisaarenniemi pick-up point

If you paddle the shorter route to Nurmisaarenniemi, landing takes place before Ansakämppä.

When you reach the Nurmisaarenniemi area, watch for the canoe pull-out point. The landing place is visible straight ahead as you approach from the river. Do not follow the bend of the river towards Ansakämppä; instead, head towards the visible landing place.

You can identify the landing place by the canoe chute. With the canoe chute, you can easily pull the canoe or kayak up from the shore to the pick-up point.

The pick-up point is marked by a sign on the riverbank.

Jäkälämutka pick-up point

There is one pick-up point at Jäkälämutka, located at the end point of the route.

There is a sign for the Jäkälämutka pick-up point at a 90-degree bend where the river turns to the right. From here, turn left towards the Jäkälämutka pick-up point.

When you arrive at the pick-up point

When you arrive at the pick-up point, pull the canoe or kayak onto the shore so that the water cannot carry it away.

If the driver has not yet arrived, you can send us a message to let us know that you are already there.

Safety instructions

• Always wear your paddling life vest on the water and keep it fastened.
• Do not stand up in the canoe or rock it from side to side.
• Always pull the canoe far enough onto the shore during breaks.
• Bring dry spare clothes and fire-making equipment in case of unexpected situations.
• Download the 112 Suomi app to your phone for emergencies.
• If you have any questions before the trip, ask us for advice in advance or at the starting point.
• In case of problems, contact us.

Canoeing safety instructions

Enjoy your canoeing trip on one of Europe’s most enchanting canoeing routes!