Canoeing 

Come and paddle in the caleidoscope waters of Kuhmo 

Kuhmo is situated at a watershed that has naturally formed one of the oldest borders in Europe, the border between Finland and Russia. Our rivers are headwaters, which makes them small and safe even for beginners. The rapids are modest, class I and II, and have little volume except in the spring floods (rapid classification I easy – VI extremely dangerous).

Several of our lakes are wilderness lakes with very few buildings of any kind on the shores, so even if there is no built campsite nearby there is always a stretch of calm beach around for pitching the tent. Every man’s rights in Finland provide an excellent opportunity for canoeing and enjoying nature from the water. For example on lake Lentua, nearly all islands belong to a beautiful nature conservation area and there are several quality campsites built for the traveller. Only a few of the lakes in Kuhmo have stretches of open water that could be difficult for the canoeist. Spring floods to Kuhmo in early May, making the high-water canoeing season the best around mid-May. The canoeing season extends to September ending with the rainbow of russet colours decorating the forests.