Hiking in Saimaa takes you through stunning Lakeland scenery, from forests and lakeshores to Ice Age landscapes. With marked trails and the freedom to explore, every hike becomes a memorable journey in nature.
Hiking in Saimaa opens the door to Finland’s vast Lakeland wilderness, where forest trails, shimmering lakeshores and varied terrain create an unforgettable outdoor experience. Well-marked routes make it easy to discover the highlights of the region, while Finland’s “everyman’s rights” also invite you to step beyond the trails and explore the landscape more freely at your own pace.
Whether you want to follow signposted routes or go off the trail, maps and information on Everyman's Rights are available at local tourist information centres. Along the routes and on many islands you can find maintained fireplaces and lean-to-shelters known as "laavus", each with its own character but generally with its own stock of firewood and outdoor toilet.
When hiking in Finland, immense green forests hide many northern species of plants, animals and birds and the forest floor is blanketed in soft pine needles and moss that absorb the noise of your footsteps and cushion your stride. You’ll hear the morning chorus of birdsong around you and the wind through the leaves. You often catch tentative sights of the water flashing mischievously between the pine and birch trees and the sprawling system of hiking routes in Saimaa offers you your own choice of challenging climbs or leisurely strolls by the shoreline.
Each season of hiking in Finland is different. In the spring, the world leaps to life after its sleep through the winter, exploding into greens and blues in just a few short weeks. In the summer, the new growth of the forest shades the ground beneath it offering respite from the sun, and in the autumn a great symphony of reds and golds covers the landscape. Of course, winter calls for skis and snowshoes, particularly off-trail!
From panoramic hilltops to peaceful forest paths, Saimaa offers hiking routes that combine stunning nature with unforgettable moments along the way. Whether you’re looking for dramatic viewpoints, quiet lakeside trails or traces of ancient history, the region’s well-marked paths invite you to explore at your own pace.
Among the highlights are the Hiiden Polut Trails, where the breathtaking views from Neitvuori Hill open across the labyrinthine waters of Luonteri, and Norppapolku (Ringed Seal Trail), a network of scenic routes winding through ridges, wetlands and rocky lookouts shaped by the Saimaa landscape. Along the way, you’ll find campfire sites, swimming spots and rest areas – and if you’re lucky, perhaps even a glimpse of the rare Saimaa ringed seal that gives the trail its name.
The geological trail of Sarkaslampi leads through striking rocky landscapes and forested terrain, where ancient rock art and traces of early human activity reveal the deep history of the Saimaa region.
