Kesälahti: Nature Trails, Lakes and Culture

Kesälahti invites you to choose how to balance activity, water and culture during your stay: loop trails in the Sortolampi area, cultural and nature trails, seasonal swimming spots and excursions on two lakes each offer something different. A local history museum with one of Finland’s largest smoke saunas and annual events round out the picture. When choosing accommodation, it helps to first consider which of these experiences you want to shape your stay.

Kesälahti at a glance

• The trails in the Sortolampi area start at the sports ground, where you can also find a map of the area’s nature and cultural trails.
• The Sortolampi trails vary in length, are suitable for loop walks and pass through varied terrain.
• The cultural and nature trails start in the courtyard of Sovintola in the town centre and are clearly signposted along their entire length.
• Kesälahden kotiseutumuseo features historic buildings and objects, including one of Finland’s largest smoke saunas.
• In a 2023 readers’ poll, Kesälahden luontopolku was voted the best nature trail in North Karelia.

Trails, nature and active days

In the Sortolampi area, the trails start at the sports ground. The map of the area’s nature and cultural trails is also located there, providing a useful starting point for getting your bearings. The trails vary in length, are suitable for loop walks and pass through varied terrain. This makes it possible to choose a suitable route and allow time for it as part of your day’s plans, without focusing on a single endpoint.

Other cultural and nature trails start in the courtyard of Sovintola in the town centre. They lead through the history and nature of the surrounding area and are clearly signposted along their entire length. Alongside the natural setting, local history is therefore a key theme of these trails. In 2023, Kesälahden luontopolku was named the best nature trail in North Karelia in a readers’ poll by the newspaper Karjalainen, thanks to its versatility. This title refers to the 2023 poll.

For a different kind of sporting activity, try the Horkkanotko disc golf course, which starts at the Horkkanotko sports ground. It has 18 holes. Elevation changes and some narrow fairways make the course relatively challenging; you can check the course layout before playing. This is a different way to plan an active day from heading out on a loop walk.

Lakes, swimming spots and excursions

The three swimming spots mentioned here differ in location. Taipale is on Lake Pyhäjärvi, on Taipaleenrannantie. Sortolampi beach is on Sortolammentie, beyond the sports ground. Mäntyranta is on Lake Puruvesi, at Vääränmäentie 43, and charges an admission fee. Swimming access at all three spots is seasonal; any fees at Mäntyranta are also seasonal. This information can help you plan a day of swimming as a separate, seasonal focus of your trip.

A suggested cycling route in Kesälahti leads to the nationally valuable village landscape of Totkunniemi and its observation tower. For an additional point of reference, the tower is 6.5 km from Kesälahti centre. This distance describes the location of the observation tower relative to the centre; the cycling suggestion leads to the village landscape and the tower. Route suggestions may be revised.

There is also a dedicated excursion option on the water: trips aboard the Kirkkovene Aurora offer experiences on Lake Puruvesi and Lake Karjalan Pyhäjärvi. The arrangements for excursions may change. If you plan to make a boat trip a fixed part of your stay, choose a specific date based on the available arrangements.

Culture, events and local specialities

Kesälahden kotiseutumuseo features historic buildings and objects. Its highlights include one of Finland’s largest smoke saunas; a boardwalk also runs along the pond shore. The smoke sauna is a distinctive feature of the museum, while the buildings and objects offer insights into different aspects of local history. The boardwalk adds a path right along the pond to your museum visit.

At Sovintola, the Kesälahden Kulttuuriseura gallery presents changing exhibitions. Its programme is therefore not limited to a permanent, unchanging exhibition. A visit can add a cultural highlight to a trip that also takes in the nature trails or the local history museum.

Events can influence when you travel. The Puruveden Lohikuningas rowing and trolling competition takes place annually in the week after Midsummer. The Muikkumarkkinat are also among the major annual events in Kesälahti. If you want to plan your trip around one of these dates, they offer different timing cues: a specified week after Midsummer for the competition and a market that takes place every year.

Local food options include fish specialities from Puruveden Savukala Oy in Kesälahti; availability may change. Nearby, in Hummovaara, Juhanantupa serves traditional food in summer and at other times by prior order. The Lönnrotin petäjä is also nearby, at Juhanantupa in Villala. Local products, a seasonal or pre-ordered meal, and a named nearby site thus offer different points of interest to consider when planning your trip.

Choose accommodation to suit your travel plans

The different starting points offer practical guidance for planning your day: the Sortolampi trails start at the sports ground, while the cultural and nature trails start in the courtyard of Sovintola in the town centre. Kesälahti railway station is on Asematie and is another named point of reference in the town.

If you’d like to discover other destinations as well as Kesälahti, you can also explore Valtimo, Elomäki, Lieksa, Säyneinen, Tolosenmäki, Rääkkylä, Karhunmäki and Vanhahovi.

Frequently asked questions about Kesälahti

Where do the cultural and nature trails start?

They start in the courtyard of Sovintola in the town centre. The trails are clearly signposted along their entire length and lead through the history and nature of the surrounding area.

When does Puruveden Lohikuningas take place?

The rowing and trolling competition takes place annually in the week after Midsummer. The Muikkumarkkinat are also a major annual event in Kesälahti.

What should I know about Mäntyranta beach?

Mäntyranta is on Lake Puruvesi, at Vääränmäentie 43, and charges an admission fee. Swimming access and any fees are seasonal.

What makes the local history museum special?

Kesälahden kotiseutumuseo features historic buildings and objects, including one of Finland’s largest smoke saunas. A boardwalk also runs along the pond shore.

For an overview of the wider region, see North Karelia.