Discover Asikkala: Canals, nature and culture

Asikkala brings waterways together with a landscape of lakes, ridges and forest trails. In Vääksy, canals, old residential and commercial buildings, and visitor and cultural attractions shape the character of the town; elsewhere in the municipality, there are beaches, routes and aviation history. A trip with children can take many different forms: lakeshores and nature trails, changing exhibitions, local foods or outdoor activities.

Asikkala at a glance

• The Vääksy Canal connects Lake Vesijärvi with Lake Päijänne.
• The Kalkkinen Canal runs from Lake Päijänne to Lake Ruotsalainen and is now operated as a self-service canal.
• The routes in Aurinkovuori range from 3 to 15 kilometres and include trails for walking, cycling or snowshoeing.
• The nearly nine-kilometre-long Pulkkilanharju ridge runs across Lake Päijänne and is part of a nationally valuable landscape area.
• Kalmarinranta on Lake Vesijärvi is a 700-metre-long, gently sloping sandy beach.

Canals as waterways and landmarks

In the municipality of Asikkala, the canals at Vääksy and Kalkkinen connect important waterways: the Vääksy Canal links boating traffic between Lake Vesijärvi and Lake Päijänne, while the Kalkkinen Canal connects Lake Päijänne with Lake Ruotsalainen. Together, the canals open up a water route from Lahti to Jyväskylä and on to Heinola. The Kalkkinen Canal was once used for log floating; today it is operated as a self-service canal. With two locks, it is the longest freshwater canal in Europe.

Passenger boats also make Vääksy a stop along the water: boats on the Lahti–Heinola route operated by Päijänne-Risteilyt Hilden call here. Trips and timetables are seasonal. This makes boat travel a seasonal element of trip planning, while the canals themselves also shape the character of the municipality.

Vääksy: cultural landscape and local discoveries

Vanha Vääksy preserves wooden and stone residential and commercial buildings from the early days of the town’s commercial centre. The area is a regionally significant cultural landscape. The buildings bring the town’s earlier development to life in the streetscape, without the need for a single standout attraction.

Päijännetalo is at the heart of the Vääksy Canal area. It houses Asikkala municipality’s tourist information office, a shop selling local produce, an information point for the Salpausselkä Geopark and the Finnish Recreational Fishing Museum. The museum’s exhibition rooms are on the second floor; it first opened to the public in 2001. Päijännetalo also features changing exhibitions and a local microbrewery.

Another glimpse into history can be found at the Vääksy watermill and power plant museum. It presents a time when hydropower was the most important source of energy in everyday life and grain milling was an important livelihood. For a break with regional produce, visit the Viipurilainen Kotileipomo shop and café in Vääksy, where you’ll find fresh bread, sweet pastries and other local products. Opening hours may vary by season.

Farms also offer a glimpse into food production: in Asikkala, visitors can visit several farms and see how the food sold there is produced. Visitor opportunities and any arrangements required may vary from farm to farm.

Landscapes of Pulkkilanharju and southern Päijänne

Pulkkilanharju consists of esker islands and submerged eskers and stretches for almost nine kilometres across Lake Päijänne. It is part of a nationally valuable landscape area. A scenic road leads there from Vääksy. Pulkkila is also home to Karisalmi, a nationally significant birdwatching site.

Further afield in the region, the Päijänne National Park lies in the southern part of Lake Päijänne and includes about fifty islands and skerries. Steep cliffs, sandy ridges, sheltered lagoons and small skerries define its landscape; the islands can be explored by sailboat or motorboat. There are numerous natural harbours for boaters. This glimpse of the island world adds a distinct focus on water and protected nature to the trails and cultural landscapes within the municipality.

Routes for getting active and observing nature

The Aurinkovuori outdoor area, part of the Salpausselkä ridge, offers routes for exercise and nature outings. The longer routes are 10, 12 and 15 kilometres long and maintained as multi-use routes for cycling, walking or snowshoeing. The 3- and 7-kilometre routes are lit and maintained in winter; seasonal maintenance may vary.

The shorter routes also offer different stopping points: the 3-kilometre route has a lean-to shelter with a fire pit and a supply of firewood. The 7-kilometre route has the Kivistö lean-to shelter, completed in 2020, with a fire pit, a supply of firewood, a dining set and a viewing swing. The facilities at shelters may change.

At Pulkkilanharju, the nature trail offers another option: it is just over two kilometres long and mostly easy to walk; part of Pulkkilanharju lies within Päijänne National Park. Another route is about 4.5 kilometres long and runs mostly along easy forest paths through an esker and lake landscape. This gives you a choice of shorter trails and longer routes through varied scenery.

Beach, golf and aviation history

Kalmarinranta on Lake Vesijärvi combines a gently sloping sandy beach with a 12-hole disc golf course in the beach area. The beach is also considered safe for young children playing in the water. Beach facilities and water conditions may change. For golf enthusiasts, Kanavagolf is a distinct attraction in Vääksy: completed in 2005, it covers about 80 hectares and has 18 holes.

The Päijät-Häme Aviation Museum at Lahti-Vesivehmaa Airport in the village of Vesivehmaa explores a different subject. It displays around 15 decommissioned Finnish Air Force aircraft dating from the 1920s onwards, as well as numerous aircraft parts. The collection provides a striking contrast with the municipality’s waterways, hiking routes and historic buildings.

Which location suits your stay?

Vääksy is the ideal focus if you want to centre your stay on canals, the historic townscape, visitor attractions and local produce. For a stay focused on outdoor activities, the routes in Aurinkovuori or at Pulkkilanharju can help guide your planning; the beach and birdwatching offer other highlights. If several themes matter to you, choose your accommodation location based on the outings you most want to experience first.

Discover more destinations: Hartola, Nyystölä, Vierumäki, Orimattila, Hämeenkoski, Heinola, Lahti and Padasjoki.

Frequently asked questions about Asikkala

Which waterways connect the lakes?

The Vääksy Canal connects Lake Vesijärvi and Lake Päijänne; the Kalkkinen Canal runs from Lake Päijänne to Lake Ruotsalainen. The canals open up a water route from Lahti to Jyväskylä and on to Heinola. The Lahti–Heinola boat route, which stops in Vääksy, is seasonal.

What routes are there in Aurinkovuori?

The multi-use routes are 10, 12 and 15 kilometres long. There are also lit 3- and 7-kilometre routes, which are maintained in winter; seasonal maintenance may vary.

What defines the landscape of Päijänne National Park?

The park, located in the southern part of Lake Päijänne, includes about fifty islands and skerries. Its landscapes include steep cliffs, sandy ridges and sheltered lagoons; the islands can be explored by sailboat or motorboat.

How can you choose where to stay based on your interests?

Vääksy is the main focus for canals, townscape and local attractions. If longer routes or nature outings are your priority, use Aurinkovuori and Pulkkilanharju as guides to the location you want. This way, your search is shaped by the day trips you want to be at the heart of your stay.

See the full travel guide: Päijät-Häme.