Water Routes on Lake Inarijärvi

Destinations

Partakko–Nitsijärvi RouteKallovuono-Lammaslahti. Photo: Tapio Tynys

At Partakko, you can start your trip from the Käyräniemi boat launch maintained by the municipality. The trip's finishing point is by the Nitsijärvi boat ramp. Of course, you can also take this trip in the opposite direction. The distance between the starting and finishing points by road is about 14 kilometres, so you can pick up your car from the starting point by bicycle at the end of the trip, provided you leave your bicycle at the finishing point before setting off from the start.

The proposed route is vulnerable to strong winds both on Lake Nitsijärvi and Lake Inarijärvi, so you must have good canoeing skills and sufficient experience of paddling in rough waters.

There are three alternatives for canoeing the Partakko–Nitsijärvi Route. In order to take the shortest route, you must pull or carry your kayak from the Kallovuono Fjord on Lake Inarijärvi to Lammaslahti Bay on Lake Nitsijärvi. There is a 330-metre-long boat road across the isthmus. The shortest alternative is 33 km long. You can stay overnight on Lammassaari Island.

Maps

Electronic maps

Route Description from Partakko © Metsähallitus 2015

Another alternative is to continue past Lammaslahti Bay to the Kuuva Canal and take a shortcut along the canal to Koskivuono Fjord. In this instance, you will have to canoe along the northern edge of the open waters of Vasikkaselkä. The shore only provides some shelter from the northern winds. The name "Kuuva Canal" comes from a man by the name of Matti Kuuva. He dug the canal with a spade at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The canal shortens the distance between Kanavavuono Fjord and Koskivuono Fjord by 16 kilometres. The route's total length is 42 kilometres.

The third and the longest alternative goes around Pisterinniemi. On this route, you can visit the Pisteri boating base (in Finnish), which provides some services. There is also an open wilderness hut at the boating base. The distance from Käyräniemi to the Pisteri boating base is 25 kilometres. The final section onto Lake Nitsijärvi and to the road side is equally long. The Nitsikoski Rapids are situated between Lakes Inarijärvi and Nitsijärvi. The rapids are short and easy to pass, as there are chutes in the rapids. There is also a footbridge.