Bike travel guidefor Päijät-HämeTips on routes, services and events for bike travel in the woodlands
and scenic countryside of Päijät-Hämet
Le

Asikkala

HartolaHollolaHeinolaIitti

Kärkölä

Lahti

Orimattila

Sysmä

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Padasjoki

Mountain biking
in Päijät-Häme
Photo: Kimmo Hirvonen

Päijät-Häme is a scenic county of opportunities, which
offers bike travellers experiences varying from rurallandscapes to forest trails and from lake shores to culturalsites and idyllic country villages.
On your bike tour, you can admire Salpausselkä Geopark’s landscapecreated by water, climb one of the fantastic viewing towers in our area ortake a closer look at the area’s nature on one of the hiking trails in PäijätHäme. Holidaying here has been made easy for you, as the cycling-friendly
accommodation, restaurant and adventure services specialise in catering
for the needs of cyclists.
This guide presents the best routes, services and events for cyclists in PäijätHäme. The guide was produced by Päijät-Häme for Cycling Tourists, a joint
project of LAB University of Applied Sciences and Päijät-Hämeen Liikunta ja
Urheilu, with the operators in the region. The routes presented in the guidewere selected in accordance with the wishes of municipalities. The project isfinanced by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Further information: paivi.tommola@lab.fi
Cover photos from left to right: 1-2 & 4 Patrick Dormischian ja Miemo
Penttinen.

Cycling Destinations
Easily accessible off-road trails
Kintterön Kymppi
Hakalaukunlenkki
Huippupolku
Multipurpose routes of Aurinkovuori
Korvenlampi route
Kevätpuronpolku

Off-road routes for more trail-oriented cyclists
Juustopolku (7a Heinola, 7b Vuolenkoski)
Aurinko-Ilves (8a Vääksy, 8b Evo)
Päijänne-Ilves (9a Padasjoki, 9b Tarusjärvi)Vierumäki routes
Tour around Kalaton lakelet
Valo-Ilves (11 a Vierumäki, 11 b Heinola)

Special fun for biking enthusiasts
Ilkankuru Bike Park
Ravis Bike Park
Päijätsalo bike trail

Hartola

Sysmä
Padasjoki

HeinolaAsikkala

Hollola
Lahti

Iitti
Kärkölä

Orimattila

Sysmä
HartolaPadasjoki

HeinolaAsikkala

Hollola
Lahti
Iitti

Kärkölä
Orimattila

Scenic trails for road cycling
Hollola village route

Nature lovers’ scenic trip
from Orimattila

Vesijärvi tour

Tour in Kalkkinen & Church-to-Church

A hundred kilometres in the
countryside of Iitti

Sysmä-Hartola tour

Rural tour in Kärkölä

Vääksy

Hartola

Sysmä
Hollola kk

Lahti
Hollola kk
Kärkölä kk

HerralaKalkkinen

JärveläLahti

VääksyOrimattila
Iitti kkEasily accessible
off-road trails

Photos from left to right: Juha-Pekka Huotari / City of Lahti, Kimmo Hirvonen, VisitLahti & Pasi Hyttinen

8m u l t i- p u r p o s e ro u te

Kintterön Kymppi
Length 10 km

Ascent in metres 160 m

Lahti

Route description
A varied mountain biking route that winds
around Kintterönsuo, which crosses the First
Salpausselkä along narrow mountain trails. There
are no large continuous hills on the route, but
short climbs and descents give rhythm to biking.
The trail ranges from root-covered singletrack
trails to needle-covered trails that are fast to ride.
Along the way, you can enjoy the atmosphere in
the old Kintterönsuo forest, peek into the kettle
holes of Salpausselkä and explore the cliffs ofHakalaukunmäki. Kintterön Kymppi is the mostdemanding route of the Salpausselkä Trails
network, so in some places the route also offers
small physical and technical challenges.

Good to know
The route is marked with red arrow signs, andit should be travelled in a clockwise direction.
You can start from the parking area of Sykekatu
or Koneharjunkatu. Both starting points havean information board with a route map. There isalso a beach near Koneharjunkatu. You can also
access the route from Tapanila ski lodge.
Kintterön Kymppi is part of the Salpausselkä
Trails network. Hakalaukun lenkki (7 km), a routemarked with purple arrows, criss-crosses thesame area, and you can easily include it in thisroute. The Salpausselkä Trails are designed for
multipurpose use, so bikers should always be
mindful of the trail runners, walkers and dog
walkers using the same routes.
Biking on Kintterön Kymppi is also possible
in winter. However, there is no mechanicalmaintenance on the route, so during deepsnow, you should have thick tyres and lower tyrepressures.
No facilities for breaks have been built along
the route, but Tapanila ski lodge is only ashort distance from the route (check the
opening hours). A suitable environment for ameal break can also be found on the eastern

Diverse forest trails on the edgesof the Kintterönsuo swamp
side of the Hakalaukunsuo swamp along the
Hakalaukunpolku trail.

Difficulty
The route is demanding in some places andrequires off-road riding skills. The most difficult
sections are on the edges of Kintterönsuo, whereclimbs and descents on root-covered terrain
require good riding skills and physical fitness.
The eastern side of the swamp has mainly
easy-to-travel coniferous forest trails with smallelevation differences.

Route starting points
Sykekatu parking place (Sykekatu 11, Lahti).
Don’t forget the parking disc (max. 4 h).
Koneharju parking place (Koneharjunkatu 10,
Lahti)
Tapanila ski lodge parking area (at the end of
Mäkirinteenkatu) distance of approximately 400 m“Welcome cyclist” services
near the route
Ski Out Bike (bike maintenance,
equipment sales) skiout.fi
Kitetirri Outdoors (guided
tours, rental of electric bicycles)
kitetirri.fi
Camping Messilä (accommodation, restaurant & café, rental
equipment) campingmessila.fi

9

Exploring the forest trails of Salpausselkä

Hakalaukunlenkki
Length 7 km (short cut option)

Ascent in metres 70 m

Lahti

Route description
Hakalaukunlenkki is a beginner-friendly mountainbiking route that winds along the slopes ofHakalaukunmäki, which is covered with rocks andsmall swamps. The route runs on fairly flat terrain
along smooth trails. There are no demanding
climbs or descents along Hakalaukunlenkki.
Along the route, you can see the shapes of
Salpausselkä, created by the ice age, andexperience the fascination of speed on smooth
forest trails. At the beginning of the route, youwill explore the edges of the Salpausselkä kettle
holes. On the slope of Hakalaukunmäki, in the
middle of spruce trees, you can also glimpse theview towards the Messilä ski slopes. Towards theend of the route, you can roll along the smoothneedle-covered trails back to Sykekatu.

Good to know
The route is marked in the terrain with purple
arrow marks (Hakalaukunlenkki: solid line,
Hakalaukunpolku: dotted line). The route shouldbe travelled in an anticlockwise direction. The
best starting point for the route is the Sykekatu
parking area, where you can find the routeinformation board.
There is a shortcut on the route, which shortens
the route to about 5 kilometres. By taking a shorterroute (Hakalaukunpolku), you can avoid the mostdemanding root-covered terrain of the route.
Hakalaukunlenkki is part of the Salpausselkä
Trails network. There is also Kintterön Kymppi (10km), marked with red arrow signs criss-crossing
near the route, and you can easily combine itwith the same tour. The Salpausselkä Trails aredesigned for multipurpose use, so bikers should
always be mindful of the trail runners, walkers
and dog walkers using the same routes.
Biking on Hakalaukunlenkki is also possible inwinter. There is no mechanical grooming on theroute, so during deep snow, you should havethick tyres and lower tyre pressures.

No facilities for breaks have been built along the
Hakalaukunlenkki route, but there are a table
and chairs along the shortcut on the edge of the
Hakalaukunsuo swamp, where you can have asnack. Tapanila ski lodge is only a short distancefrom the route (check the opening hours).

Difficulty
The route is fairly easy. The elevation differences
along the route are small, and the trails aremostly easy to bike. Beginner mountain bikers
may experience minor challenges with the short
duckboard bridge that must be crossed along
the way and with the root-covered trail section
among the spruce woods of Hakalaukunmäki.

Route starting point
Sykekatu parking area (Sykekatu 11, Lahti). Don’t
forget the parking disc (max. 4 h).

Further information•••

lahti.fi/vapaa-aika
Salpausselkä Trails can be found in the
Retkikartta.fi service of Metsähallitus under
the name of the route or by searching for“maastopyöräily” (mountain biking).
Online route map and mobile positioning:
kartta.lahti.fi“Welcome cyclist” services
near the route
Ski Out Bike (bike maintenance,
equipment sales) skiout.fi
Kitetirri Outdoors (guided
tours, rental of electric bicycles)
kitetirri.fi
Camping Messilä (accommodation, restaurant & café, rental
equipment) campingmessila.fi

10

Forest atmosphere on the slopes of the highest hill in Southern Finland

Huippupolku
Length 5.4 km

Ascent in metres 70 m

HollolaRoute description
Huippupolku is an off-road trip to the forests
on top of Tiirismaa, the highest hill in Southern
Finland. The route is part of the Tiirismaa
Trails mountain biking network, which enables
even longer trips in the same scenery. On
Huippupolku, you bike in the arms of the forest,
enjoying the challenge posed by the winding
trails and ever-changing scenery. At the
beginning of the route, the terrain is rocky, andthe ups and downs of small mounds make riding
more challenging. After the first kilometre, youleave behind the rocky terrain and pine forestand enter a spruce-dominated forest with moss
hummocks. You descend a gentle slope until
you swing back, and the terrain starts to ascend
gently. Even though you are biking on the slopesof the highest hill in Southern Finland, the climbs
and descents are moderate. The narrow andwinding trails require concentration.

Good to know
Huippupolku is part of the Tiirismaa Trails
network of mountain biking trails. Huippupolku
and the more demanding Villinlenkki trail canalso be biked by combining loops of various
lengths. The route crosses outdoor routes inseveral places, so be sure to pay attention toother people using the trails.
The recreational area of Tiirismaa has botharchaeological sites and several separate nature
reserves. The marked trails are aligned to protect
valuable sites, so please stay on the marked routes.
The route is marked with blue and black arrowmarks on the terrain, and it should be travelledin an anticlockwise direction. You can take ashort cut to avoid the back loop of the route. The
loop at the end, which is travelled in a clockwise
direction, is marked with blue and white arrows.
You can also bike the Huippupolku trail in winter.
There is no mechanical grooming on the route.
The elevated terrain of Tiirismaa is a very snowy
area, so it may take a while before the trails
are again discernible after snowfall. During thesnowy season, you should be equipped withthick tyres and low tyre pressures.
No facilities for breaks have been built along the
Huippupolku trail, but there is a lean-to called
Martan Maja about 100 metres from the route.
The parking area for all of the Tiirismaa Trails for
mountain biking can be found at the beginning ofArvi Hauvosentie. The starting and finishing pointsof the trail are 600 metres from the parking area.

Difficulty
The route is of medium difficulty. The elevationdifferences on the trail are quite small, but
the narrow trails and some challenging rocky
hillocks and root-covered terrain make the ride
challenging. The route requires mastery of offroad riding skills, but there are also longer, easiersections along the way.

Route starting point
Arvi Hauvosentie parking area (Arvi
Hauvosentie 3, Hollola)

Further information•

hollola.fi/maastoliikuntapolut“Welcome cyclist” services
near the route
Ski Out Bike (bike maintenance,
equipment sales) skiout.fi
Kitetirri Outdoors (guided
tours, rental of electric bicycles)
kitetirri.fi
Camping Messilä (accommodation, restaurant & café, rental
equipment) campingmessila.fi

11

Scenic trail network on easy terrain

Multipurpose routes of Aurinkovuori
Asikkala

Route description
A trail network in a great location criss-crossing
the ridge between Päijänne and Vesijärvi,where you can enjoy mountain biking andspectacular lake scenery on longer or shorterroutes. You can choose the best route for you
from a comprehensive network of narrow ridge
trails and trails used for skiing in the winter.
You can enjoy snacks at one of the region’s
two well-equipped lean-tos, while admiring themagnificent scenery over Päijänne or Vesijärvi.

The trails in the Aurinkovuori route network are
multipurpose trails, so there are also walkers, trail
runners and dog walkers on the routes.

In addition to longer routes, the trails of
Aurinkovuori include a small-scale training areafor downhill biking (no lift). You should also
check out the landscape stairs that rise from thedirection of Päijänne to the top of the ridge andthe lookout spot at the top of the stairs.

Most of the routes are easy to ride, and theterrain is technically easy. The fairly large
elevation differences of the terrain make theroutes physically demanding, but you have theoption to minimise the climbs by staying on topof the ridge. The small-scale downhill routes in
the area are easy and well suited for downhill
biking, even for the less experienced.

Good to know
The Aurinkovuori routes are marked with signs
and painted marks on the terrain, with themarkings varying depending on the route. The
starting gate for the routes and a route map areat the sports centre. This is also the starting point
for the Aurinko-Ilves route leading to Evo.

Aurinkovuori
Photo: Kimmo Hirvonen

The route network is also used in the winterseason, with the trails groomed approximately
once a week. The area also has a large ski trail
network, which means that only some of thetrails can be used for biking in winter.

Difficulty

Route starting point
Asikkalantie 16, Asikkala (Vääksy sports centre)

Further information•

asikkala.fi/kulttuuri-ja-vapaa-aika

12

Korvenlampi route
Length 12 km

HeinolaVaried forest trail to Korvenlampi
Route description

Difficulty

After the initial urban part of the route, you divealong Juustopolku to the root-covered trails of
the lakeside spruce forest of Konnivesi, which
offer small challenges for bike riders. The climb
up Korvenmäki may leave you breathless, but
the sections of root-covered terrain are there
for you to conquer. After crossing the hill, theKorvenlampi route separates from Juustopolku,
and you continue along a narrow trail towards
Korvenlampi (a small lake). At this point, you
should rest for a moment while enjoying thebeautiful scenery and some snacks, as there
are still two small hills and one swamp to be
crossed along the forest trail. For the rest of
the way back to Jyränkö, you roll along the dirt
roads of the Valo-llves route You pass the IsoSalijärvi campfire site and ascend a high ridge,
where you can peek into the deep kettle holesof Salpausselkä and enjoy the forest atmosphere
before returning to Jyränkö.

The difficulty level of the route varies, as the trail
includes both easy (Valo-Ilves) and mediumlevel (Juustopolku by Konnivesi lake) sections.
Juustopolku includes a few duckboard sections
that you may need to cross by foot. Elevationdifferences are moderate. There are only a few
completely flat sections, but the hills are notvery big.

Route starting point
Kangasvuokontie, Heinola (parking area of
Valo-Ilves)

Further information•

heinola.fi/vapaa-aika/luontoaktiviteetit

Good to know
The Korvenlampi tour is a combination of theJuustopolku and Valo-Ilves routes. Both routesections and the route from Juustopolku to
Valo-Ilves are marked routes, but you will have tonavigate the urban section in Jyränkö yourself. A
route map is available on the website of the Cityof Heinola.
You can travel the route in either direction.
However, it is good to know that the ValoIlves section is an easy dirt trail, whereas theJuustopolku section is a medium-level trail with
off-road riding. The beautiful lean-to site of
Korvenlampi is approximately at the midpoint of
the route, regardless of the direction you take.
Another excellent site for taking a break is at Lake
Iso-Salijärvi.

“Welcome cyclist” services
near the route
Vierumäki (bike rental,
accommodation and restaurant
services, activity services)vierumaki.fi

13
Urajärvi mansion
Photo: Kimmo Hirvonen

Salpausselkä Trails
Photo: Juha-Pekka Huotari /City of Lahti

14Heinola lakeside route
Length 5 km (one way) + 3.4 km (Saittalahdenpolku, circular route)Ascent in metres 90 m (mostly along the Saittalahdenpolku trail)

HeinolaRoute description
The Heinola lakeside route from Sahanniemi to
Kaivanto is a historic lakeside promenade next tothe national urban park. It presents a magnificent
setting of historic parks, museums, allotments
and beaches, as well as the atmosphere of a lush
summer town. Along the way, you can enjoy acampfire in an urban setting or play a round of
disc golf. On the lakeside route, cycling is easy
and effortless, and you can stop to enjoy the local
cafes and restaurants, as well as the resting places
offered by parks. In the popular panoramic cafein the water tower, you can admire the cityscapefrom above. If you wish, you can easily visit the
popular Heinola Bird Rescue and Sanctuary near
the route or stop for local delicacies at the Harju
pavilion, which is of historic value.
The route runs mainly along the river Kymijoki,
past the picturesque railway bridge. If you wish,
you can continue your journey to the Saittalahti
lean-to, which is by Lake Ruotsalainen. Unlike therest of the route, this section also includes parts
where some off-road biking skills are needed.

Good to know
The Heinola lakeside route section that runsin the urban area is not marked on the terrain,
but between Sahanniemi and Kaivanto, you arealways following the Kymijoki river close to thecity centre, so getting lost is difficult.
If you wish, you can continue your journey northfrom Kaivanto by going under the motorway
bridge and bypassing the Saittalahdenpolku
trail, which is marked with light-coloured spots
and arrow marks on the terrain. Most parts ofthis route section are a relatively easy wide trail.
The route section between Sahanniemi andKaivanto is about 5 km in one direction and
Saittalahdenpolku (circular route) 3.4 km.

Difficulty
The route section in the urban area is very easy.
This section has very small elevation differences,

Cultural attractions, parks andlakeside views near the cityand the route runs along gravel-surfaced leisuretrails. The Saittalahdenpolku trail is rather
easy mountain biking with moderate elevationdifferences, but it is still significantly moredemanding than the other sections of the route.

Route starting point
Kyminkatu 73, Heinola (Tommola dog park in
Sahanniemi)
Kaivannonlahdentie 3, Heinola (Kaivanto beachin the city area)
Laaksotie 69, Heinola (parking area under the
motorway bridge)
Pitkäniementie 93, Heinola (parking area at thenorthern end of the route)

Further information••

heinola.fi/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/
Cross-Culture-Route_pien.pdf
heinola.fi/vapaa-aika/luontoaktiviteetit“Welcome cyclist” services
near the route
Vierumäki (bike rental,
accommodation and restaurant
services, activity services)vierumaki.fi

15

A varied route with beautiful nature right next to the services of Pajulahti

Kevätpuronpolku
Length 1,5 km

Lahti

Route description
Kevätpuronpolku, the new mountain biking
trail in Pajulahti, provides a glimpse of theforests surrounding the Training Center and is
extremely suitable for novice mountain bikers.
Kevätpuronpolku trail takes you through forest
sceneries up on a rocky hill, from where youroll back down next to a beautiful brook. Alongthe varied route, you can challenge yourself
when climbing the hill. After stopping briefly
to catch your breath, you continue onwards toenjoy rolling back down the hill. The final rocky
descent is exciting and makes your pulse race
for a moment.

Good to know
The route should be travelled in a clockwise
direction. The route is marked on the terrain withpaint marks.
Kevätpuronpolku is located in the immediatesurroundings of Pajulahti Training Center.
You can easily rent a fatbike from Pajulahti forthis tour. If you want to bike a longer route,

you should head to the pine forest trails of
Nastonharju or to the Lapakisto trails, which offer
slightly more challenging cross-country biking.
After your bike trip, you may want to takeadvantage of the excellent accommodation andrestaurant services of Pajulahti Training Center.
In the immediate vicinity of the route, there isalso an adventure park that especially children
will find interesting.

Difficulty
The Kevätpuronpolku trail is of medium difficulty.
The most challenging part of the route is the
rocky descent at the end, but there is also aneasier route option that is suitable for beginners.

Route starting points
Ylhäistentie, Lahti

Further information•

pajulahti.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/
Pajulahden_Kevatpuronpolku_kartta.pdf

Pajulahti
Photo: Niki Soukkio /Liikuntakeskus Pajulahti

Off-road routes for moretrail-oriented cyclists

Photos from left to right: Iida Hollmen, Päivi Tommola, Iida Hollmen & Kimmo Hirvonen

17

Juustopolku
Length 17 km (one way)

HeinolaRoute description
The Juustopolku trail leads cyclists from Jyränkö
in Heinola to the Vuolenkoski village in Iitti
through deep forest landscapes and over rocky
hills. Juustopolku is an old market route that wasused to transport cheese from rural villages to
Heinola market. Nowadays, Juustopolku serves
as a hiking trail, which is also ideal for mountainbiking. Along the route, the landscape varies fromthe rugged spruce bogs in the lakeside forestsof Konnivesi to clear-cut areas, lichen-coveredrocks, grove forests and the pine forests at theend. For a short while, you can also gaze at lush
field landscapes. The most interesting attraction
along the route is the massive erratic boulder,
Kupparinkivi, which was dragged into place by
the continental glacier during the ice age.

Good to know
The route is marked on the terrain with signs
and white paint marks. The route map can beviewed at the starting point. You can also print
it out on the website of the City of Heinola. The
Läpiä lean-to is a good place for taking a breakapproximately midway down the route.
Mountain bikers planning a long daytrip shouldnote that Juustopolku, Valo-Ilves leading from
Heinola to Vierumäki, and the connecting route
between Vuolenkoski and Vierumäki form a route
network that is enough even for longer trips. You
will have to navigate the Jyränkö urban section
yourself; otherwise the route is marked.
Length 17 km (one way)

Difficulty
When leaving Jyränkö in Heinola, the rootcovered lakeside trail of the first stretch requires
riding skills and in some sections, good physicalcondition. After the first section, the trail
becomes smoother, and it is easy rolling to the
Läpiäntie road. After you leave the road, you will
face the most demanding root-covered terrainon the route and a steep, enduro-type descenttowards the Läpiä lean-to. As you approach
Vuolenkoski, there are a few tough ascents

Deep forests, rocky hills and atouch of cultural landscapehidden in the spruce forests and long singletrack stretches that delight even skilled mountainbikers. The last kilometres before arriving in
Vuolenkoski are smooth forest trails.
Along the way, there are a few short duckboard
sections and a ditch crossing, for which you may
need to hop off your bike. The route’s elevation
profile is variable, but the climbs are rather small.

Route starting points
Tamppilahdenkatu, Heinola (end of the road)
Herrojentie 14, Iitti (Vuolenkoski sports field)

Further information••

visitpaijanne.fi/aktiviteetit/retkeilyreitit
heinola.fi“Welcome cyclist” services
near the route
Vierumäki (bike rental,
accommodation and restaurant
services, activity services)vierumaki.fi

Juustopolku
Photo: Iida Hollmen

Juustopolku
Photo: Pasi Hyttinen

19

Aurinko-Ilves
Length 31 km (one way)

Asikkala

Route description
Aurinko-Ilves leads cyclists from the beautiful
surroundings of Vääksy towards the thick forestsof the Evo hiking area. Along the route, you willfind the Aurinkovuori ridge with its magnificent
views, Syrjänsupat kettle holes with the storiesof their creation, and Kurhila village and Evoforests with their beautiful scenery. You should
also enjoy breaks while on the Aurinko-Ilves trail,
as pleasant lean-to sites along bubbling brooks
await bikers along the route. The many fishing
spots and forest cottages in the Evo hiking area
are popular places to visit.

Good to know
The route is marked on the terrain with signs
and yellow/orange paint marks. In Vääksy, theoff-road section of the route starts at the Sports
Centre, but you can already start your excursion
from Päijännetalo’s parking area, where you canview the route map. At Evo, the route ends at
Mustalammi, from where you can continue yourjourney further into the route network of the
Evo hiking area. The route connection along the
Päijänne-Ilves route to Padasjoki is an interesting
addition for cyclists.
There are a total of four lean-to sites along
the route, of which Uusimylly and Kaupinsaari
are by brooks and offer the best conditions
for camping. The Aurinkovuori lean-to is at alookout spot on top of a ridge. Along the route,
Vanha Kievari and HilleRin offer cafe services inthe village of Kurhila. There are a camping area
and a cookhouse in the courtyard of the Kurhila
clubhouse. Be extra careful on the route section
between the Kurhila clubhouse and Uusimylly, as
horse riders also use the terrain.

Difficulty
When you leave Vääksy, the first kilometres of
the route are wider cart tracks or easy ridge
trails. However, physical exertion is required,because the route starts with an ascent of
Aurinkovuori. After you have crossed Kirkkotie
road, the trail surface becomes slightly moredemanding. In the village of Kurhila, the route

Forest trails, field landscapes, andlush brook banks
runs along the edges of fields and briefly along
the road, until it becomes a narrower trail whenapproaching the Uusimylly lean-to. After the
Uusimylly lean-to, forest road sections andnarrower trails alternate on the route. The last
kilometres before reaching the Evo hiking area
are mainly roads.
As a whole, the route is technically easy, withsome short, medium-level sections. Physically,
the route’s difficulty is medium due to the large
elevation differences in some places on theslopes of Aurinkovuori. There are only a few
short duckboard sections on the route.

Route starting point
Asikkalantie 16, Asikkala (Vääksy sports centre)
Talvilammentie 549, Hämeenlinna (Mustalammi
Evo)Further information••

visitpaijanne.fi/aktiviteetit/retkeilyreitit
luontoon.fi/evo“Welcome cyclist” services
near the route
Vierumäki (bike rental,
accommodation and restaurant
services, activity services)vierumaki.fi

Päijänne-Ilves
Photo: Päivi Tommola

Aurinko-Ilves
Photo: Päivi Tommola

21

Päijänne-Ilves
Length 13 km (one way)

Padasjoki

Route description
The varied Päijänne-Ilves is a connecting routefrom Padasjoki to the Tarus hiking area and Evo.
In Padasjoki , the route starts from the harbour,with the Kullasvuori lookout tower near the
harbour offering stunning views over Päijänne.
The highlight of the first section of the route is
the beautiful spruce alley of Hietaranta. After ashort stretch of forest, you come to the fieldsof Nyystölä and the monument to the Cudgel
War. After crossing the main road, the rollingfield landscape changes to a more forested
environment, where the beautiful lean-to spot of
Nuijamiehenkolo awaits cyclists along a brook.

The Nuijamiehenkolo lean-to is an excellent site
for taking a break along the route. There aregood hiking and camping facilities on the shoreof Iso-Tarus.

After the Nuijamiehenkolo lean-to, the journeycontinues towards the nature reserve of Frans
Joosef lakelet and Iso-Tarus, where the otherend of the route has a campfire place, a beachand a camping area.

When leaving Padasjoki, the first kilometres of
the route are an easy dirt road. After a shortstretch of forest, the route continues along a fieldroad past the village of Nyystölä. After crossing
the main road, the environment becomes moreforested, but the trail surface remains easy. The
trail becomes narrower as you approach the
Nuijamiehenkolo lean-to, but biking is still fastand easy. After the lean-to, the character of theroute will change completely, with alternating
short road sections and demanding narrow trails,
where the surface becomes smoother only ashort time before arriving on the shore of Iso-

Good to know
The route is marked on the terrain with signs
and yellow paint marks. The route map can also
be viewed in the Tarus hiking area. The starting
point in Padasjoki is the Padasjoki harbour,
where the summer cafe is a good place for abreak or meal after your trip.

Päijänne-Ilves is a point-to-point trail, but you
can easily combine it with a journey back to thestarting point along the village road between
Iso-Tarus and Padasjoki. The route can be ridden
in either direction. You can also continue your trip
from Iso-Tarus to the Evo hiking area and onwards
along the Aurinko-Ilves route towards Vääksy.

Difficulty

Päijänne-Ilves
Photo: Päivi Tommola

22

From Päijänne through thecountryside into the woods“Welcome cyclist” services
near the route
Vierumäki (bike rental,
accommodation and restaurant
services, activity services)vierumaki.fi

Tarus. The stretch of the trail that lies to the westof the forest road between Nuijamiehenkolo and
Iso-Tarus is partly unsuitable for biking, but you
can easily bypass it by taking the forest road.
There are some short duckboard sections
along the trail, but they are wide and cyclistfriendly. There are no big ascents or descentsalong the way.

Route starting point

Further information

Laivarannantie 41, Padasjoki (Padasjoki harbour)
Taruksentie 290, Padasjoki (Iso-Tarusjärvi)••Mountain biking
Päijänne-Ilves
Photo: Kimmo Hirvonen

visitpaijanne.fi/aktiviteetit/retkeilyreitit
luontoon.fi/evo

Part 1 South

Scenic trails
for road cycling

Photos from left to right: Tarmo Valmela, Visit Lahti, Päivi Tommola & Leila Karjalainen

24Take a lakeside road to the countryside and the cultural environment of Hollola village

Hollola village route
Length 37 km

Ascent in metres 230 m

Lahti, Hollola

Route Lahti sports centre – Messilä – Hollola village centre – Hollola municipal centre – Lahti
sports centre

Route description
The route leads cyclists from the Lahti harbour
along Rantatie meandering on the slopes of
Salpausselkä towards the vibrant Hollola village.
After Messilä, the forest scenery changes
into countryside surrounding the picturesque
Pyhäniemi manor milieu. In the village centre,
the medieval grey stone church of Hollola
already welcomes cyclists from a distance.
Other interesting places for cyclists to visit in
the summer are the heritage museum and
Kapatuosia hill fort, where the observation tower
offers spectacular views over Lake Vesijärvi.
Refreshment is provided by the church village
kiosk, village shop and the beach.
The journey from the Hollola village centre
continues on a bicycle path through Hälvälä
forests. You can pass the Hollola municipal
centre either by taking the bicycle path along
Hämeenlinnantie or through Terveystie, where you
can take the wooden stairs to Salpa-Suppa, which
presents traces of the ice age. From the Hollola
municipal centre, you go back to Lahti throughthe world-famous winter sports stage of the sports
centre. After your trip, you might want to take a dip
in the refreshing waters of the outdoor swimming
pool at the bottom of the ski jumping hill.

Good to knowThis route description follows the route in an
anticlockwise direction, but the route can betravelled in either direction. If you choose aclockwise direction, you immediately ascend to
Salpausselkä, from where you descend before
the Hollola village centre.
The route runs along asphalt roads and bicycle
paths that are in good condition. In summer,
there may be quite a lot of traffic on the section
between the centre of Lahti and Hollola. Between
the Hollola village centre and the municipal
centre, you can bike most of the way on bikepaths, which is also the case at the beginning andend of the route when leaving Lahti.
You can also start the route from Messilä or
Hollola municipal centre, which eliminates thedetour to Lahti, and the route is shortened to lessthan thirty kilometres.

Difficulty
The route is easy and suitable for a day trip evenfor beginner cyclists. Along the way, there is only
one major ascent and a descent with gentle
slopes.

Route starting points
In Lahti: Salpausselänkatu, Lahti (Sports Centre)
In the municipality of Hollola: Terveystie, Hollola(parking area of the swimming hall)In the village of Hollola: Kirkkotie, Hollola(parking area for the beach)

Further information•

visitlahti.fi“Welcome cyclist” services
near the route
Ski Out Bike (bike maintenance,
equipment sales) skiout.fi
Kitetirri Outdoors (guided
tours, rental of electric bicycles)
kitetirri.fi
Koiskala Manor (private dining)koiskala.fi
Camping Messilä (accommodation, restaurant & café, rental
equipment) campingmessila.fi

25

Vesijärvi tour
Length 80+ km

Ascent in metres 480 m

Asikkala, Hollola, Lahti

Route Lahti Sports Centre – Paimela – Vesivehmaa – Vääksy – Kurhila – Viitaila – Hollola
village – Messilä – Lahti Sports Centre

Cultivated landscapes, culturalvillages, waterfront streets andthe idyllic Vääksy canalRoute description
The Vesijärvi tour is a classic route common to
Asikkala, Hollola and Lahti, which is also well
suited for a day trip. The highlights of the trip
are the Lahti harbour area with its many cultural
attractions, the idyllic canal setting of Vääksy,the rural landscapes of Kurhila–Viitaila, andthe centre of Hollola village with its grey stone
church and hill fort. You can also enjoy beautiful
lake scenery in many places along the route.
The route is of varying terrain. Along the way,
there are some heart rate-elevating climbs, butalso some speedy descents. Good stops along
the way are the Vääksy canal area, Hollola
village centre and Lahti harbour area, all ofwhich have cafes or restaurants suitable forcyclists’ breaks. The Kalmar beach in Vääksy,which is said to be the most beautiful beachin Southern Finland, is an excellent choice forenjoying your own snacks.

Difficulty
A variable route with moderate elevationdifferences. The most demanding ascents of
the route are to the west of Vesijärvi, between
Hollola and Kurhila. The rest of the route is quite
flat and easy.

Route starting pointIn Lahti: Salpausselänkatu, Lahti (Sports Centre)
In Hollola: Rantatie, Hollola (Hollola village)
In Asikkala: Asikkalantie 14, Vääksy (Sports hall/Sports centre)

Further information•

visitlahti.fi

Good to know
The route can be biked in either direction,and you can easily extend it, for example, by
including the Vääksy church in the loop, whichadds a short dirt road section to the route.
When passing Lahti and Vääksy and in Kurhila,
the route runs on a bicycle path. The mostcongested roadside section of the route is
between Lahti and Hollola (Rantatie). Apart fromthese sections, the route runs on relatively quiet
asphalt roads.
You can find excellent services for recreationor accommodation along the way in the Lahti
city area, Messilä, Hollola village and Vääksy.
The exhibitions of Päijännetalo on the history offishing, Salpausselkä Geopark and the nature in
the area are all worth a closer look.

“Welcome cyclist” services
near the route
Ski Out Bike (bike maintenance,
equipment sales) skiout.fi
Kitetirri Outdoors (guided
tours, rental of electric bicycles)
kitetirri.fi
Koiskala Manor (private dining)koiskala.fi
Camping Messilä (accommodation, restaurant & café, rental
equipment) campingmessila.fi26

A hundred kilometresin the countryside of Iitti
Length 105+ km

Iitti, Lahti

Route Kausala – Iitti village – *Hiidenvuori – Kimola canal – Vuolenkoski – *Vierumäki Sports
Institute – Immilänkoski – Kuivanto – Metsälä – Perheniemi – Kausala*The site is not directly on the route

Route description
The route through the lovely Iitti village andthe Kimola canal, which is popular with boat
enthusiasts, offers a hundred kilometres ofbeautiful lake scenery and vibrant rural villages.
In the heart of the Iitti village, the beautiful milieu
with a red wooden church is a delight. On yourway north from the village, you cross the beautiful
Virran silta bridge. You arrive at a junction that isa short distance from the base of the magnificent
Hiidenvuori hill. If you are interested in a small
hike, there is only a short hike to one of PäijätHäme’s most spectacular viewpoints.
On the Kimola canal, which connects the
Päijänne and Kymijoki water systems, you
get momentarily swept away by the joy ofboating. The 70-metre canal’s rock tunnel isalso accessible by paddling. From the canal,
the journey continues through the vibrant ruralvillage of Vuolenkoski towards Vierumäki, where
the services of the Sports Institute can easily be
used. After the cultivated landscapes and shortforest sections, you reach the scenery of Lake
Sylvöjärvi. Immilä rapids and the Myllykahvila caferight next to the rapids provide an opportunity totake a break at the scenic spot.
After crossing highway 12, you bike through thecountryside towards the beautiful rural villagesof Arrajärvi and Perheniemi. After just overa hundred kilometres, you will return via the
Kausala municipal centre to Iitti, a village that wasvoted the most beautiful village in Finland.

Good to know
You can travel the route in either direction. Mostof the sights along the route are to the north of
highway 12.

Kimola canal
Photo: Visit Lahti

27

The road leading to Hiidenvuori is a dirt road. The
rest of the route is asphalt road. There is a hiking
trail of approximately 0.5 km from the parking
area (Hiiltolantie 5–9, Iitti) to the lookout spot on
top of Hiidenvuori.
The Kimola canal offers a good opportunity to
get acquainted with the world of boating (open
May–October). There is also a summer kiosk at
the canal.
Along the way, the Iitti village centre, Vuolenkoski,
Vierumäki and Immilä offer great spots for
cyclists to take a break. Visits to Hiidenvuori and
Vierumäki increase the length of the route toabout 120 km.

Difficulty
The route is of medium difficulty. There are nolarge hills on the route, but it has nicely rolling
terrain. The elevation differences to the north of
highway 12 are greater than to the south of theroad.

Route starting point
Sähkötie 2, Uusikylä (Uusikylä club house)Hallitie 1, Kausala (Kausala ABC)

Iitti church
Photo: Päivi Tommola

Welcome cyclist” services
near the route
Radalla Resort (accommodation
services, restaurant services)
radallaresort.fi
Lomakivi (accommodation
services, restaurant services)lomakivi.fi
Vierumäki (accommodation
services, restaurant services,
activity services, bike rental)
vierumaki.fi
Koiskala manor (private dining)koiskala.fi
Yli-Kaitala Resort (accommodation services, restaurant services,
rental bikes) yli-kaitala.com

28

Rural tour in Kärkölä
Length 54 km

Ascent in metres 340 m

Kärkölä, Hollola

Route Kärkölä – Kärkölä village – Tennilä – Korpikylä – Herrala – Keituri – Tienmutka – Kärkölä
Route description
The rural tour in Kärkölä takes you to thebeautiful countryside of Päijät-Häme with its
riversides, golden fields and forest trails. The
route also offers a hint of exoticism in the formof the English-style landscaped park of Huovila,
which lies in the middle of fields north of
Kärkölä. Huovila Park is a unique landscape site
in Finland, which has been restored to its originalform dating back to the early 20th century. The
park is in a lush meadow-like brook valley atthe end of a handsome spruce alley. There isa summer cafe in the park, and there are also
summertime events and exhibitions.
In addition to Huovila Park, Kärkölä’s rural tour
introduces the cultural landscape of rural PäijätHäme. The roadside is mainly lined by open
field views, but every now and then you diveinto the forest for a moment. Along the way, youpass Korpikylä riding stables and Luhdanjoki
flood meadows, which are also a good place forbirdwatching. The surroundings of the railway
station of the rural Herrala village are a culturalhistorical attraction with cherished scenery. In
Herrala, there is also the Hahmajärvi beach,where you can have a refreshing swim or simply
enjoy the beautiful lake scenery and a delicious
packed lunch.

Good to knowThis route description follows the route in theclockwise direction, but you can bike the route ineither direction.
The rural tour of Kärkölä runs entirely along
paved roads, but the surface is slightly coarser
in some places. In the population centres of
Kärkölä and Herrala, the route runs on a bicycle
path, otherwise amid traffic.

Rolling farmland, riverside
and a landscaped park in the
English style

Huovilanpuisto is an excellent place for taking a
break along the route. The park area is open all
year round, with a cafe serving the area during
the summer. There is an entrance fee to the area
when the cafe/information desk is open.

Difficulty
The rural tour of Kärkölä is a moderate route interms of elevation differences, and it is suitable
for a day trip even for beginners. There are no
demanding climbs or descents along the route.
The route runs mainly along quiet rural roads.

“Welcome cyclist” services
near the route
Ski Out Bike (bike maintenance,
equipment sales) skiout.fi
Kitetirri Outdoors (guided
tours, electric bicycle rental)
kitetirri.fi

Huovila park
Photo: Tarmo Valmela

Huovila park
Photo: Tarmo Valmela

30

Nature lovers’ scenic trip
from Orimattila
Length 60 km

Ascent in metres 120 m

Orimattila

Route Orimattila – Tönnö – Mallusjoki – Kangasmäki – Pakaa – Niinikoski – Villikkala –Köykkölä – Montari – Kairessuo – Orimattila

Route description
On this route, you explore three different naturesites and the nationally valuable protected
landscape around them.
At the beginning of the route, you will admire
the old Tönnö Bridge with cultural-historicalimportance and the Tönnönkoski rapids. You
will bike south following the river Porvoonjoki,
enjoying the views of the Porvoonjoki rivervalley, which is classified as a nationally valuableprotected landscape. At Mallusjoki, you take anature trail to feel the atmosphere of an ancientforest. You bike through the villages of Pakaa
and Niinikoski in the countryside. In the village ofVillikkala, you should stop for a scenic break, as
the cultivated landscape of Artjärvi opening up
in front of you is included in the list of nationallyvaluable protected landscapes. Traditional
construction methods, significant manors andtraditional rural biotopes increase the value ofthe area.
The journey continues from Villikkala through thevillages of Köykkölä and Montari to KairessuoMieliäissuo, the last nature site of the trip. Hereyou can explore the swamp nature by taking amarked nature trail. The highlight of the trail isthe observation tower, from where you have abird’s eye view of the scenery and swamp life.
The place is also perfect for enjoying a picnic
before returning to the urban bustle.

Good to know
Along the route, you can take the nature trailsof Mallusjoki (1.5 km) and Kairessuo-Mieliäissuo(3.5 km). Both trails are marked on the terrain.
The nature trail in Mallujoki’s old forest is easy towalk, whereas the Kairessuo-Mieliäissuo route

Cultural Heritage, riversidescenery and peaceful forests

has some duckboard sections and forest trails
covered with tree roots. During spring floods,
the route may be very wet in some places. Bothnature trails have a small parking area (Mallusjoki:
Selventie 71, Orimattila & Kairessuo-Mieliäissuo:
Koskustentie 525, Orimattila), where you canleave your bike while hiking. Just in case, you
might want to bring a lock with you for the trip.
The route runs mainly on asphalt roads, but there
are also short dirt road sections along the way.

Difficulty
Nature lovers’ scenic trip from Orimattila is aneasy route with no major climbs or descents.
The route is also suitable for beginner biketourers for longer day trips.

Further information
Nature path information, please see the websiteof the City of Orimattila

Kairessuo-Mieliäissuo
Photo: Päivi Tommola

Tönnö Orimattila
Photo: City of Orimattila

Part 2 North

Scenic routes
for road cycling

Photos from left to right: 1–3 Patrick Dormischian & Päivi Tommola

33

From Finland’s most beautiful ridge scenery to a fitness test in Kopsuontie

Tour in Kalkkinen
Length 80 km

Ascent in metres 510 m

Asikkala

Route Vääksy – Pulkkilanharju – Kalkkinen canal – Kalkkinen – Vesivehmaa – Vääksy
Route description
The tour in Kalkkinen is a scenic day trip on
the shoreline roads of Finland’s second largest
lake, Lake Päijänne. At the departure point at
Päijännetalo in Vääksy, you can learn about
the history of fishing at Päijänne and explore
Salpausselkä Geopark and the nature in thearea. Along the way, you can bike through themagnificent Pulkkilanharju ridge, with a glittering
blue open lake on both sides. At Pulkkilanharju,
you move from one island to another along
beautiful bridges and take in the scenery of
Päijänne National Park. If you want to explore the
National Park more, you can do so on a cruisethat departs from the Karisalmi bridge.
On the north side of Karisalmi, a rest stop anda summer kiosk offer the opportunity to take abreak, and the ridge trail lures you on a hike toexplore the area’s nature. The bicycle path thatruns alongside road 314 has a gravel surface on
the national park section, and it passes throughthe forest, but still very close to the main road.
From Pulkkilanharju, the journey continues to the
Kalkkinen canal and rapids, towards the villageof Kalkkinen, where Mari bar, Pihamaa vineyard
and berry farm and the village shop are popularplaces for taking a break. On the Kopsuontie
road between Kalkkinen and Vesivehmaa, youwill encounter the toughest ascents and thefastest descents on the route, so you should
check both your energy reserves and brakes
before you head towards this section. Whenthe fitness test is over, you can still explore thetraces of the ice age in Vesivehmaankangas. The
expedition is crowned by a speedy descent from
Salpausselkä back to Vääksy.

Good to knowThis route description follows the route in aclockwise direction, but you can bike the route ineither direction.
From Kalkkinen towards Vesivehmaa, youbike the first kilometres on a dirt road. The
Pulkkilanharju National Park section also has
gravel bicycle paths, so it is not advisable to takethis route with the lightest road bike tyres
Kalmari beach in Vääksy is an excellent place totake a swim at the end of your trip. In Vääksy,you will also find a wide range of services forboth dining and accommodation.
In many places, the Kalkkinen tour follows thesame route as the Church-to-Church route, but
the tour is slightly longer, and it focuses on thenatural attractions of the area instead of church
sites.

Difficulty
The Kalkkinen Tour is a medium-level route. The
route from Vääksy to the village of Kalkkinen iseasy, with small elevation differences. The route
between Kalkkinen and Vääksy is considerably
more demanding, with quite large elevationdifferences measured on the Southern Finlandscale.

Route start point
Meijeritie 1, Asikkala (Päijännetalo, Vääksy)Further information•

visitpaijanne.fi“Welcome cyclist” services
near the route
Manor Cafe Hugo & Lily (café)
kahvilahugojalily.com
Café Vesis (café)

34

Church-to-Church
Length 62 km

Ascent in metres 390 m

Asikkala

Reitin kulku Vääksy – Asikkala kk - Pulkkilanharju – Kalkkinen – Vesivehmaa - Vääksy
Route description
The route runs through the beautiful ridge andlake landscape of Asikkala through six different
church sites. Along the way, you can admire
the new and old church culture and relax in the
middle of beautiful nature. The newest of thechurches, the Asikkala parish building, is next to
the idyllic Vääksy canal. From there, the journeycontinues to the nature church of Aurinkovuori
and further to the Asikkala village to marvel atthe church of a million bricks. You cross themagnificent landscape of Pulkkilanharju througha road that was voted Finland’s most beautiful
scenic route. After crossing Päijänne, you reachthe lively rural village of Kalkkinen, with its
handsome wooden church as the focal point of
the village.
In the village of Kalkkinen, the Mari bar, Pihamaa
vineyard and berry farm and the village shop are
popular places for cyclists to take a break. It isgood to rest here for a while before continuing
to Kopsuontie, where you will encounterthe route’s biggest ascents and descents.
After this, you can still explore the church of
Vuoksenlaakso’s Methodist congregation, whichis in the village of Vesivehmaa in a rural idyll.

New and old church culture inscenic ridge and lake landscape
The Church-to-Church route is in many places
the same as the Kalkkinen tour route, but theroute is a little shorter, and the focus is on the
church sites in the area, in addition to which you
can also explore the nature in the area.

Difficulty
Overall, Church-to-Church is a medium-level
route. The route from Vääksy to the villageof Kalkkinen is easy, with small elevationdifferences. The route between Kalkkinen and
Vääksy is considerably more demanding, withquite large elevation differences measured on
the Southern Finland scale.

Route starting point
Kalmarintie 3, Vääksy (Asikkala parish building)Further information•

asikkala.fi/matkailu-ja-tapahtumat/

Good to knowThis route description follows the route in aclockwise direction, but you can bike the routein either direction.
From Kalkkinen towards Vesivehmaa, youbike the first kilometres on a dirt road. The
Pulkkilanharju section also has gravel bicycle
paths, so it is not advisable to set off on thisroute with the lightest road bike tyres
Kalmari beach in Vääksy is an excellent place totake a swim at the end of your trip. In Vääksy,you will also find a wide range of services forboth meals and accommodation.

“Welcome cyclist” services
near the route
Manor Cafe Hugo & Lily (café)
kahvilahugojalily.com
Café Vesis (café)

35

Vellamo biking tour routes
Multiple options of varying lengths

Sysmä, Hartola

Romantic manors, lake scenery and cyclist-friendly services
Route description

Further information

The joint routes of Sysmä and Hartola, which
consist of several road routes that you can
combine according to your own interests. The
Luhanka-Vääksy road section, voted the mostbeautiful scenic route in Finland, passes throughthe route in the west, with the best parts of it thelake scenery at Päijänne and the vibrant ruralvillages. Along this route, you can also explore
Päijätsalo’s observation tower and trails and therapids of Tainionvirta and climb Kammiovuori,
the highest point of Sysmä. The beautiful manorlandscapes and valuable cultural sites of SysmäHartola also delight cyclists on the Vellamo
biking tour route.

•••

Along the route, the camping areas of Sysmä,
Koskenniemi and Krouvi, as well as a rich
network of cottages, cafes and restaurants,
attract visitors to stay in the area for several days.
The canoeing route of Tainionvirta and the hiking
trails of Päijänne National Park and Kammiovuori
can be easily combined with the Vellamo routes.

Good to know
The route network includes several sections of varying lengths, which you can combine as you wish.

Difficulty
The Vellamo biking tour routes combine several
sections of varying lengths, so you can easilychoose the route that suits you best. In the area
south of the Sysmä-Hartola line, the terrain isquite flat, but the elevation differences increase
considerably as you head north. Cyclists wholove hill terrain should head in the direction ofVintturi-Vuorenkylä-Luhanka.

Municipality of Sysmä: sysma.fi/pyoraily
Municipality of Hartola: hartola.fi
Route map: retkikartta.fi

Tervetuloa pyöräilijä –palvelut reitin lähialueella
Pyöräpalvelu Ari Kääriäinen
(bike service, equipment sales)
Rantala lomamökit (accommodation services) rantalanlomamokit.com
Tervalepikon Torpat(accommodation services)
tervalepikontorpat.fi
Jari-Pekka (restaurant services)jari-pekka.fi
Gasthaus-Camping
Koskenniemi (accommodation
services, restaurant services)
koskenniemi.com
Camping Sysmä (accommodation services, restaurant services)campingsysma.fi
Keskustien Kotikahvila (cafe)
HartolaRoute starting point

Café Kivibaari (café) Hartola

Huitilantie 3, Sysmä (Camping Sysmä)
Koskenniementie 66, Hartola (GasthausCamping Koskenniemi)
Kalhontie 459, Hartola (Krouvin Camping)

La Kar de Mumman Herkkukammari (café) HartolaPhoto: Patrick Dormischian

Photo: Patrick Dormischian37

Vellamo biking tour section:
Sysmä-Hartola tour
Length 65 km

Ascent in metres 180 m

Sysmä, Hartola

Route Hartola – Valittula – Sysmä – Virtaa – Kukkolanmäki – Nuoramoinen – Kalho –Tokeensalmi – Hartola

Route description
The tour around Lake Joutsjärvi is the mostimportant core route of the Vellamo biking
routes, which leads cyclists from the river
Tainionvirta through the countryside. The rapids
of Tainionvirta, which are also popular withfishers and paddlers, are not far from the route.
A rich selection of museums and atmosphericvillage cafes await cyclists in Sysmä. For
example, along St Olaf’s shore route, you can
explore Sysmä’s handsome grey-stone church
and the memorial to Olavi Virta. From Sysmä, thejourney continues to the beautiful Virtaan manorand onwards on a dirt road to Kukkolanmäki. In
the village of Nuoramoinen, it’s worth stopping
to admire the historically valuable manorlandscape and the Nuoramoistenkoski rapids,with its old mill and power plant buildings.
Between Nuoramoinen and Hartola, you can
get initiated into the secrets of gravel riding. You
bike on small dirt roads meandering between
small lakes towards Tokeensalmi, past the Krouvi
dance pavilion. Before returning to Hartola,

Virtaa mansion
Photo: Virtaan kartano38

Manor culture, the currents of the Tainionvirta river and gravel vibes

you cross Tainionvirta once more. In Hartola,
the Eastern Häme Museum introduces you tothe manor culture and the beautiful scenery of
Tainionvirta invites you to take a short extra tour
on the dirt roads along the river.
The route passes through three camping areas.
They are also an excellent starting point andprovide accommodation: Camping Sysmä,Camping Koskenniemi and Krouvin Camping.

Good to knowThis route description follows the route in an
anticlockwise direction, but you can bike theroute in either direction. It is worth noting that thesection between Hartola and Sysmä runs alonga road, while the section between Nuoramoinen
and Hartola has mainly narrow dirt roads. Thissection is rough gravel, so you should not bikethe route with the narrowest road bike tyres.
There are four great beaches along the route,where you can have a refreshing swim even midtrip. Right next to the road by the Tainionvirta
river, you can also find the Keijulankoski lean-to,which is a good place to have a break.
Along the route, Sysmä offers excellent cafe andrestaurant services, as well as many sights for
cyclists interested in cultural sites. From Sysmä,
we recommend a round trip to Suopelto to
enjoy the Päijänne landscape and restaurant
services. You should at least stop in the Virtaa
and Nuoramoinen villages to take in the manorlandscapes.

Difficulty
Elevation differences along the route are
relatively small, so the trip is not arduous even for
beginner cyclists.

Route starting point
Koskenniementie 66, Hartola (GasthausCamping Koskenniemi)
Yhdystie 2, Hartola (Jari-Pekka)
Huitilantie 3, Sysmä (Camping Sysmä)

Further information•••

Municipality of Sysmä: sysma.fi/pyoraily
Municipality of Hartola: hartola.fi
Route map: retkikartta.fi

Tervetuloa pyöräilijä –palvelut reitin lähialueella
Pyöräpalvelu Ari Kääriäinen
(bike service, equipment sales)
Rantala lomamökit (accommodation services) rantalanlomamokit.com
Tervalepikon Torpat(accommodation services)
tervalepikontorpat.fi
Jari-Pekka (restaurant services)jari-pekka.fi
Gasthaus-Camping
Koskenniemi (accommodation
services, restaurant services)
koskenniemi.com
Camping Sysmä (accommodation services, restaurant services)campingsysma.fi
Keskustien Kotikahvila (cafe)
HartolaCafé Kivibaari (café) Hartola
La Kar de Mumman Herkkukammari (café) Hartola39

Vierumäki routes
Useita eri pituisia vaihtoehtoja

There are also great opportunities for mountainbiking in the surroundings of Vierumäki. A varied
network of outdoor trails and paths meanders
through the easy-to-ride forest terrain, allowing
for mountain biking trips of varying lengths. The
tour around Kalaton is suitable for an initiation
into mountain biking, Ilkankuru Bike Park is goodfor technical training, and Valo-Ilves for slightly
longer trips. In Vierumäki, you can enjoy biking
even in winter, when you can use the route
network groomed for winter biking.

HeinolaYou can rent bikes and riding equipment from
Luontoliikuntakeskus next to Pihkala café.
While there, you can also ask for tips on themost suitable routes for you. Will you choose
an e-fatbike with electric assistance, or do you
want to test the trails in a sportier fashion on a
traditional mountain bike?

Starting point for the routes
Pihkalantie 1, Vierumäki (Vierumäki Sports Hall)

Vierumäki
Photo: Jyrki Hämäläinen

40

Tour around Kalaton lakelet
Length 10 km or shorter version 7 km

Ascent in metres 182 m
Elevation difference 40m

Rolling through forest trails around Kalatonlampi lakelet
Route description
The tour around Kalaton runs on technically easyterrain, but the elevation differences are quite
big in some places. There are two route versions,both of which run alongside Kalatonlampi
lakelet, which is at the bottom of a deep kettle
hole. There is a lean-to by the lakelet where youcan enjoy your snacks. There are also two docks
on the beach, and on hot summer days, a dip in

the water feels extremely good. After you pass
Kalatonlampi and descend from the ridge, theroute will become very moist as you reach theRampsinsuo swamp.

Difficulty
Easy

Valo-Ilves
Length 12 km (one way)

Ascent in metres 215 m
Elevation difference 44 m

Pleasure-seekers’ city trip across the ridges
Reittikuvaus
Valo-Ilves is a lit route from Vierumäki Sports
Institute to Heinola. It runs along the ski trackroutes from the Sports Institute to Jyränko in
Heinola. The route follows the area’s ridges
and sometimes slips between them. In lower
places, you will often find small lakes or swamps,
where it is nice to stop and enjoy the tranquil
nature at beautiful resting places. Combining
Valo-Ilves with the more technically challenging
Juustopolku between Vuolenkoski-Heinola willallow you to bike a longer route, which provides
challenges even for experienced mountain bikers.

From the marked finishing point of the route in
Jyränkö, the distance to the centre of Heinola isabout 1 km.
Note! Ilkankuru Bike Park, which is intended forpractising downhill biking and technical training
is in the vicinity of Vierumäki Sports Institute (see“Other interesting cycling destinations” in thisguide).

Difficulty
Very easy

Ravis Bike Park
Photo: Juho Sipilä

Special fun forbiking enthusiasts

Ilkankuru Bike Park, Vierumäki
HeinolaEasily accessible site for downhill biking and technical training
The new site will open in the summer of 2022!

A new bike trail network for varied mountainbiking training will be opened in the summer of2022. Ilkankuru Bike Park offers mountain bikers
a variety of routes of varying difficulty, fromgentle and attractive downhill routes to steep
and challenging rocky stretches, and everything
in between. In addition to the routes, drop-offs
and jumps of various sizes invite you to develop
your skills. At Ilkankuru, you can bike both down
and up, and after your practice, you can enjoy arefreshing drink at the nearby Palmu beach cafe.

Start point of the routes
Pihkalantie 1, Vierumäki (Vierumäki Sports Hall)

Further information•

vierumaki.fi/pyoraily

Ravis Bike Park
Lahti

BMX track, pump track and jumps for young and old bikers alike
A small-scale wonderland for biking built on theold Lahti trotting track, where you can practisebiking skills on a variety of bikes. There is a
BMX track, pump track and bends suitable forchildren, as well as a large and small jump line
where you can practise your jumping skills. Allof them are in a compact area, so you can easilychat with fellow bikers.

One of the starting points of the Salpausselkä
Trails is right next to the bike park, so you caneasily head for an off-road trip to the forests ofSalpausselkä after practising your biking skills.

Ravis Bike Park is a developing area, where event
activities and bike rental are also planned in the
future, so you should check out the bike park’s
own website!

•

Starting point for the routes
Vaskelaisenrinne, Lahti (Old trotting track)

Further information
ridesalpaus.fi/ravis

Päijätsalo Bike Trail
Sysmä

Mountain biking and forest scent on the edge of Päijänne National ParkThe new site will open in the summer of 2022!

To be built on the beautiful island of Päijätsalo
in the summer, the bike trail takes you to theshore of Päijänne to enjoy mountain biking andthe scent of the forest. The varying topography
and the winding route challenge bikers, but thelevelled ground makes it possible to ride, even if
your driving technique is not the strongest. The
route is 6 kilometres long, so you may want tobike this route several times.
The peak of Päijätsalo island belongs to Päijänne
National Park, but the new bike trail runs entirely
outside the national park area. The destinationis perfect for a multisport-type excursion. Whenthe biking part is over, you may want to climb
up to Päijätsalo’s observation tower to admire
the magnificent scenery of Päijänne or hike to
Pyydysniemi to enjoy some snacks at the vantage
point. If you arrive by car, please note that thestarting point of the biking route is approximately
500 metres from the parking area.

Route starting point
Sorolantie 28, Sysmä (parking area of Päijätsalo)

Further information••

Map: sysmansisu.fi/bikepolku
Municipality of Sysmä: sysma.fi

Mountain biking
in Päijätsalo
Photo: Kimmo HirvonenPyydysniemi Päijätsalo
Photo: Sysmän kunta

Ravis Bike Park
Photo: Juho Sipilä

Nordic Gravel Series - Falling
Leaves Lahti event
Photo: Miemo Penttinen

Summer–Autumn 2022

Collected tips on events
for bike travellers

May

29.5.

29 May 2022 Opening of the Vellamo bike touring route, Sysmä andHartola (Sysmän Sisu)
The opening event for the new bike touring route takes place at Sysmä market
square at 10 a.m. Opening events take place simultaneously in Sysmä and Hartola.
A small celebration and a joint bike ride. During the day, you can also participate in
the Hartola vs Sysmä letterbox bike race. sysmansisu.fi/vellamo

Joint ride on Sundays, Sysmä (Sysmän Sisu)
Joint bike rides in May on Sundays at 10 a.m., for both slower and faster riders.
Start: in front of Urheilu Valonen, Sysmäntie 38. Different destination every week:roads, gravel roads or trails. Information is updated on the website of Sysmän Sisu.
sysmansisu.fi

Guided Salpausselkä Geopark Gravel tours and bike rental, multiple
options (Breakaway cc)
You can join our guided tours as a private individual or book a guided tour for yourgroup. We offer six routes, which highlight the best sceneries in the area combinedwith perfect gravel roads. The route lengths are 40–75 km. You can rent highquality gravel bikes, including e-bikes, or participate in the tour with your own
bike. We also give quotes on group rides taking place after 5 June 2022 – pleasecontact ride@breakaway.cc. Check the dates and route options at our website:
breakaway.cc

Nordic Gravel Series - Falling
Leaves Lahti event
Photo: Miemo Penttinen

June
5 June 2022 Fellmanin ajot, Lahti (TWD and TWD-L)
5.6.

8.6.

The second-oldest sports event in Lahti, a fast-paced block race. This year, there is alsoa start for young people (U15). Route 1,400 m. twd.fi/fellmanin-ajot/

8 June 2022 Independent excursions for foodies through Salpausselkä tothe smoke sauna of Hollolan Hirvi, Hollola (Kitetirri Outdoors & Hollolan
Hirvi)
Go on an unforgettable bike tour through Salpausselkä – we provide guidance on using
the bikes; give you a route map and instructions, both on paper and in digital format;
and collect the bikes at the smoke sauna at 5 p.m. This is an excellent idea for company
summer events, and we also take reservations for other dates. Easy reservation at kitetirri.fi

11.6.

11 June 2022 Biking on Impi’s day – around Lake Kymijärvi, Lahti(Lahden seudun pyöräilijät, Koiskala manor)
Fitness ride around Lake Kymijärvi east of Lahti, in the country scenery of Koiskalamanor. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Further information: koiskala.fi

Ski Out Bike’s Tuesday tour, starting from 14 June (Hollola)
14.6.

15.6.

A free guided mountain biking tour that is also suitable for beginners, 6 p.m.–8 p.m.
Start: in front of the shop (Messiläntie 40, Hollola). Information on the tours can befound with the hashtags #tiistainmaastopyörälenkit #tiistailenkit

15 June 2022 Independent excursions for foodies through Salpausselkä
to the smoke sauna of Hollolan Hirvi, Hollola (Kitetirri Outdoors &Hollolan Hirvi)
Go on an unforgettable bike tour through Salpausselkä – we provide guidance on using
the bikes; give you a route map and instructions, both on paper and in digital format;
and collect the bikes at the smoke sauna at 5 p.m. This is an excellent idea for company
summer events, and we also take reservations for other dates. Easy reservation at kitetirri.fi

16 June Tour de Sysmä – Bike tour (Sysmän Sisu)
16.6.

29.6.

Scenic ride to Päijätsalo, with a joint coffee break. Start: at 5 p.m. in front of Urheilu
Valonen, Sysmäntie 38. Information is updated on the website of Sysmän Sisu.
sysmansisu.fi

29 June 2022 Independent excursions for foodies through Salpausselkä
to the smoke sauna of Hollolan Hirvi, Hollola (Kitetirri Outdoors &Hollolan Hirvi)
Go on an unforgettable bike tour through Salpausselkä – we provide guidance on using
the bikes; give you a route map and instructions, both on paper and in digital format;
and collect the bikes at the smoke sauna at 5 p.m. This is an excellent idea for company
summer events, and we also take reservations for other dates. Easy reservation at kitetirri.fi

30 June Tour de Sysmä – Bike tour (Sysmän Sisu)
30.6.

30.6.

Scenic ride to Päijätsalo, with a joint coffee break. Start: at 5 p.m. in front of Urheilu
Valonen, Sysmäntie 38. Information is updated on the website of Sysmän Sisu.
sysmansisu.fi

30 June 2022 Biking tour around Sääskjärvi, Iitti (village associations of
Sääskjärvi and Perheniemi)
A free biking event for families. Bike tour 14 km, children’s tour 4.7 km. Cafe, bouncy
castle, price draw. All children get a price. facebook.com/Sääskjärven-ympäripyöräily

Joint ride on Sundays, Sysmä (Sysmän Sisu)
Joint bike rides in May on Sundays at 10 a.m., for both slower and faster riders. Start: infront of Urheilu Valonen, Sysmäntie 38. Different destination every week: roads, gravel
roads or trails. Information is updated on the website of Sysmän Sisu. sysmansisu.fi

Guided Salpausselkä Geopark Gravel tours and bike rental, multiple
options (Breakaway cc)
You can join our guided tours as a private individual or book a guided tour for yourgroup. We offer six routes, which highlight the best sceneries in the area combinedwith perfect gravel roads. The route lengths are 40–75 km. You can rent high-quality
gravel bikes, including e-bikes, or participate in the tour with your own bike. We also
give quotes on group rides taking place after 5 June 2022 – please contact ride@
breakaway.cc. Check the dates and route options at our website: breakaway.cc

Nordic Gravel Series - Falling
Leaves Lahti event
Photo: Miemo Penttinen

July
6.7.

9.7.

13.7.

6 July 2022 Independent excursions for foodies through Salpausselkä to thesmoke sauna of Hollolan Hirvi, Hollola (Kitetirri Outdoors & Hollolan Hirvi)
Go on an unforgettable bike tour through Salpausselkä – we provide guidance on
using the bikes; give you a route map and instructions, both on paper and in digitalformat; and collect the bikes at the smoke sauna at 5 p.m. This is an excellent idea
for company summer events, and we also take reservations for other dates. Easy
reservation at kitetirri.fi

9 July 2022 Open doors at farms – Taste of Häme!, several options (farms
in Häme)Go on an independent bike excursion to see the smaller attractions in the countrysideof Päijät-Häme! The joint theme day of farms, local food shops, food productcompanies, berry farms, small breweries and other operators in the countrysideoffers many interesting things to see and programme for the whole family. Further
information: kasvuahameessa.fi/taste-of-hame/

13 July 2022 Independent excursions for foodies through Salpausselkä tothe smoke sauna of Hollolan Hirvi, Hollola (Kitetirri Outdoors & Hollolan
Hirvi)
Go on an unforgettable bike tour through Salpausselkä – we provide guidance on using
the bikes; give you a route map and instructions, both on paper and in digital format;
and collect the bikes at the smoke sauna at 5 p.m. This is an excellent idea for company
summer events, and we also take reservations for other dates. Easy reservation at kitetirri.fi

20.7.

20 July 2022 Independent excursions for foodies through Salpausselkä
to the smoke sauna of Hollolan Hirvi, Hollola (Kitetirri Outdoors &Hollolan Hirvi)
Go on an unforgettable bike tour through Salpausselkä – we provide guidance on using
the bikes; give you a route map and instructions, both on paper and in digital format;
and collect the bikes at the smoke sauna at 5 p.m. This is an excellent idea for company
summer events, and we also take reservations for other dates. Easy reservation at kitetirri.fi

21 July 2022 Tour de Sysmä – Bike tour
21.7.

Scenic ride to Päijätsalo, with a joint coffee break. Start: at 5 p.m. in front of Urheilu
Valonen, Sysmäntie 38. Information is updated on the website of Sysmän Sisu.
sysmansisu.fi

22–23 July 2022 UCI Tour Lakeland, Lahti
22-23.7.

A UCI-level road cycling event that is organised for the first time and that consists of atime trial taking place on Friday and road cycling on Saturday. There are two road races:
Gran Fondo (145 km) and Medio Fondo (100 km). You can participate in the event as acompetitor or take it as a more light-hearted exercise and enjoy the bike ride in wonderfullake scenery with your own group. The 100 km hobby class is also a Royal-pyöräily
cycling event. tourlakeland.fi

23 July 2022 Royal-pyöräily, Lahti (Royal Cycling Team)
23.7.

27.7.

An annual cycling event in the breath-taking scenery of Salpausselkä. This year, theRoyal-pyöräily cycling event is also UCI Tour Lakeland’s hobby class, with the sameroute as in the 100 km event of UCI Tour Lakeland. The starting point is Sibelius Hall in
Lahti. royalpyoraily.sporttisaitti.com

27 July 2022 Independent excursions for foodies through Salpausselkä tothe smoke sauna of Hollolan Hirvi, Hollola (Kitetirri Outdoors & Hollolan
Hirvi)
Go on an unforgettable bike tour through Salpausselkä – we provide guidance on using
the bikes; give you a route map and instructions, both on paper and in digital format;
and collect the bikes at the smoke sauna at 5 p.m. This is an excellent idea for company
summer events, and we also take reservations for other dates. Easy reservation at kitetirri.fi

Ski Out Bike’s Tuesday tour (Hollola)
A free guided mountain biking tour that is also suitable for beginners, 6 p.m.–8 p.m.
Start: in front of the shop (Messiläntie 40, Hollola). Information on the tours can befound with the hashtags #tiistainmaastopyörälenkit #tiistailenkit

Joint ride on Sundays, Sysmä (Sysmän Sisu)
Joint bike rides in May on Sundays at 10 a.m., for both slower and faster riders. Start: infront of Urheilu Valonen, Sysmäntie 38. Different destination every week: roads, gravel
roads or trails. Information is updated on the website of Sysmän Sisu. sysmansisu.fi

Through Salpausselkä to thesmoke sauna excursion
Photo: Helena KämäräinenAugust21 August 2022 Finlandia MTB, Lahti (CC Tailwind)
21.8.

A traditional cross-country biking event for riders of all fitness levels. The long 54
km route, Half Finlandia 27 km and Hobby Finlandia 7 km. The shortest route is also
suitable for children. twd.fi/finlandia-mtb

27 August 2022 Avanti Challenge, Sysmä (Sysmän Sisu)
27.8.

A multi-sport competition takes the participants to the amazing Päijänne landscapeand the majestic forests of Päijät-Häme. The event’s hobby class is an easy
introduction to adventure sports even for first-time participants, while the competition
class challenges those with more experience. Camping Sysmä is the competition
hub, where the evening ends with Sysmä’s Venetian celebrations. avantichallenge.fi

Ski Out Bike’s Tuesday tour (Hollola)
A free guided mountain biking tour that is also suitable for beginners, 6 p.m.–8
p.m. Start: in front of the shop (Messiläntie 40, Hollola). Information on the tours
can be found with the hashtags #tiistainmaastopyörälenkit #tiistailenkit

Joint ride on Sundays, Sysmä (Sysmän Sisu)
Joint bike rides in May on Sundays at 10 a.m., for both slower and faster riders.
Start: in front of Urheilu Valonen, Sysmäntie 38. Different destination every week:roads, gravel roads or trails. Information is updated on the website of Sysmän Sisu.
sysmansisu.fi

Independent excursions for foodies through Salpausselkä to thesmoke sauna of Hollolan Hirvi, Hollola (Kitetirri Outdoors & Hollolan
Hirvi)
Go on an unforgettable bike tour through Salpausselkä – we provide guidance on
using the bikes; give you a route map and instructions, both on paper and in digitalformat; and collect the bikes at the smoke sauna at 5 p.m. This is an excellent idea
for company summer events, and we also take reservations for other dates. Easy
reservation at kitetirri.fi

September
17.9.

17 September 2022 Nordic Gravel Series – Falling Leaves Lahti(Breakaway cc)
The NGS September event gives you an opportunity to ride pristine gravel
while experiencing the beauty of the turning of the leaves. The Lahti area offers
scenic gravel roads surrounded by fields and forests and a good amount of
more challenging forest trails. Distances of 50, 90 and 146 km offer options forenthusiasts and trained riders alike. Post-ride food and a drink and up to 3 feedzones along the course are included. The weekend programme also includes a
warm-up ride on Friday, riders’ buffet and event area expo. This event welcomesriders from all levels and any fitness level and is not a (timed) race. The event islimited to 500 participants. nordicgravel.com

Independent excursions for foodies through Salpausselkä to thesmoke sauna of Hollolan Hirvi, Hollola (Kitetirri Outdoors & Hollolan
Hirvi)
Go on an unforgettable bike tour through Salpausselkä – we provide guidance on
using the bikes; give you a route map and instructions, both on paper and in digitalformat; and collect the bikes at the smoke sauna at 5 p.m. This is an excellent idea
for company summer events, and we also take reservations for other dates. Easy
reservation at kitetirri.fi

Nordic Gravel Series - Falling
Leaves Lahti event
Photo: Miemo Penttinen

“Welcome cyclist” badge and theFinnish Center for Cycling Tourism
The “Welcome cyclist” badge was designed tomake life easier for cyclists when they are looking
for the right services: places and services where
cyclists always know they are welcome, andthat offer a slightly better service than usual toadventurers on bikes. The badge is managed by
the Finnish Center for Cycling Tourism, which
specialises in the national development andmarketing of cycling tourism. More informationon their activities and the “Welcome cyclist”
badge can be found on the bikeland.fi website.

In Päijät-Häme, the “Welcome cyclist” badge has been granted
to the following companies:
Tervalepikon Torpat, Sysmä, tervalepikontorpat.fi
Lomakivi, Iitti, lomakivi.fi
Radalla Resort, Iitti, radallaresort.fi
Ski Out Bike, Hollola skiout.fi
Kitetirri tmi, Lahti kitetirri.fi
Koiskala manor, Lahti koiskala.fi
Pyöräpalvelu Ari Kääriäinen, Hartola
Rantalan lomamökit, Hartola rantalanlomamokit.com
Suomen Urheiluopisto, Heinola vierumaki.fi
Gasthaus-Camping Koskenniemi, Hartola koskenniemi.com
Jari-Pekka, Hartola jari-pekka.fi
Camping Sysmä, Sysmä campingsysma.fi
Keskustien Kotikahvila Hartola
Yli-Kaitala Resort Iitti
Camping Messilä, Hollola campingmessila.fi
Café Kivibaari, Hartola
La Kar de Mumman Herkkukammari, Hartola
Café Vesis, Asikkala
Kartanon kahvila Hugo & Lilly, Asikkala kahvilahugojalilly.fiYli-Kaitala Resort
Photo: Juha Juntto

Kitetirri Outdoors
Photo: Harri Hytönen

“Welcome cyclist” companies
in Päijät-Häme
Camping Messilä
Hollola

Lomakivi hostel
Iitti

Customer service languages:

Customer service languages:

An all-year camping area eight kilometres fromthe centre of Lahti by Lake Vesijärvi in the Messilä
holiday centre. The area offers camper van,caravan and camping facilities, camping cabins
and 6-person villas with saunas. Camping Messilä
also offers restaurant and meal services. The
lovely beach in the area and Lake Vesijärvi also
provide good water sports facilities. In addition tobiking, the varying terrain in the surrounding area
is suitable for hiking and skiing. If you want to goout and have some fun, Camping Messilä alsooffers events, dancing and karaoke.

A holiday farm in Iitti, with accommodation
services for 40 guests in two-person rooms andfour holiday houses with saunas. We also provide
private restaurant services. There are many naturedestinations nearby and golf courses, for example.
Book accommodation with us: lomakivi.fi/

Camping Sysmä
Sysmä
Customer service languages:
Camping Sysmä is in the middle of the beautiful
village of Sysmä on the shore of Lake Päijänne.
In recent years, we have strongly developed thearea, with the latest holiday cottages completed
for the summer of 2021. We have small new
holiday cottages with saunas, traditional camping
cottages, caravan parking with electricity supply,
various activities and a cosy cafe-restaurant.
Book accommodation with us: campingsysma.fi

Gasthaus Koskenniemi
HartolaRadalla Resort
Iitti
Lakeside accommodation in hotel or manorrooms. A wide range of restaurant services isalso available. Book accommodation with us:radallaresort.fi

Jari-Pekka
HartolaCustomer service languages:
Service station Jari-Pekka 24/7 in Hartola
provides the following services, for example:
Kotipizza, Hesburger, Subway, buffet breakfast
and lunch, à la carte, cafe, K food shop and
Finnmari interiors shop. Read more about ourservices: jari-pekka.fi/hartola

Kartanon kahvila Hugo & Lilly
Asikkala

Customer service languages:

Customer service languages:

Pleasant and peaceful accommodation in Hartola.
The accommodation options include Gasthaus
hotel rooms, holiday cottages with their own
beach and sauna and camping cottages. There isalso a kiosk, cafe and restaurant in the area. Book
accommodation: koskenniemi.com

The cafe and park area of Urajärvi manor is agreat destination for a bike trip in the immediate
vicinity of road 313 on the Vierumäki–Vääksy
route. While you are there, visit the manor
museum, book a sauna or take a swim. In
summer, cottage accommodation is available

(four rooms), so you can even stay overnight.
Read more about our services: kahvilahugojalilly.
fi In summer, there will be many events at
the Urajärvi cafe – see the up-to-date event
calendar: FB: @urajarvenkartanonystavat,
urajarvenkartano.fi

Kitetirri Outdoors
Lahti region
Customer service languages:
Kitetirri Outdoors is a full-service e-mountainbike rental shop at Salpausselkä, providing
guidance, rental and excursion services. In
addition, comprehensive services for SUP
boarding, snowkiting, snowshoeing and hiking
for individuals and groups, easy booking throughour online shop: kitetirri.fi

Koiskala manor
Lahti
Customer service languages:
Koiskala manor is an organic farm providing
meal services, accommodation and various
facilities in Lahti. Further information andbookings koiskala.fi

Keskustien Kotikahvila
HartolaA cosy and affordable small cafe in the centreof Hartola. Offers coffee, cocoa, tea, soft drinks,
fresh coffee bread, bread rolls, pizza slices, etc.
In the morning, doors often open already at 4a.m. and close at 5 p.m. (or later, as necessary)in summer. Read more about the cafe: facebook.
com/Keskustien.Kotikahvila

Pyöräpalvelu Ari Kääriäinen
Hartola–Sysmä
Customer service languages:
Fatbike rental and bike maintenance, spareparts and supplies in the Hartola-Sysmä area.

As required, we pick up and return any broken
bikes for maintenance. Rent a bike from us orbook maintenance: pyorapalvelu-ari-kaariainen.
webnode.fi

Rantala holiday cottages
HartolaCustomer service languages:
Dog-friendly holiday cottages on the shore
of Lake Iso-Paljo in Hartola. All our rental
cottages have a private lakeside location with
their own yard, a jetty and a rowing boat. Rent
a cottage from us at any time of the year:
rantalanlomamokit.com

Ski Out Bike
HollolaCustomer service languages:
A speciality shop for biking, downhill skiing andski sports in Hollola and online. Read more about
our shop and online store: skiout.fi

Tervalepikon Torpat
Sysmä
Customer service languages:
Rental cottages in Päijät-Häme close to Lahti
and a nature activity centre, where you canexperience an active person’s paradise. In
addition to cottages, we rent many types ofequipment, such as e-bikes, fatbikes andmountain bikes. Rent a cottage from us in
Sysmä with good transport connections:tervalepikontorpat.fi

Vierumäki
HeinolaCustomer service languages:
Vierumäki provides activities andaccommodation options for all needs. For
example, visit the new Pihkala sport hotel andthe Fennada hotel, test how brave you are at the
Flowpark adventure park or rent a SUP board
and go paddling. Did you know that you can also
rent e-fatbikes and mountain bikes from us? All
Vierumäki’s services are listed at vierumaki.fi

aviation museum and the Vesivehmaa airport
located in the same area. From June to August,the cafe is open Friday–Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5
p.m. Queries: kahvila@phnet.fi tor phone 0400
777 717; WhatsApp: 044 335 3852

Yli-Kaitala Resort

Kivibaari

Iitti
Lakeside accommodation in villas, cottages andigloo boat in Iitti. In addition to accommodation,
we offer a wide range of activities such as
e-fatbikes and great trail networks close to theaccommodation. Book accommodation and theactivities that suit you best: yli-kaitala.com/

Cafe Vesis
Asikkala
Customer service languages:
Cafe Vesis is along road 313; halfway on the
Vierumäki–Vääksy route. Address: Lentotie
89, Vesivehmaa (Asikkala), with Päijät-Häme’s

Camping Sysmä
Photo: Visit Lahti

HartolaCafe Kivibaari is the village meeting point, where
you can enjoy various refreshments and savourysnacks. The bar also has a corner kiosk. The
large sunny terrace is the place to be in summer
kivibaari.fi

La Kar de Mumman Herkkukammari
HartolaIf you are feeling peckish, Cafe La Kar deMumman Herkkukammari offers tasty sweet andsavoury delicacies. You are most welcome toenjoy our delicacies on your bike trip!

Tervalepikon Torpat
Photo: Tervalepikon Torpat

Urajärvi mansion
Photo: Kimmo HirvonenOther companies interested
in bike travel
Best Lake Nature Adventures
Lahti region
Guided adventure excursions around the year
in Finnish Lakeland – for example, hiking,paddling, snowshoeing or nesting box building.
Book your customised excursion: bestlakenature.
com

Hattapukki
Sysmä
Customer service languages:
A cottage in the heart of country scenery witha great lakeside view in Sysmä. The cottage
surroundings offer many fun things to do, such asa nature trail, mountain bike rental, canoes and
SUP boards. Book Villa Himpula: hattapukki.fi

Hotel Tallukka
VääksyCustomer service languages:
The Tallukka event hotel in Vääksy offers
accommodation in Päijät-Häme’s lake scenery,along the best biking routes and main road 24.
Book your accommodation with us: tallukka.fi

Hotel Teltta
Orimattila
The idyllic and cosy hotel/hostel is a tent village
on the fourth floor of an old spinning mill in
Orimattila. You can take your bike with you in
the lift and park it right next to your tent. Book anight at the tent hotel: hotelliteltta.fi

Kalliorent
Lahti region
E-bike rental for the whole family in Nastolanext to the Pajulahti sports centre’s varied trail
networks with great scenery. We have highquality full-suspension e-fatbikes and twochildren’s e-mountain bikes with suspension
forks. Rent an e-bike experience from us in
Pajulahti: kalliorent.fi & pajulahti.com

Punainen Tupa
Padasjoki
Customer service languages:
Accommodation at Punainen Tupa for 1–8
persons, including sauna and the use of bikes,
with a boat located on the shore of Päijänne two
kilometres from the accommodation.
You can also rent Mökkeröinen for 1–2
persons, approximately 1.5 km from the shoreof Päijänne; includes the use of a sauna. Book
accommodation at Padasjoki: punainentupa.net

Villa Elina
Kärkölä
Accommodation in an outhouse with a sauna,summer cafe, boutique and events in Kärkölä.
Events throughout the summer ranging fromsummer theatre to outdoor gigs on Fridays.
Book accommodation: and read more about theevents: villaelina.fi

Camping Sysmä
Photo: Visit Lahti

Yli-Kaitala Resort
Photo: Pentti Yli-KaitalaWinter cycling
Photo: Juha-Pekka Huotari /City of Lahti

Winter vibes from bike rides
The content of this guide is targeted for the summer and autumn
season 2022. However, we would like to remind you that PäijätHäme also has some very beautiful places for winter cycling.
You should at least check out the Salpausselkä Trails, Tiirismaa
Trails for mountain biking, Vierumäki trails for winter cycling andthe multi-purpose trails of Aurinkovuori!

Winter cycling
Photo: Juha-Pekka Huotari /City of Lahti

Vierumäki
Photo: Juuso Havia

Welcome summerof cycling 2022!
Photo: Kimmo Hirvonen