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Children starting a running competition

Things to do

Ruokolahti offers opportunities for versatile activities in diverse locations. Be it hiking on the forest trails, cycling around the archipelago, rowing or paddling on lake Saimaa, skiing, bird watching, frisbee golf etc etc... There is a myriad of places and facilities to choose from. 

Hiking, running & nature trails

Ruokolahti is a top destination for hikers. There are tracks and nature paths from under 1 km long to over 70 km long. Most are suitable for cycling, trail running as well as hiking.

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A group of people walking in the forest

Beaches

There are many beautiful sandy beaches in Ruokolahti, all free to visit and swim at for anyone. What better way to spend a hot summer day?!

The longest beach, Huuhanranta [Huuha Beach], is located half an hour west from the centre-area of Rasila, in the direction of Kyläniemi peninsula. Huuhanranta is a spectacularly beautiful 1,5 km long, curved beach - one of the longest sandy beaches in lake Saimaa.

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Hands in heart shape in Huuhanranta

Saimaa Cycling Route

The Saimaa Cycling Route is an excursion cycling route that runs through Taipalsaari, Lappeenranta, Joutseno, Imatra and Ruokolahti. In Ruokolahti, the route runs through Salosaari to Ruokolahti church and continues through Virmutjoki and Syyspohja to Utula and Kyläniemi.

There is a bicycle ferry connection from Kyläniemi to Sarviniemi in Taipalsaari. The total length of the route is approximately 154 km (+ the 4 km ferry ride).

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A ferry on a lake

Sports Center

Are you interested in indoor games or maybe you'd like to go to a gym? Or perhaps you'd like to play some soccer or baseball or go bike-riding on a pumptrack? Or would you prefer frisbee golf, basket ball or tennis?

All of these activities can be found at the Ruokolahti Sports Center.

Sports Center (in Finnish)
Ruokolahti school and sports center

Pumptrack

Finland's largest pumptrack is located next to the athletics field. A pumptrack is a rolling asphalt track intended for cyclists, skateboarders, scooterists and roller skaters alike. The use of the track is free for everyone.

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Cyclist on the pumptrack

Disc golf

There is a 9-hole disc (frisbee) golf course near Ruokolahti centre. Here you'll find fairways 50 to 140 m long in very varied terrain. The course is suitable for beginners and experienced players alike, and while you play, you can admire the forest life around you. 

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Saimaa Bikepark

Saimaa Bikepark operates during the summer season on the slopes of the ski center Freeski, in Salosaari. Here you can also rent canoes, kayaks, SUP boards and even a historic 14+1-seater row boat, a wooden "church boat". The +1 sets the direction while the 14 churchgoers, or nowadays groups, company outings etc, row - very Finnish and loads of fun.

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Cyclist on the Saimaa Bikepark route

Ski center FreeSki

At Freeski in Salosaari (opposite Ruokolahti center) you can enjoy snowboarding, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and tobogganing in a peaceful, natural environment on the shores of lake Saimaa.

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skiers on the Freeski slope

Other Activities

No end of things to do and ways to be active just near Ruokolahti center, not to mention our wonderful nature trails and water ways.

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Ruokolahti school and sports center

Companies that offer experiences

Companies offering guided tours and other experiences in Ruokolahti.

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A lion