The Saimaa by Cycle gravel route network is Finland’s largest and most versatile gravel cycling route network. It consists of gravel routes in the municipalities and towns of the northern Saimaa lake region, with the area’s main villages and towns serving as starting points. The routes in Kitee, Puhos and Kesälahti showcase the gravel roads, cultural sites, and varied lake and forest landscapes of Central Karelia. In Rääkkylä, the routes highlight the archipelago-like atmosphere, the waters of Orivesi and small village roads. In Tohmajärvi, the routes run through rolling borderland landscapes, while the routes in Liperi and Heinävesi complete the network with the scenery of Kermajärvi, canals, and the Lintula and Valamo monasteries.
Gravel routes in a nutshell:
- Over 1,200 km of cycling routes
- More than 40 routes
- Routes range from 10 to 170 km
- The routes can be combined with an inland water cruise across Pyhäselkä
- Almost all route starting points are accessible by train
Check out the village- and town-specific route networks and their introductions below…
Heinävesi Gravel Routes
The Heinävesi gravel routes are short, but exceptionally rich in cultural and scenic content. Luostarien kierros connects Valamo and Lintula monasteries via quiet roads and forest landscapes, following parts of the Luostarista luostariin hiking route. The route also passes Palokin kosket and the Ronttopuisto area.
Kanavien kierros, in turn, showcases the canal landscapes of the Heinävesi route around the Taivallahti and Varistaipale canals. Thanks to its short distance, it works well as an easy day ride or as part of a longer visit to Heinävesi. Together, the routes offer a compact introduction to Heinävesi’s monastery tradition, canal history, and peaceful lake and forest nature.
Rääkkylä Gravel Routes
The Rääkkylä gravel routes run through archipelago-like lake scenery, village roads and the shores of Orivesi. The character of the routes varies from short, accessible loops to longer scenic rides: Paksuniemen polkaisu, Piimälahden pyörähdys and Oravinlahden lenkki are well suited for lighter day rides, while Saaristo Trail offers a deeper dive into Rääkkylä’s archipelago roads. Rääkkylä is known for its strong music and village culture, Kihaus Folk, and the peaceful atmosphere created by the surrounding waters of Saimaa. The network will later be complemented by three new gravel routes. The 188-kilometre Pyhäselkä Loop also passes through Rääkkylä.
Kitee Gravel Routes
The gravel routes of Kitee and Puhos form the largest local gravel network in Saimaa by Cycle. Routes starting from the centre of Kitee head towards Tohmajärvi, around Kiteenjärvi, via Tolosenmäki to Puhos, and through the village of Juurikka all the way to the eastern borderlands. The routes include both easily accessible scenic loops and clearly longer, more remote gravel adventures. The Kiteenjärvi Loop includes a beautiful section between Suuri Heinäjärvi and Pieni Heinäjärvi, and it can also be ridden as a shorter version around the lake.
Kitee is also known as the hometown of Nightwish, and the shorter Nightwish Summer Camp route visits sites connected to the band, including Röskö Camp Centre, which holds an important place in the band’s story.
The Puhos routes offer another perspective on the lake and village landscapes of Kitee. The Ätäskö Loop follows lake scenery, Puhoksen polkaisu visits Koivikon Kievari and returns to the old Puhos milieu, while Hummon hurautus circles Hummonselkä and visits the village of Hummovaara. Together, Kitee and Puhos offer routes ranging from light cultural rides to long gravel days in the borderlands.
Kesälahti Gravel Routes
The Kesälahti gravel routes open a connection to the landscapes of Puruvesi, the quiet gravel roads of the borderlands, and onwards via Punkaharju to Parikkala. The Kesälahden mansikkakierros is an accessible local route that visits the Sarvisalo area and makes for a pleasant scenic ride for almost everyone. Heading north, Himon reitti offers a longer gravel day on the small, winding gravel roads of Himo and Hummovaara.
The routes south of Kesälahti make use of the rail connection between Kesälahti and Parikkala: you can cycle one way and return by train. Uukuniemen rajaseutu takes you onto remote roads and long sections close to the border, while Punkaharjun pyörähdys visits one of Saimaa’s best-known landscape areas before arriving in Parikkala. Kesälahti is known for Lake Puruvesi, strawberries and peaceful lake nature.
Tohmajärvi Gravel Routes
The Tohmajärvi gravel routes take you onto the rolling gravel roads of Central Karelia, through borderland villages and along the shores of Lake Tohmajärvi. The first three routes to be launched in spring 2026 offer options from an easy local ride to a longer adventure. The Kirkkoniemi Loop is a relaxed scenic ride suitable for almost everyone, the Kitee–Tohmajärvi Loop connects two municipal and town centres, and the Tohmajärvi Loop visits the border village of Värtsilä. Tohmajärvi is known for its borderland history, Karelian culture and strong singing tradition.
Liperi Gravel Routes
The Liperi gravel routes showcase the municipality’s varied village and farmland landscapes, as well as quiet gravel roads near Pyhäselkä and Viinijärvi. Starting from Liperi church village, Leipäpitäjän lenkki runs via Ylämylly and returns to the church village, offering a pleasant day ride for relaxed gravel cycling. The shorter Liperin kirkonkylän kierros is a light introductory loop suitable for almost everyone.
On the other side of the municipality, Viinijärven kierros opens up its own landscape around Lake Viinijärvi and visits Siikakoski. Liperi is known as a “bread parish”, for its agricultural landscapes and its lively village culture, all of which are reflected in the feel of the routes.
The routes are suitable for almost all bikes. Your bike should have tyres at least 40 mm wide. Experienced cyclists may manage with narrower tyres on several of the routes. Some routes are quite remote, so it is worth carrying bike repair tools, a spare tube and tyre patches. Near the eastern border, GPS interference may occasionally occur, so carrying a paper map can be a sensible backup.
Some routes have limited water points, so plan your water supply in advance and carry extra water for the day when needed.
The gravel cycling season in the Northern Saimaa region usually begins in mid-May, once the gravel roads have hardened and dried after spring. The season usually ends in late September, when rainfall increases and the weather cools down.
Temperatures vary from +2–5°C in spring and autumn to strong summer heatwaves.
The route network is very easy to reach by train, as there are a total of 10 railway stations along the routes. Arriving from Southern Finland, the first stations on the routes are Parikkala, Kesälahti and Kitee, roughly one hour before Joensuu. From Joensuu, you can continue by railbus to Viinijärvi and Heinävesi. Please note that bike spaces on train services are limited, so it is worth reserving your bike space well in advance.
Some routes have a shorter junior version, usually around 10–15 km in length. The routes mainly follow quiet roads and avoid the busiest traffic, which makes them well suited for families as well. Most routes have at least one service, such as a summer café. Some routes are quite remote, especially near the eastern border, and distances between rest stops can be fairly long.
All routes are very well suited for e-bikes. The most important thing is to know your own bike’s battery range. At many service points, you can charge your battery during a lunch break, for example, provided that you bring your own charger.
The final product development and publication of the Saimaa by Cycle route network, published in 2026, was carried out through the Keski-Karjalan pyörämatkailureittien tuotteistus -project, administered by the Municipality of Tohmajärvi. The total project costs are €148,356.50, of which €118,685.20 has been granted as funding. The project is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development 2023–2027, with the funding granted by Keski-Karjalan Jetina ry.
However, the development of the route network began in two earlier projects in 2024–2025: Pohjoisen Saimaan matkailun kehittäminen osana Lakelandia project (European Regional Development Fund, 2023–2025) and the Keski-Karjalan pyöräreittisuunnitelma project (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, 2024–2025).
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