DigiTrail Canoeing trails
River Kaartjoki canoeing trail, Loppi
Route description
The Kaartjoki paddling route is located in western Loppi and is approximately 11 km long. Located at the southern end of Lake Kaartjärvi, the Sähkönokka boat landing site is an excellent starting point for an adventure on the River Kaartjoki. The site’s facilities include a parking area, a swimming dock, a changing room and a toilet. You can make coffee at the newly refurbished campfire site before setting off.
_The majestic landscape at the southern end of Lake Kaartjärvi captivates paddlers with its long ridge-like islands immediately upon departure. After approximately twenty minutes of paddling, you can easily distinguish the mouth of the River Kaartjoki among the reeds as a spar buoy marks the right way. The current is swift in the spring and carries the canoe along the river lined with common alders. After paddling for half an hour, you reach the campfire site on the shore of Lake Kaartlammi. If you intend to make just a short trip in river nature, it is easy to paddle back upstream from here. The river flows by the campfire site, and another spar buoy guides paddlers to the right direction.
_After Lake Kaartlammi, the river twists and turns gently in the midst of a forest, occasionally revealing more open landscapes as a result of felling. In addition to the curves, the journey is slightly slowed by trees that have fallen across the river, but all of them can be passed under or over during the spring flood. After about an hour of zigzagging and a few stronger currents, paddlers arrive at the Kurtlamminmäki Lapp hut located in a naturally beautiful area. The facilities include shelter for dining as well as a toilet. Here you can enjoy a packed lunch and admire the wonderful beach landscape before the last one-and-a-half hour stretch to the Kalamylly angling site.
_From the Kurtlamminmäki Lapp hut, the current follows the winding riverbed, and the canoe has to be carried past the first bridges. However, the majority of the bridges can be passed under even during floods if you are ready to apply a bit of acrobatics. Further downstream, the river flows through summer cottage yards and a number of submerged weirs. It may be necessary to carry the canoe past some of the weirs depending on the water level. When approaching Kalamylly, arable sceneries take over the forest, and paddlers enter an atmospheric cultural landscape marked by pastureland.
_A couple of hundred metres before the angling site, the river is crossed by a bridge that marks the end of the paddling route. Enjoy a doughnut with coffee at Kalamylly before driving back to the starting point.
_Good to know
The Kaartjoki paddling route is well-suited for beginners. The Kaartjoki is a 3–4-metre wide and particularly twisty small river that flows in the midst of a deciduous forest. There are no rapids on the route, but there are a few strong currents. As the river is naturally sheltered from the wind, it can be paddled even in strong winds. The river’s bends and canoe manoeuvring increase the route’s physical challenge. It is advisable to reserve approximately a day journey’s time for Paddling the Kaartjoki route. With a mediocre physical fitness and beginner’s skills, the route takes from 4 to 6 hours depending on the length of breaks.
_The route is not recommended to be paddled upstream. However, a short round trip from Lake Kaartjärvi to Lake Kaartlammi along the River Kaartjoki is suitable for families, for example, and has the atmosphere of wilderness paddling. In dry periods, the lowered water level and trees that have fallen across the river may hamper paddling in some sections.
_Printed maps are available at information points in the municipality of Loppi.
_Canoeing services: Multievent
Food services: Marskin Maja
Accommodation services: Ilpola, Laakasalo Camping, Lopen Erähuvila ja Räyskälän Suuri Huvila, Marskin Maja
_Level of difficulty
The route can be paddled in approximately 4 hours, and its level is easy.
_Route start
The route starts at the Sähkönokka boat landing site. From Road 54, turn to Rautakoskentie Road (2832) towards Räyskälä. Follow the road for approx. 6.4 km and turn right to Räyskäläntie Road. You will see the sign of Sähkönokka boat landing site on your right after approx. 2 km.
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START AND END POINTS:
Sähkönokka boat landing site (Lake Kaartjärvi), Räyskäläntie 682, 12820 Räyskälä (Loppi), 60.734329, 24.161993
Kalamylly, Tarvontie 1, 12920 Topeno (Loppi) 60.802607, 24.616444
ROUTE MARKINGS: The paddling route is easy to follow using the DigiTrail app.
ROUTE SUITABILITY: The route is suitable for families and beginners.