Kolovesi National Park

Kolovesi National Park

Located in the South Savo region of Finland, areas of Enonkoski, Heinävesi and Savonlinna. Area protects e.g. the habitat of the critically endangered Saimaa Ringed Seal.

• Typical of the rugged scenery of Kolovesi, formed by the ice age, are craggy cliffs rising from the water. Ancient rock paintings give insights into how Finland’s early settlers lived in harmony with nature thousands of years ago.
• Kolovesi National Park was established at 1990 and covers 23 km^2.
• Kolovesi National Park is to a canoer’s paradise. Canoeing allows you to truly appreciate the tranquillity of Lake Saimaa, its rugged banks and the surrounding wilderness. You might even spot a Saimaa ringed seal. Good places for setting off are the boat ramps at Käkövesi and Kirkkoranta.
• Some areas of the park are private property. Please respect the signs!
• Kolovesi is also great for longer canoeing excursions if you bring your own tent. The 40-km route around the park takes two or three days.
• The relatively challenging Nahkiaissalo Nature Trail (3.3 km) takes walkers through mysterious ancient woodland and beautiful lakeland scenery to the site of an old tar-burning pit. There is also a good place for swimming along the trail and a picnic area at the Lohilahti camping site.
• There are also rock paintings on the walls of Vierunvuori and Haukkavuori. Vierunvuori is located just 500 metres off the Heinävesi route and it has a vertical rock face with a painting approximately 10 metres off the ground.
• Suitable for summertime hiking only. In winter, entry to islands in Lake Kolovesi is forbidden. In winter, the roads to the area are not maintained. Partly suitable for visitors with mobility difficulties.

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