PaddlingLength42.8 km
Duration(2-3 days)
Degree of difficultyHard
The Peranka-Hossa canoeing route takes you past meadows, lush mixed forests and dry pine heaths. The route consists of expansive lake sections and exciting rivers. It is suitable for experienced canoeists. The Peranganjoki River is a versatile canoeing route with narrow river sections and expansive lakes. The landscapes on the way vary from lush meadows to dry pine heaths. A number of rapids and fast-flowing sections at the beginning of the route in the Peranganjoki River offer a challenge to canoeists. Later on, the flow is less strong, and you can take a breather, enjoying breath-taking scenery and the clear waters of calm lake sections. Beaches, open wilderness huts and lean-to shelters on the way invite you to take a break. After still lake sections towards the end of the route, you come to the Lounatkoski Rapids. Shooting the rapids at the trail bridge is not recommended (rapids of difficulty class II+ or even III). Before the hazardous section, a canoe portage begins after a warning sign on the left bank (approximately 50 metres). While the route can be used throughout the summer, in dry periods you may touch the bottom frequently and come across sharp rocks, especially at the beginning of the route.
Length
42.7 km
Degree of difficulty
Hard
Duration
2-3 days
Trail type
-
Contact information
The beginning of the route is winding and includes a lot of rapids. The 6-kilometre section between Peranka and main road no 5 has seven class I rapids, as well as still and calmly flowing waters. There is a boat launch at the bridge on road 5.
After the bridge, at about one kilometre of canoeing distance, are the fast and rocky Laukkukoski rapids (II+!). The lowest section of Laukkukoski cannot be run in low water, so be prepared to pull your canoe.
After Laukkukoski rapids there are two class I rapids within a short distance. The route continues as a calm river route for two kilometres and then there is the Hevonperseenmutka bend and a lean-to shelter with the same name.
After the lean-to shelter there is the Hevonperseenkoski rapids (I) and after two bends the Pitkäkoski rapids (II), where the canoe may touch the bottom several times in low water. These rapids are followed by 1.5 kilometres of river without rapids and then Saukkovirta rapids (I). There is a beaver nesting area in the upper part of the stream, so be prepared to pass a beaver dam.
After Saukkovirta the next one-kilometre section includes a few fast-flowing places, after which you arrive at the Perankajoki river, total length 15 km, which joins Lake Iso-Kukkuri. The next section is a lake section with fast-flowing places and rapids between the chains of lakes.
Lake Iso-Kukkuri is approximately three kilometres long, open at the beginning and branching in the middle. The route continues along the north side of the cape and at the end there is the Kukkuri open wilderness hut. At the hut there is the Peuronkoski rapids (I) with current-controlling elements under the bridge over the rapids. When going to the hut, land on the right-hand bank before the current controllers. When running the rapids, be careful not to get turned sideways.
Iso-Kukkuri is followed by Pikku-Kukkuri, a small, one-kilometre lake with two islands. At the isthmus between Pikku-Kukkuri and Lake Lavajärvi there are the Tuirankoski rapids (I). Lavajärvi is approximately three kilometres long. The Lavajärvi open wilderness hut is situated approximately at the middle of the lake on the northern shore.
The three-part Nimettömänkoski rapids (I - II-) between Lake Lavajärvi and Lake Iso-Nimetön can be run or bypassed via a portage trail. The rapids start in the southern part of Lake Lavajärvi, before the Syrjäharju isthmus. The last, third rapid section is the most difficult one. In low water it is best to canoe along Lake Lavajärvi to Lake Iso-Syväjärvi and carry the canoe to Lake Iso-Nimetön.
On the isthmus between Lakes Lavajärvi and Iso-Syväjärvi there is the Syrjäsalmi lean-to shelter and on the left-hand side after the Nimettömänkoski rapids there is a campfire site. There is a boat launch after the first of the Nimettömänkoski rapids.
Iso-Nimetön is a narrow lake approximately two kilometres long, followed by Lake Pikku-Nimetön, which is a little less than one kilometre long. There is a boat launch on the southern shore of Pikku-Nimetön. At the end of the lake there is the Joukovirta lean-to shelter. There are old hunting pits near the lean-to shelter.
After River Joukovirta the canoeing route continues as a calm lake route for some 5 km via lakes Joukojärvi, Virtajärvi and Pahkulampi to Lounaja. The old Honkavaara reindeer fence can be seen on the western side of Lake Virtajärvi. There is a trail leading to the fence from the western bank of Virtasalmi strait. There are campfire site on the northeast shores of Lounaja. In the northern part of Lounaja, on the Lipposensalmi isthmus, there is the Lipposensalmi lean-to shelter.
If you want to, you can canoe north from Lipposensalmi to Pitkä-Hoilua or via Kokalmus, Ala-Valkeinen and Keski-Valkeinen to Iso-Valkeinen, where there are boat launches. On the isthmus between Ala-Valkeinen and Keski-Valkeinen there is the Ala-Valkeinen open wilderness hut, approximately 3.5 km from Lipposensalmi.
When heading west, Lake Lounajajärvi narrows into the Iso-Tolosenvirta river, and by this river there is the Tolosenvirta rental cabin. After a long lake section, the first rapids are Tolosenvirta (I). The canoeing route continues along the north shore of Lake Tolosenlampi and there is also a launching site in the narrow section.
Before the Lounatkoski rapids there is an island, which you can pass on the northern or southern side. The two main streams come back together before the bridge and the worst fall. There is a warning sign on the left bank. Portage starts here. Running the rapids at the bridge is not recommended!
The portage passes by the Lounatkoski rental cabin and the Lounatkoski mill. You can end your excursion at the Lounatkoski portage, in which case the route will total 33 km. The estimated excursion time is 2 days.
The water route continues along the river running to Lake Jatkonjärvi. There is a camping site on the western shore of Lake Jatkonjärvi, and the Jatkonsalmen Pääpirtti and Teräväpää rental cabins are on the isthmus before Lake Kenttäjärvi.
You can continue canoeing the lake route across Lake Kenttäjärvi and the Mykränsalmi strait to the Nurmiselkä laucnhing site or Papinpetäjä isthmus on the northeast shore of Nurmiselkä in Lake Hossanjärvi. There is a landing place there. The water route continues south as the Hossa - Juntusranta canoeing route.