CANOEING                     

The scenic Ruovesi area provides canoeists with a wide variety of routes. Three distinctly different alternatives present themselves:

1. The Poet's Way

This waterway extends from Tampere to Virrat and several of its loveliest stretches are around Ruovesi. The scenery ranges from narrow rocky passages to open lakes. Ruovesi centre and the villages of Visuvesi and Jäminkipohja are situated conveniently along the route.

2. The gorges of the Helvetinjärvi National Park

The canyon-like chain of the four lakes Helvetinjärvi, Luomajärvi, Koverojärvi and Kalliojärvi, provides one of the chief attractions of the "Hell's Lake" National Park. Luomajärvi and Koverojärvi in the middle are on the same level and the narrow passage between them is accessible all summer, although water may be low in the small rapids. Canoeing around the two lakes and exploring the numerous nooks and crevices will amount to 20-30 kilometres. Several roads provide easy access to the lakes. On the west side of Luomajärvi there is a designated National Park campsite with firewood.

More ambitious canoeists will start off at one end of the lake chain and explore them all. Not all lakes are accessible by water but the stretches of land in between are fairly short and the rugged scenery makes it worth the trouble. The most scenic part of the chain, including the four Helvetinjärvi lakes, Luoma and Kovero, is 15 kilometres long, land stretches included. It is also possible to leave the canoes at the north end of Luomajärvi and walk to Helvetinjärvi.

3. Haukkajärvi route

Lake Haukkajärvi on the edge of the Helvetinjärvi National Park is the starting point for a 25 kilometre down-river canoeing route that ends in Lake Näsijärvi at Karjula village in Kuru. The route includes several easy but interesting rapids (Karjulankoski not included). Sights along the route include the remains of old log floating equipment and an old wilderness mill (Haukan mylly). The rapids are navigable only in May during high water from the end of September until the waters freeze. The rest of the route is navigable all through the summer and rapids are easy to pass on land. The route is well suited to beginners. The best place to start is at the beautiful Haukanhieta sands.

Starting points accessible by car can be located with the help of the local GT map or the southern part of the Pirkan taival hiking map.