The estuary of Oulu offers magnificent paddling and kayaking opportunities, combining archipelago and urban landscapes. Adventurous paddlers can choose from several different routes that offer stunning scenery and unforgettable experiences. Let’s take a closer look at the best canoeing routes in the Oulu River estuary.

How and where? We (Lappis / Oulu Paddling Center) offer vast selection of water activities such as kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. You can rent equipment for independent yourney or attend to our quided safaris. For more information please email info@lappis.fi or visit our booking site. Unfortunately our english booking site does not include safaris yet but all of our instructors also speak english.

Pikisaari Tour

The Pikisaari Tour takes you to the magical Pikisaari Island, inhabited by artists and craftsmen, in the Oulu River estuary. Its history dates back to the 17th century when a tar factory was established on the island. This tour offers a splendid view of the river estuary, and along the way, you can hear the sounds of music, especially during the festival season, as you travel between Pikisaari and Kuusisaari.

Duration: Approximately 40 minutes by canoe, 1 hour by SUP board.

What’s along the way? At the end of Pikisaari, there is a nice sandy beach where you can stop and enjoy the sun and take a refreshing swim. Along the way, you will also pass by Kuusisaari, known for its numerous festivals, such as Qstock.

Hollihaka Tour

The Hollihaka Tour combines urban paddling and the charm of the archipelago landscape. The route passes through the canals between Torinranta and Kiikeli and continues through the narrow passage of Sonninsaari to Hollihaa small boat harbor. From there, the journey continues between Varsasaari and Hevossaari. The special feature of this route is the landing spot on Varsasaari specifically designed for this route. The Hollihaka Tour offers a sheltered paddling environment and is particularly popular on windy days.

Duration: Approximately 40 minutes by canoe, 1 hour by SUP board.

What’s along the way? The Hollihaka Tour offers a view of the charming Hollihaka small boat harbor and the landing spot on Varsasaari designed specifically for this route.

Estuary Tour

The Estuary Tour is the most common route in the Oulu River estuary for guided kayaking safaris. It opens up the river estuary in a whole new way. This route combines the landscapes of the Pikisaari and Hollihaka Tours but also allows you to enjoy the tranquility between the Hietasaari boating center and Seelari. Whether you are a local or a visitor to Oulu, this route is definitely worth experiencing.

Duration: Approximately 1.5 hours by canoe, 2 hours by SUP board.

What’s along the way? The Estuary Tour takes you to Hollihaa small boat harbor and the landing spot on Varsasaari. Along the way, you can admire the beautiful sandy beach of Hevossaari and visit Johteenpooki, where POOKIoski is located. Additionally, you can enjoy the restaurant or café services at Seelari. Similar to the Pikisaari Tour, the Estuary Tour also allows you to hear the sounds of music from the festivals on Kuusisaari, such as Qstock.

City to Beach

The City to Beach route is our absolute favorite. This route takes you through the city to the river estuary and all the way to the incredibly beautiful Mustasalmi. Along the way, you will see only a few individual villas that tell the history of Hietasaari. Mustasalmi cuts through Hietasaari, and on its shores, you can admire old villas. Trees grow above the strait, and you won’t believe you have left the center of a large Finnish city. The final part of the route is paddled in the open sea, adding an extra thrill to the adventure. However, if the sea is too rough, you can safely land in the lower part of Mustasalmi and take a short walk to Nallikari.

Duration: Approximately 1-1.5 hours by canoe, 2 hours by SUP board.

What’s along the way? The City to Beach route takes you to the nice sandy beach at the end of Pikisaari. Along the way, you can also make a stop at Seelari, where there are restaurant and café services. When you reach Nallikari, you can take advantage of its comprehensive services, such as Restaurant Nallikari and several ice cream kiosks.

Hietasaari Tour

The Hietasaari Tour offers you everything you can experience in the Oulu River estuary! The journey starts from the city center and continues through the Toppila Canal towards the sea. The Toppila Canal offers magnificent views of the renewed area, as well as boats and vessels anchored at the piers. After that, you will encounter the open sea section, where you paddle past Nallikari towards Mustasalmi. Before reaching Mustasalmi, there is an excellent opportunity to take a long break at Nallikari Beach and even enjoy lunch at Nallikari Beach Restaurant. If the sea is slightly wavy, the mouth of Mustasalmi offers a peaceful paddling experience as you gently glide forward. Once you reach the mouth of Mustasalmi, you can choose whether to return using the Pikisaari Tour route or experience the entire Estuary Tour clockwise.

Duration: Approximately 2-3 hours by canoe, 3-4 hours by SUP board, but we strongly recommend reserving a whole day for this route so that you don’t have to rush.

What’s along the way? The Hietasaari Tour combines the highlights of the other routes. Along the route, you will experience the numerous festivals on Kuusisaari, such as Qstock. On the Toppila route, you can stop and enjoy yourself at the Punainen Mylly restaurant. At Nallikari, you can take advantage of its comprehensive services, such as Restaurant Nallikari and several ice cream kiosks. Additionally, you can admire Hollihaka small boat harbor, the landing spot on Varsasaari, the beautiful sandy beach of Hevossaari, and visit Johteenpooki, where POOKIoski is located. At the end of the journey, you can relax at Seelari, where there are restaurant and café services.

The Oulu River estuary and its canoeing routes offer unforgettable adventures for all nature lovers and adventure seekers. Choose your favorite from these stunning routes and set out to explore the beautiful archipelago of Oulu by paddling!