See and experience the primal power of nature at the Ruunaa rapids. Catch the fish of a lifetime, challenge your body with a variety of sporting activities or enjoy the silence of the wilderness in the midst of the evergreen forest. The Ruunaa camping area is located in Lieksa, east of the road no.73. The distance from Lieksa to Ruunaa is 30 km. From Koli and Joensuu it takes one and a half hours to get there by car. The nature of the area is particularly characterised by the Lieksanjoki river, which flows through the hiking area with its rushing rapids. The water areas border pine forests typical to North Karelia, which offers nature experiences to the peace-loving traveller.
The area offers visitors a wide range of activities to discover a magnificent, clean and varying natural environment. The area is well worth exploring for its ancient forests and their fauna and flora, for example by cycling or hiking along the well-marked hiking trails that connect to the provincial Bear Trail. While outdoors, enjoy the silence of nature and a picnic on the well-maintained campfire sites in the camping area.
You can admire the rapids area of Ruunaa in various ways, including fishing from the shore or a boat. You can catch a variety of fish, from stocked to wild ones. If you’re adventurous and crave experiences, you can feel the rapids up close – the most famous activity in the area is rafting. The 16-kilometer stretch includes six rapids: eg. Paasikoski, Haapavitja, Kattila, Murroo and Siikakoski. You can explore the power of the rapids and Finland’s best rafting site by rubber raft or wooden boat. With a rubber raft, you can descend four very different rapids, but with a wooden boat, you can experience the whole grandeur and descend all six rapids. The power of the rapids is especially evident during the spring floods.
The area is diverse and offers activities and tranquility for people of all ages and fitness levels. There are also excellent accessible services. To fully enjoy the Ruunaa rapids area, choose an accommodation that suits you from the many available options. After an active day, you can relax in your tent or camper in the camping area, but there are also various cabins and cottages where even the most demanding traveler can stay comfortably.
In short; Ruunaa is an experience not to be missed!
