The jewel of Kymenlaakso, Kymijoki River, flows majestically through the region from Kouvola to Kotka and onwards to the sea in five branches. The area gives its best when experienced from the river, but you can also get a good idea of the river valley while cycling. So jump on your bike and head to Kymijoki River.
easy
Distance 214.9 km
The Unforgettable Kymijoki River Valley cycling route starts from the Kouvola railway station and heads south along the riverside. The importance of the river as a source of prosperity and refreshment alike becomes clear along the way. The route features large paper mills, small rural villages and fields, as well as several marvellous rapids and river landscapes. The southern part of the route in Kotka offers cyclists historical sites and award-winning parks. Having made it this far, you should also pay a visit to the sea. The return trip includes areas in Pyhtää and Loviisa, of which at least Valkmusa National Park and the idyllic Strömfors ironworks area are worth visiting.
Author’s recommendation
There are many interesting things to see on this route. Here are some ‘must see’ destinations along the route by municipality:
Kouvola:
- Ahvionkoski rapids
- Ankkapurha Culture Park
Kotka:
- Kotka’s award-winning parks, especially the Sapokka Water Garden and the Katariina Seaside Park
- Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Lodge and Langinkoski Nature Reserve
- Maritime Centre Vellamo
- Aquarium of Finnish fish, Kotka Maretarium
Pyhtää:
- Valkmusa National Park
- Medieval stone church of St. Henry
Loviisa:
- Strömfors ironworks area
Difficulty
easy
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
85 m
Lowest point
0 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Rest stops
Ankkapurha Culture ParkSusikosken kahvio
Kultaan laavu ja Erämyksen vuokramajoitukset
Siikakosken Koskipuisto, Kotka
Langinkosken keisarillinen kalastusmaja
Palotorninvuoren puisto, Kotka
Merikeskus Vellamo
Aquarium House Maretarium - The world of Finnish fish
Kotkan höyrypanimo
Stockforsin ruukki
Strömfors Ironworks area
Safety information
The route features varying roads and paths. The majority of the route is hard-surfaced, but there are also sections of very small dirt roads. The route is outlined to run along low-traffic stretches as much as possible. There are no busy sections at all.Start
Kouvola railway station (80 m)
Coordinates:
DD
60.866452, 26.704446
DMS
60°51'59.2"N 26°42'16.0"E
UTM
35V 483947 6747948
w3w
///riot.complain.memo
Destination
Kouvola railway station
Turn-by-turn directions
The easiest way to follow the route is to download the GPX file of the route to your navigation device, or to download Outdooractive from the app store and use it to follow the route.
Note
all notes on protected areas
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
The route starts from the Kouvola travel centre, which has excellent train and bus connections.Find a suitable train connection on the VR website.
Getting there
The starting point of the route is located at the Kouvola travel centre, so the most convenient way to get there is by train or bus.Parking
There are both free and paid parking areas available near the route’s starting point. See this map for more detailed information.Coordinates
DD
60.866452, 26.704446
DMS
60°51'59.2"N 26°42'16.0"E
UTM
35V 483947 6747948
w3w
///riot.complain.memo
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Difficulty
easy
Distance
214.9 km
Duration
84:00 h
Ascent
446 m
Descent
430 m
Highest point
85 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
- 35 Waypoints
- 35 Waypoints
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
Questions and answers
Would you like to the ask the author a question?
Rating
Help others by being the first to add a review.
Photos from others