Hiking and excursions
Visitor Centre is a starting point for nature tours, where you can find maps and tips for the best nature sites and excursion destinations in the Kalajoki area and the coast of the Bay of Bothnia.
Kalajoki Visitor Centre
Jukupolku 5
+358 8 4694 449
www.nationalparks.fi
Maakalla
Maakalla is a unique island roughly 18 km off the coast. It forms an autonomous region with dozens of fishermen’s huts, a beautiful wooden church and a fishing museum. You can reach Maakalla with a boat taxi Kiira, DMS Matilda or the Galeas Ansio, for example.
Rahja archipelago
The ancient shores and old ports of the Rahja archipelago are living proof of a post-glacial rebound. All of the habitat types of a coast with rising land masses can be seen on Rahja’s hundred islands, from the inner archipelago’s sheltered forests to the rugged islets out in the open sea. The fishing villages and sheep pastures remind the visitors of the islands’ old traditions.
The Rahja archipelago is a wonderful, sheltered destination for a fishing, kayaking, SUP paddling or cross-country skiing trip. Kayaks can be rented at Kalajoen Latu’s Konikarvo pier. For more information and reservations, call +358 50 461 6508. Fishing licences for the Rahja archipelago can be purchased at Tapion Tupa, tel. +358 8 466 622. For information on transport to the Rahja archipelago, kindly contact the local entrepreneurs (for example Kalajoki Booking Centre)
For more information, please visit www.nationalparks.fi/rahja
Siiponjoki Nature Trail
This 20-kilometre nature trail runs across magnificent pine forests to the shores of the Siiponjoki river. There is a kota hut and two lean-tos by the river. The river snakes through the sandy terrain, constantly reshaping its bed and creating a magical atmosphere and the occasional lush riverbank grove in the otherwise open woodland landscape. Downstream, the river forms a number of distributaries that flow into the sea at the Rahja archipelago. The nature trail offers some of the best scenery in Kalajoki.
The start and finish spot:
Tapion Tupa
Matkailutie 3
+358 8 466 622
www.tapiontupa.com
The Vihaslahti bird tower and nature reserve
Vihaslahti is home to several bird species, and bird-watchers can spot them feeding and nesting there. Vihaslahti is part of the Vihas-Keihäslahti conservation area. You can reach this area by hiking along the duckboards and trails of Hiekkasärkät. The distance from the Visitor Centre is approximately 4 kilometres. The Vihaslahti cove has a bird tower, two BBQ spots, toilets and information boards.