Gravel Bike Gravel Bike |Rääkkylä

Saimaa by Cycle: Paksuniemi Pedal 13 km

The Paksuniemi Pedal (13 km) offers a wonderful combination of gravel roads, asphalt sections, and narrower field tracks. Along the route, you can spot grazing cows, a bird-watching tower, Rääkkylä's wooden church, and the Paksuniemi harbor.

The route only has digital route guidance. Instructions for digital route guidance can be found on the Bikeland.fi site: https://www.bikeland.fi/blogi/pyorareitilla-navigointi-gpx-jaljen-avulla/

Description

The Paksuniemi Pedal is an easily accessible and versatile 13-kilometer route in the beautiful rural landscape of Rääkkylä. The route smoothly alternates between gravel and asphalt roads, offering peaceful cycling among fields, Karelian pastures, and the village center. Along the way, there is a drained field next to which flows a narrow river, offering great views of migrating bird flocks from the bird-watching tower. The one-kilometer track crossing the field is narrow, occasionally overgrown with grass, and moist, providing a small challenge for cyclists. The starting point is the Paksuniemi harbor, where you can enjoy the restaurant's offerings before departure or after the tour. The village center of Rääkkylä also offers services, such as Koivuniemi Camping's delicious Karelian pies and the S-market. This short tour is suitable for those in normal condition as well as families with children and offers a delightful glimpse into the peaceful nature and village life of Rääkkylä.

Safety

The phone network covers the entire route area: you can always call for help using the number 112 or the 112 app.

Additional information

Very easy - can be done by anyone without prior training.
Difficulty level
Easy
Length
13.0km
Estimated time
01:00h
Ascent meters
76m
Descent meters
77m
Highest point
111m
Lowest point
73m
Author:
Anni Kauppila
Updated: 25.02.2026