Geological trail of the Saimaa Ringed Seal

The Saimaa Seal trail consists of three circular routes: Kitulanlenkki, Kaivannonkieppi and Kotkatsaarenkierros. The total length of the route is 13 km and it is marked on trees with blue paint spots.

You can start the trail from the Puumala harbor, there is  a parking area. From the harbor take the lift to the Puumalansalmi bridge over the strait. After the bridge, turn right onto Kotiniementie road and continue until you are at the actual starting point of the Saimaa Seal trail and the first signpost.

After the bridge, the Saimaa Seal trail starts as Kitulanlenkki. The yellow marked path is 3 km long and has a medium-challenging route classification. Along the Kitulanlenkki you will find a sign for the Saimaa Geopark, which tells about drumlins, moraine ridges formed in the same direction as the flow of the ancient glacier. The return part of the Kitulanlenkki passes through Luukkolantie's car park.

Next Saimaa Seal route is Kaivannonkieppi (4 km). It has a medium-challenging route classification and path is marked with red paint on the trees. There is a car park in the southern part of Kaivannonkieppi and at the edge of it a signpost of Saimaa Geopark and a water point. There is also an accessible lean-to shelter along the route, with campfire site. In the eastern part of the Kaivannonkieppi, there is a Saimaa Geopark sign on the Pääskytvuori lookout point, which tells you about the area's rock types.

The southernmost route of the Saimaa Seal trail is the Kotkatsaarenkierros (3 km). Along the way, you can explore the kettle holes, ancient beaches and esker ridges with the help of Saimaa Geopark signs. The path is easy to traverse and marked on trees with white paint spots. From the northwestern part of the Kotkatsaarenkierros from Luukkolantie road you can reach another campfire site with a quay and an outdoor toilet. You can get there by choosing the Kerminhiekantie road and turning onto Laamaniementie road.

The recommended starting points are the centre of Puumala, the Luukkolantie car park, and the Kaivanto car park. The map and directions for the Saimaa Seal trail can be found at the signposts at the bridge tower, at the beginning of Kitulanlenkki, at the Luukkolantie and Kaivannonkieppi parking areas, and in the northern and southern parts of the Kotkatsaarenkierros. The Saimaa Seal trail’s routes are great for hiking and jogging, nature spotting, snowshoeing, mountain biking, and geocaching. There are also swimming areas at Kaivannonkieppi and along the Kotkatsaarenkierros. The Saimaa Seal trail can be rotated in both directions.

Safety information for hikers

During the winter, please be aware of the snowmobile route that runs past the Kitulanlenkki area.

There is a bus station in the center of Puumala. You can check public transport schedules, for example, Matkahuolto's schedule search.

The Saimaa Seal trail on Puumala website

Map of the Saimaa Seal trail (pdf)