Outdoor activities
Etelä-Kymenlaakso offers a wide range of outdoor activities. The maritime environment, river banks, rapids, forests and numerous jogging paths and parks offer opportunities for outdoor activities in beautiful natural landscapes.
Katariina Seaside Park (Visitkotkahamina.fi)
Kotka’s Katariina Seaside Park is a popular park and recreation area, combining expansive seascapes, old fortress remains, rocky beaches and pleasant outdoor areas. The park has easy-to-follow trails, a playground and a variety of skateboarding facilities. There are also rest areas, campfires, viewing platforms and artworks. From Katariina Seaside Park, you can walk along the beach path to the Sapokka Water Garden.
Santalahti Nature Trail (Visitkotkahamina.fi)
The Santalahti nature trail in Kotka runs through stunning seascapes and offers a varied route through rocky shores, pine forests and sandy beaches. The trail takes you to naturally shaped cliffs where you can admire the open sea and archipelago. Along the route there are resting places, campfires and viewpoints.
Valkmusa National Park (Visitkotkahamina.fi)
Valkmusa National Park in the Miehikkälä and Pyhtää area offers a unique Finnish landscape, where wide open bogs, longitudinal mountain trails and quiet wilderness landscapes create a peaceful destination for nature lovers. In the park you can walk along marked trails, admire rare species of plants and birds and experience one of the largest peat bogs in Southern Finland.
Portimo Paths (Visitkotkahamina.fi)
Portimo paths, with a total length of 40 km, is a network of hiking paths criss-crossing between Ruissalo, Kannusjärvi, Kitula and Metsäkylä. Along the trail, there are lean-tos where you can spend the night, a sightseeing tower and wonderful scenery.
Park Oolanti
Park Oolanti is a seaside gem situated right next to Hamina’s Tervasaari. With a playground and fitness area, the park is a hub of activity where you can also enjoy a relaxing meal at the picnic and grilling sites. Excellent pedestrian paths connect the park to local highlights, including the Rampsinkari Leisure and Recreation Area, a skate ramp, and seasonal restaurants, as well as the nearby Monumental Flag Square.
Salpa Trail Hiking Route (Visitkotkahamina.fi)
The Salpapolku is a 50-kilometre-long hiking trail in the Miehikkälä and Virolahti areas, which takes you through the forests, ridges and fortifications of the Salpa Line, a World War II-era area. Along the route you can see original forts, battle trenches and historic structures, as well as enjoy peaceful natural scenery.
Check out Kotka’s parks here (Kotka.fi)
Read more about Kotka National Urban Park (Kotka.fi)
