The municipality of Asikkala has a variety of destinations: canals and cultural attractions shape the character of Vääksy, Vesivehmaa is home to an aviation museum at the airport, and Pulkkilanharju offers access to a distinctive landscape. If you are looking for accommodation for a trip with several activities, you can start by sorting through the places and interests that will shape your visit: waterways, museums, local produce or nature trails.
Canals and seasonal boat services
The Vääksy Canal connects boat traffic between Lake Vesijärvi and Lake Päijänne. The Kalkkinen Canal runs from Lake Päijänne to Lake Ruotsalainen and is Europe's longest freshwater canal between two locks. It was formerly used for log floating and is now operated as a self-service canal; check the conditions for boat traffic before setting out. Together, the Vääksy and Kalkkinen canals open up a water route from Lahti to Jyväskylä and on to Heinola. The Päijänne-Risteilyt Hilden boats on the Lahti–Heinola route also call at Vääksy. Schedules vary by season, so it is worth checking the dates if you are planning a boat trip. From Vääksy, a scenic road also leads to Pulkkilanharju.
Vääksy: Cultural landscapes and museums
Vanha Vääksy has preserved wooden and stone residential and commercial buildings dating from the area's early days as a business centre. The area is considered a regionally significant cultural landscape. Päijännetalo, in the heart of the Vääksy Canal area, houses the Asikkala municipal tourist information centre and a shop selling local produce; opening hours may vary by season. The building is also home to the Suomen Vapaa-ajankalastusmuseo and an information point for the Salpausselkä Geopark. The fishing museum's exhibition rooms are on the second floor; it first opened to the public in 2001. Päijännetalo also hosts changing exhibitions.
Another museum in Vääksy focuses on a time when water power was the main source of energy in everyday life and milling grain was an important livelihood. It offers a way to broaden your perspective from canal construction to the former use of water power and its importance in daily life.
Nature trails and activities in the municipality
In the Aurinkovuori outdoor area, the longer multi-use routes range from 10 to 12 and 15 kilometres; they are maintained for cycling, walking or snowshoeing. The 3- and 7-kilometre routes are lit and maintained in winter, although seasonal upkeep may vary. The Kivistö shelter, completed in 2020, is located along the 7-kilometre route and has a campfire site, a supply of firewood, a dining group and a viewing swing. The 3-kilometre route also leads to a shelter with a campfire site and a supply of firewood. For a shorter nature excursion in Vääksy, the Myllytontun nature trail follows the Vääksynjoki River through a grove and features nature information boards.
Kalmarinranta on Lake Vesijärvi is a 700-metre-long, gently sloping sandy beach that is also considered safe for young children to play in the water. Water conditions and beach facilities may change. The area also has a 12-hole disc golf course. If you are looking for a longer scenic route instead of a beach visit, Pulkkilanharju has a nature trail of over two kilometres that is mostly easy to walk. From the nature trail, another route, about 4.5 kilometres long, runs mostly along easy forest paths through a landscape of ridges and lakes. Pulkkilanharju, almost nine kilometres long, runs across Lake Päijänne, consists of ridge islands and submerged ridges, and is part of a nationally valuable landscape area. Part of it lies within Päijänne National Park. Karisalmi in Pulkkila is also a nationally significant birdwatching site.
More to discover: food, aircraft and Lake Päijänne
Visitors can visit several farms in the municipality and see how the food sold there is produced. Which farms are available and whether you need to arrange a visit in advance may vary. In Vääksy, the Viipurilainen Kotileipomo shop and café offers fresh bread, sweet pastries and other local produce; check opening hours before your visit. In Vesivehmaa, the Päijät-Hämeen Ilmailumuseum displays around 15 decommissioned Finnish Air Force aircraft from the 1920s onwards, as well as numerous aircraft parts. The airport also offers flight licences and ratings, as well as flight instructor training. Confirm that flight training is currently available before travelling there.
As a regional point of interest, Päijänne National Park complements the destinations in the municipality: it encompasses about fifty islands and skerries and is characterised by steep cliffs, sandy ridges, sheltered lagoons and small skerries. Its islands can be explored by sailboat or motorboat; the area also has natural harbours. Seasonal access restrictions may apply. The combination of canals, museums, nature trails and the wider Lake Päijänne area offers a range of options for planning a trip, without requiring every activity to have the same focus.
Discover more destinations: Lahti, Heinola, Padasjoki, Nyystölä, Vierumäki, Sysmä, Orimattila, Hämeenkoski
For the regional travel overview: Päijät-Häme.
