Iijokisoutu® rowing event 2024
Note! The schedule and pricing may change, any changes will be updated here.
Navigation 2024
Friday, June 28th: Opening ceremony at Jokijärvi lake
Saturday, 29th: Jokijärvi - Taivalkoski
Sunday, June 30th: Taivalkoski - Parviainen
Monday, July 1st: Parviainen - Kurki school
Tuesday, July 2nd: Kurki school - Pudasjärvi
Route map
Tickets
Instructions
Contact information
Ever since 1983
Welcome to Iijokisoutu, the oldest ongoing nature conservation event in Finland. This year, we celebrate our 40th anniversary!
The Iijoki River Rowing event was created in 1983 as a protest against the plans to further dam the river and to build a reservoir that would drown large areas of local wilderness and tradition. Now we have our goals in bringing back the river's native migratory salmon population.
While we've rowed to support the freedom of the river and the return of the salmon, the Iijoki Rowing event has grown to be not just a protest, but also a cultural travel event. It is place to be for people looking for a break from routine, to get some fresh air, to experience the local tradition, to enjoy fresh waters, campfires and festivities of Northern Finland during the most beautiful time of the summer.
Iijoki Rowing is not a competition, but a journey to enjoy nature and the landscapes. The landscapes range from Nordic wilderness and natural river habitats, to local countryside and culture.
You can choose to join us for a day or two or three, or the whole four days. No prior experience is needed. Our boats have experienced coxswains who know how to steer the boats in rapids or other difficult parts, so you'll always be safe.
Sign up and reserve a seat in one of our boats. Come row with us!
- Pudasjärven luonnonsuojeluyhdistys ry (The Nature Conservation Association of Pudasjärvi)
Schedule
The details of the schedule will be further specified later.
Friday, June 28th 2024
- Starting from the afternoon, participants will be gathering at Saija Lodge (Saijantie 8, Taivalkoski). After your arrival, please sign up at the office of the Iijokisoutu event.
- Traditional smoke sauna available at Saija in the afternoon and evening
- In the evening, Opening ceremony for Iijokisoutu.
Food: can be bought at Saija, will be specified later.
Lodging: You may sleep in a tent or caravan in the Saija area or free, or you may rent a room or a cabin from Saija Lodge: info(at)saija.fi, +3588 847 511
Saturday, June 29th 2024
Jokijärvi lake – Taivalkoski town center
27 kilometers / 17 miles
In the morning, you must present yourself at our office at Saija Lodge if you didn't do it on Friday. Please sign up and pay your attendance fee in advance, that way you only have to get your event pass and instructions at the office on site, which will be faster.
The segment of the Iijoki river that we pass on Saturday features a Nordic wilderness and many small rapids, which have been preserved in a remarkably natural state.
Iijokisoutu® 2024 launches on Saturday morning from the Saija shore (Saijantie 8, Taivalkoski). Soon, we will make a stop at Kirkkosaari island, Jokijärvi lake, where you may join a moment of piety if you wish.
the lunch break is 9km from Taivalkoski, around midday.
Around four or five in the afternoon, 18km from the lunch break, we arrive at Putaanmutka (Talonpojantie, Taivalkoski), in the Taivalkoski town center, where the boats are taken on shore. Those retrieving their cars will take a bus back to Saija Lodge. We will arrange to move the boats, kayaks and canoes past the dam at Taivalkoski.
Food: Breakfast buffet at Saija, lunch at Hepokangas, dinner at Taivalkoski. The menus and pricing will be specified later.
Lodging: Will be specified later. There are also hotels in Taivalkoski (Hotel Herkko, Ruska Bed & Breakfast).
Sauna: we will arrange a sauna at Taivalkoski.
Sunday, June 30th 2024
Taivalkoski town center – Parviainen
32 kilometers / 20 miles
On Sunday, our route takes us through beautiful scenery, some rapids and also peaceful river segments, both wilderness and summery countryside landscapes.
We launch in the morning from the rapids of Tynnyrinmutka (Barrel Turn), Taivalkoski town (Tynnyritie, Taivalkoski).
The lunch and coffee break is around mid-day at Koivukoski (Jurmuntie 103 B, Taivalkoski, 12km from launch).
In the afternoon, we pause for a scenery and swimming break at the sand cliff of Jurmu, 9km after lunch at Koivukoski.
Around 4-5PM we arrive at the day's destination, Parviainen (Parviaisentie 4980, Taivalkoski, 11km from Jurmu). Those retrieving their cars will take the bus back to Taivalkoski.
In Parviainen, there will be dinner, soft heat and bathing in an atmospheric tent sauna, summer campfire evening programme.
Food: Breakfast at Taivalkoski, lunch at Koivukoski. In the evening, dinner at Parviainen. The pricing and the menus will be specified later.
Lodging: Camping at Parviainen in your own tent or caravan, for a small camping+sauna fee.
Monday, July 1st 2024
Parviainen – Kurki school
31 kilometers / 19 miles
In the morning, we Launch from Parviainen (Parviaisentie 4980, Taivalkoski) after breakfast.
Before midday, there's a campfire coffee break at Räpättävä (Yli-Kurentie 2230, Pudasjärvi. 11 km from Parviainen). You may bring your own snacks.
In the early afternoon, there's a coffee break at the Kello cable ferry (Anttilantie 2, Pudasjärvi. 5 km from Räpättävä), where you may buy coffee, other drinks, and snacks. We will be crossing the river with the cable ferry!
Around 4-5 PM, our boats arrive at the shore of the old Kurki school building (Kariniementie 2, Pudasjärvi. 15 km from the Kello cable ferry). Those retrieving their cars will take the bus to Parviainen.
There's dinner and sauna and evening programme at the Kurki school building.
Food: Breakfast at Parviainen. At Räpättävä, there's coffee available, you may bring your own snacks, there's a campfire for roasting sausages. At the Kello cable ferry, you may buy coffee, drinks, and snacks. Evening meal can be bought at the Kurki school building. The menus and pricing will be specified later.
Lodging: A camping spot for a tent or a caravan at the Kurki school yard, or lodging at the school building's rooms, for a small camping/lodging fee.
Tuesday, July 2nd 2024
Kurki school – Pudasjärvi town center
27 kilometers / 17 miles
Tuesday's river segment is calm and goes through serene waters, small lakes, and through agricultural landscapes.
After breakfast at the Kurki school building, we will launch from the Kurki shore (Kariniementie 2, Pudasjärvi).
Around midday, there's a snack break ~12km from Kurki.
In the afternoon, we pause for an immersive art experience at Eeteni, the ITE sculpture garden of the artist Eero Räisänen (Parkkilantie 858, Pudasjärvi. 7 km from the snack break.
Around 4 PM, our boats arrive near the Pudasjärvi town center, where we eat dinner and celebrate finishing the rowing. After the event, those retrieving their cars will take the bus to the Kurki school building.
You are warmly welcome to join us and experience the traditional Iijokisoutu.
Tickets
Adults:
A seat in our boat: 1 day 30€ , whole event 100€
If you bring your own boat/canoe/kayak: 1 day 20€ , whole event 50€
Children under 15:
A seat in our boat: 1 day 15€ , whole event 50€
In your own boat/canoe/kayak: 1 day 10€ , whole event 25€
Bus token: 5€/day, 10€/whole event
At the end of each day of rowing, a bus will be waiting to take those retrieving their cars back to the place where we launched in the morning.
Rent a life vest: 5€/day, 10€/whole event.
Life vests are required for everyone. You may bring your own or rent from us (payments only in cash).
Payment
You may pay your attendance fee either in advance (bank account Iijokisoutu FI14 5360 0420 0911 78) OR at the office at the event, where you will also be given your event pass and instructions. It is better to pay in advance, for your convenience and avoiding the rush.
Please remember to sign up here.
Information
For the rowers
You may reserve a seat in one of our boats, or bring your own. Each of our wooden river boats has two pairs of oars. Approximately three or four people fit in each boat (groups larger than this will be divided into two or more boats). be two people rowing and one or two passengers in each boat; the rowers and passengers usually take turns. Generally, you are expected to be able to row for at least half a day. If your group is bringing (a) small child(ren) to the boat, then the grown-ups will row the whole way.
In addition to the three or four rowers+passengers, there is a coxswain steering each boat. The coxswain is in charge of the boat, and will steer and give instructions as needed.
You do not need a lot of prior rowing experience to attend Iijokisoutu; we will teach you. You do need to be in a physical condition to be able to row a boat for a few hours, though.
In addition to the breaks in the schedule, other smaller breaks will be taken if the rowers are tired, or if the weather condition gets momentarily bad, or if we have to wait for slower boats to catch up.
For the paddlers
We do not recommend partaking in Iijokisoutu as a paddler if you are inexperienced, unless you're coming with a more experienced paddler friend who can instruct you. For the inexperienced, instead of paddling we recommend reserving a seat in one of our boats, where the coxswain will instruct you if needed.
Taigavire rents kayaks and canoes.
What to bring into a boat?
Life vest, a cushion to sit on, a hat that protects from the sun, sunglasses, a water bottle, gloves for rowing a boat if you get blisters easily, sun lotion, a raincoat, possibly a change of clothing. Appropriate footwear such as sneakers (no rubber boots in the boats please). Snacks, if you want to eat something between breaks. It's enough to take a small bag of these essentials into the boat.
Everyone must wear a life vest. You may bring your own or rent from us (5 €/day or 10 €/the whole event). We have a limited quantity of children's sizes. Note: the rent of the life vests must be paid in cash at the office car.
The office car
We have an office car, which will follow along the event. You may keep your additional luggage there and access it during breaks.
Retrieving your car
Each day at the end point of the daily rowing, a bus will be waiting to take those retrieving their cars from where they were left in the morning. A ticket for the bus costs 5 €/day or 10 €/whole event.
Insurance
Our head organisation, Suomen luonnonsuojeluliitto (Finnish association for Nature Conservation) has an accident insurance, which is valid for the Iijokisoutu event. The insurance is valid for accidents that happen during the event or immediately on the way to or from there. The insurance is valid for participants under age 70.
In addition, Iijokisoutu has a liability insurance, which will be valid for liabilities caused by the Iijokisoutu event and its organizers. Please note that it will not compensate for liabilities caused by yourself, such as dropping something in the river. You may get your own travel insurance for that.
Contact
Chairwoman of the Pudasjärvi Nature Conservation Association and the Head of the Event Pirkko-Liisa Luhta (+358400 293 023)
Head of the Coxswains Eero Moilanen (+358400 204 165)
You may also email us at info(at)iijokisoutu.net if you have additional questions.
The sign-up sheet can be found here.
The event is organized by The Pudasjärvi Nature Conservation Association. It is a local member association of The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (SLL).