Karhonsaari

The Karhonsaari island on Lake Kallavesi just off the coast of Ranta-Toivala is home to over a hundred different species of trees and shrubs, the oldest of which date back to the early decades of the 20th century. In addition to the arboretum, Karhonsaari also bears remnants of the first steam sawmill of North Savo.  

You can explore the beautiful island by taking the two-kilometre trail passing through the arboretum. You can start the trail from the information displays on either the northern or southern end of the island. Along the trail, you can see both common and less common trees and shrubs.  Giant larches and magnificent thujas create a unique atmosphere for the area. The stars of the arboretum are the rhododendrons, which bloom around Midsummer. 

There is another marked trail, Karhonkierto, in the western part of Karhonsaari. The trail is a couple of kilometres long and passes through nature conservation areas that are part of the EU’s Natura network and preserved as primeval forests. On the southern end of the island, there is a lean-to shelter and a campfire site for hikers. 

Karhonsaari bears remnants of the first steam sawmill of North Savo from 1875–1910, which employed more than 200 people at the time. The old villas in the northern part of the island date from the period when the island was used as a summer place for the personnel of a forest company. Today, the villas and their yards belong to the Savo-Karelia district of the Finnish Nature Association. 

Karhonsaari is only a short boat trip away from the mainland. Smaller boats can land by the lean-to shelter on the southern shore, and larger boats can use the pier on the northern end of the island. If you want to walk to the island on the ice in the winter, please be careful, as the straits around the island often remain open even in the winter.  

During the summer season, visitors can borrow the rowboat located at the end of the Ranta-Toivalantie road free of charge. Reservations are made and the key is retrieved from the customer service point at the City Council building: 

City Council building 
Suokatu 42 
+358 800 918 511 (toll-free line) 

Customer service hours 
Mon–Wed 8–15:30 
Thu 8–16 
Fri 8–14 

If you want to use the boat on a specific day, we recommend that you make a prior reservation. The boat can fit three people. You can also borrow life jackets (3 pcs) from Customer Service.