Sumiainen: Lake Landscapes, Church and Nature Trails

When choosing a destination, you can get a sense of Sumiainen from three specific features: the town centre’s location between two lakes, its neo-Gothic church and its nature trails. These themes offer different starting points for planning your trip.

Town centre between Keitele and Sumiaisjärvi

Sumiainen’s town centre lies on an isthmus between Lake Keitele and Lake Sumiaisjärvi. It is a nationally valuable landscape area and a valuable built cultural environment. Its location between the two lakes provides the setting for the town; the designation covers both the landscape and the built cultural environment.

Church and Köyhyydenkylä

Sumiainen’s neo-Gothic church was consecrated in 1890. Its nave has an octagonal floor plan. In summer, the church serves as a road church. Check whether it is open on your planned visit date.

Another cultural attraction is the Köyhyydenkylä museum site in Rautionmäki. It was built through voluntary work to tell the story of a bygone era; recycled materials were used in its construction. The atmospheric site is intended for events and celebrations. Guided tours and, for example, musical performances are available on request. Check in advance whether your preferred tour or performance is available.

Two trail options at Sumiaisten Hitonhauta

Sumiaisten Hitonhauta is a developed natural area with a rock face and a ravine-like depression. The trails there differ considerably: the upper trail is easy to walk, about one kilometre long, and leads through a broadleaf-forest-like woodland to Mount Hitonhauta. It offers magnificent views. The lower trail, by contrast, leads to the bottom of the ravine at the foot of steep rock faces and is rocky and challenging. When choosing between the trails, their length, terrain and direction provide practical guidance.

Hiking and cycling on the Laulavan-Mörön Trail

The Laulavan-Mörön Trail passes through the landscapes of the villages of Syvälahti, Lohilahti and Vihijärvi in Sumiainen, as well as lake landscapes, forested heaths and ridges. It is well suited to mountain biking. Trail conditions can vary by season, so take current conditions into account when planning. There are several possible starting points for the trail. The area also has shorter, interconnected trails. Väliharjun Hut, a rest stop for hikers of all ages and sizes, is located along the Laulavan-Mörön Trail.

Getting there and other activities

The drive to Sumiaisten Hitonhauta starts in the centre of Sumiainen: from Sumiaisraitti, turn onto Savolantie and drive about 2.5 kilometres to the access road. This distance is the drive to the trailhead, not the length of a trail; the upper trail at Hitonhauta is about one kilometre long. As road conditions can vary, take the current situation into account when planning.

Water activities are another option: the Keitele boating routes pass near Sumiainen, and the nature around the town is ideal for fishing. You can include these different activities in your trip planning alongside the hiking and cycling trails described above.

Discover more destinations: Jämsänkoski, Suolahti, Luhanka, Kivijärvi, Vaajakoski, Kuhmoinen, Lievestuore, Jämsä

For the regional travel overview: Central Finland.