Airaksela: Lakeside, Ski Trails and Village Life

Airaksela combines lakeside spots with seasonal opportunities to get active and regular village events. When planning your trip, you can focus on different things: the beach and summer kiosk, trails and kota huts, or events and viewpoints.

Beach and Meeting Place

Airaksela Beach is on the shore of Lake Iso-Laukaa, along Jussilantie. It has a dry toilet, changing rooms, a jetty and a seating area. These facilities provide a clear guide for anyone considering the beach as a focus of their stay.

At Airakselan Seurantalo, at Airakselantie 591, Airaksela’s summer kiosk sells café items, ice cream and soft drinks. The building is also available for rent for meetings, celebrations and sporting events. The kiosk and rentals reflect two different uses of Seurantalo: a seasonal offering for visitors and space for events.

Ski Trails, Hiking and Winter Activities

The Auma-ahonmäen lenkki loop, created and maintained by the Airakselan Yritys sports association, is a cross-country ski trail. When there is no snow on the ground, it can also be used for hiking. Use of the loop therefore depends on ground conditions: it is intended for cross-country skiing and also offers an opportunity for hiking when there is no snow.

Another cross-country ski loop starts opposite Airakselan Seurantalo when there is enough snow. It is just over four kilometres long. Its starting point is therefore a different reference point from the one named Auma-ahonmäen lenkki; for the second loop, both the start opposite Seurantalo and the approximate length are given.

In summer, the Auma-ahonmäen lenkki loop can be extended via a snowmobile trail across the Hirvonjoki to Jussilantie. The return route follows a gravel road to an asphalt road. This extension describes a summer addition to the loop; the named route sections and river crossing help distinguish it from using the ski trail in winter.

In winter, a lighted ice hockey rink offers an opportunity to go skating. Together with the ski trails, this makes for two different winter activities: cross-country skiing on a ski loop and skating on the lighted rink.

Events Throughout the Year

Annual events in Airaksela include the Letunkiännöt, held in July, and a porridge festival in December, organised together with other village associations. About a hundred village residents and holiday-home guests take part in the Letunkiännöt. The events take place in two different seasons; if you would like to plan your trip around one of these festivals, you can check the event dates in advance.

Kota Huts, Nature Reserve and Viewpoint

The kota hut at Kauppisenlammi has a dry toilet and firewood. It is on the shore of Kauppinen, near the Kauppisneva Nature Reserve. A trail leads from the shore of Kauppisenlammi to Kauppisneva. This spot therefore combines the facilities at the kota hut with a named trail towards the nature reserve.

The Hoikan kota hut also has a dry toilet and firewood. It is on the shore of Hoikkalampi and can be reached via Viita-ahontie or, in winter, via a nearby snowmobile trail. The Valkeinen rocks are close by. Both kota huts therefore have the same listed facilities; other location details distinguish them, with a trail to Kauppisneva at one and access routes and nearby rocks at the other.

The Airaksela observation tower is on the summit of Laukaanvuori. From there, the view extends towards Lake Iso-Lauas; the Puijo Tower can also be seen on the horizon. An easy trail about 200 metres long leads to the tower. The short trail and the named viewpoints make the tower a destination in its own right, separate from the lakeside spots and kota huts.

Discover more destinations: Sonkajärvi, Varpaisjärvi, Paakkila, Tervo, Juankoski, Siilinjärvi, Lapinlahti, Maaninka

For the regional travel overview: North Savo.