Nature attractions in Jyväskylä Region for those with children 

Located beside Finland’s longest and deepest lake, Päijänne, Jyväskylä makes it easy to enjoy lake nature. Unforgettable experiences include a cruise on Lake Päijänne with many things to admire and marvel at. Cruises from the Lutakko Harbour in Jyväskylä are arranged by service providers such as Päijänne-risteilyt Hilden. 

In addition to cruises, you can also get to know the region’s waterways by canoeing. 

You can experience the diverse natural environment of the Jyväskylä Region in four national parks! 

All four national parks in the Jyväskylä Region have suitable routes for walking with children. The trails in Leivonmäki National Park, Southern Konnevesi National Park and Salamajärvi National Park include routes that can be taken with children, and even options accessible with off-road strollers. There are also many easy and reasonably long trails in Pyhä-Häkki National Park. 

You can also head for a nice picnic to Oravivuori in Korpilahti, where at the end of a nature trail approximately one kilometre in length you can admire the magnificent scenery of Lake Päijänne. The site is part of the Struve Geodetic Arc, whose arc points were used to measure the shape and size of the Earth in the 19th century. The geodetic arc was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005. The path is steep in places.

The Keskisenlampi nature trail in Hankasalmi is favoured by bird lovers and also well suited for families with children. The length of the route is about 3 kilometres. The nature trail has a birdwatching tower overlooking the lake. You can observe the life of birds in the area from the tower. Along the route there is an accessible rest area, which can be accessed via a service path from Hankasalmentie. The rest area has a hut with a campfire site, suitable for picnics even for larger groups. While in Hankasalmi, don’t forget the popular and award-winning Häähninmäki outdoor recreation area!

The Muuramenjoki nature trail is 1.5 kilometres long. There are some bridges along the trail and also a few benches to rest on along the way. A playground where children can get active is also included in the trail. The Muuramenjoki nature trail is a great place for birdwatching, and in summer the really lush vegetation creates a unique atmosphere. Alternatively, you can also take the shorter accessible Lippolenkki trail of 800 metres on the Muuramenjoki nature trail. 

In Jyväskylä, you can instantly switch from the urban bustle to a lush natural environment. Just a stone’s throw from the centre of Jyväskylä, the Tourujoki nature trail charms with its verdancy and vegetation which are extraordinary in an urban setting. Along the trail located in the Tourujokilaakso nature reserve, you can often hear the song of a nightingale in early summer! The 700-metre-long trail has many stairs and duckboards, so it is best suited for walking with a little older children.  

The Harju ridge located next to the centre of Jyväskylä is a popular place for recreation and outdoor exercise. You can put your mind at rest high above the hustle and bustle of the centre, and the Harju trail is a nice route to be taken also with children. The Vesilinna tower located atop the ridge offers magnificent views around Jyväskylä. There is free entrance to the tower throughout the year during the opening hours of Café-Restaurant Vesilinna. At the same time, you can visit the Natural History Museum located in the same building. The Tourujoki nature reserve and Harju ridge are part of the Ring Green (Kehä Vihreä) nature trail network that encircles the centre of Jyväskylä.

You can also experience fun surprises on a nature hike: ten quirky animal figures are living along the accessible hiking trail of Pikkukakkonen at Latu hut. Can you find them all? The 1.2-kilometre trail is suited for people of all ages. There is also a lean-to near the trail next to Lake Kolmisoppinen. The parking area is at address Ronsuntaipaleentie 279.  

Hitonhauta in Laukaa offers great sceneries for physical activity in all seasons of the year. Hitonhauta is a rugged canyon created after the Ice Age. The gorge is about 800 metres long and 30 to 40 metres wide, and its rock faces rise vertically to a height of 10 to 20 metres. The walk from the parking area to the beginning of the path leading to the gorge is about 1.5 kilometres. In winter, there are magnificent icefalls on the walls of the gorge, and the northern end of the gorge has a cave where you can climb. There is a lean-to and a campfire site at the beginning of the Hitonhauta trail.