Nordic Skating diary

Condition of our long nordic skating track may change rapidly, even during the same day. The tracks are maintained every day (outside heavy snowfall days). Usually skating tracks opens end of December/start of January and closes around end of March. See routes from Winter Routes map.

SAT 21.12. good, 10 KM!

Good ice situation! As forecasts are changing for the following week: A reminder to all followers, that when the night is under zero degrees, that usually means quite stable skating situation. When conditions change, we will inform.

Tracks at the moment, start from southpoint of island (900m from rental).

Southpoint - Vaahersalo bridge (1,5 km back forth)
Kaarnalahti route 2 km
Valkialampi route 2 km
Haataansaari island 5 km (back forth)

Additional routes cannot yet be opened, as its early in ice season.
Note that there is no track maintenance on 25.12., as its the only day we are closed.

WINTER SWIMMING & SAUNA: Everyday in our shore!
WINTER CYCLING & SNOWSHOIENG is possible
EQUIPMENT RENTAL: Between 10-15
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Skiing is possible (freestyle/withouth lanes), but a little amount of snow is needed to to prepare the actual skiing lanes for classic style skiing. Maintenance situation from here.

Thu 19.12. open

Despite snowstorm, routes open! Same 10 km as earlier. We expect that fridays rain does not affect greatly, so saturday should be a nice skating day!

Tue 17.12. SEASON STARTS TOMORROW! 10 KM OF TRACKS

Skating season starts tomorrow, 10 km of tracks! Work was able to be started yesterday and tomorrow wednesday 18.12. is the first day of skatings. Note that during tomorrow benches etc. items will be put on place and we will focus on cleaning the routes we were able to open today, but you can come in the morning. Rentals from restaurant.

Tracks at the moment, start from southpoint of island (900m from rental).

Southpoint - Vaahersalo bridge (1,5 km back forth)
Kaarnalahti route 2 km
Valkialampi route 2 km
Haataansaari island 5 km (back forth)

Surface of ice is quite good! We cannot yet bring to the ice the ice cutter (which makes the surface cleaner and better), but quite nice condition. :)

13.12. very promising, season starts next week?

Very positive situation at the ice. Lot of snow coming on weekend. If all goes well we are able to start pushing the snow away from ice on monday! We will see on monday but we expect to open the season early next week at the moment.

During Christmas and New Year, restaurant and rental open daily (expect 25.12. when we are closed), check opening hours from here.

11.12. winter starts

Promising forecasts regarding cold temperatures. Could be possible that season could start before christmas. We will most likely have a better estimate on friday.

5.12. First ice

Lakes froze last night! Fingers crossed that the icing continues before big snow amounts - with luck the season might start quite soon.

27.11.2024 Waiting for the NEW season

Waiting for the skating season! On this page updates will be written when start of season approaches and during season we give information of whats the route situation and quality. Previous diarys and statistics of maintenance below.

When does the skating season / winter start? Check statistics of previous winters from diary below. Our promise in Punkaharju is, that we do absolutely everything possible on a weekly basis to keep the skating tracks open - for the last 18 years already! Circumstances change on ice depending on weeks temperature and work is daily throughout the winter.

Skating diary of past winters

Mostly regarding nordic skating tracks, but also information about cross-country skiing and other routes.

Skating diary of 2023-2024 winter
Skating diary of 2022-2023 winter
Skating diary of 2021-2022 winter
Skating diary of 2020-2021 kept only in finnish
Skating diary of 2019-2020 winter
Skating diary of 2018-2019 winter
Skating diary of 2017-2018 winter
Skating diary 2015-2016 and 2016-2017

Lenghts of past seasons

2023-2024: Start 4.1.2024, end of maintenance end of March
2022-2023: Start 4.1.2023, end of maintenance start of April
2021-2022: Start 23.12.2022, end of maintenance early April
2020-2021: Start 8.1.2021, end of maintenance was end of March
2019-2020: Start 1.1.2020, end of maintenance was Mid March
2018-2019: Start 12.12.2018, end of maintenance Mid March
2017-2018: Start 12.1.2018, end of maintenance early April
2016-2017: Start 19.12, end of maintenance Mid March.
2015-2016: Start 29.12., end of maintenance end of March
2012-2013: Start 28.12., end of maintenance early April