recommended route
Salpa Line cycling route
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02 SALPALINJA PYÖRÄILYREITTI , www.visitkotkahamina.fiVideo: Cursor Oy
The Salpa Line cycling route runs through the Finnish countryside, alternating between forests, fields and waterways. The route includes many types of path, but it mostly consists of dirt roads in good condition. There are also some hard-surfaced sections. The rest of the route is old “cannon roads” made for the construction of the Salpa Line. Several places where you can visit and explore the structures of the Salpa Line have been marked along the route. In addition, there are more than a hundred unmarked dugouts and caves hidden in the forest. How many will you find?
Author’s recommendation
There are hundreds of historic sites along the route. The Bunker Museum in Virolahti and the Salpa Line Museum in Miehikkälä are particularly good places to explore the structures of the Salpa Line. Both feature many restored dugouts and other war-related structures.
The Harju agricultural college is located at the southern end of the route. In this area you can visit Harju Manor, which served as the starting point for the construction of the Salpa Line and as the command post of the fortification department.
You can stay the night in a dome bunker at the Virolahti Bunker Museum. More information
Track types
Rest stops
Bunker Museum, VirolahtiGreen Belt -keskus
Salpaparkki
Salpalinja Museum
Harjun Hovi ja kesäkahvila Kiessi
Safety information
There is a risk of falling on dugout roofs, at entrance openings and in trenches, so please be careful in the vicinity of dugouts.- When exploring dugouts and caves, it is advisable to bring a working and efficient flashlight with you as the dugouts are completely dark.
- It is a good idea to keep your cycling helmet on when exploring dugouts because the structures are quite low in places and there is a real chance of hitting your head. If you do not wear a helmet, then at least take off your baseball cap as it limits your field of vision and increases the likelihood of bumping into things.
- There are often bats on the ceilings of rock caves. Do not bother them, and they will not bother you.
Tips and hints
You can stay the night in a dome bunker at the Virolahti Bunker Museum. Click here for more informationStart
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
- Harju Manor, Virolahti, Katariinankuja 19
- Virolahti Bunker Museum, Vaalimaantie 1318
- Miehikkälä Salpa Line Museum, Säästöpirtintie 70
The route runs mainly on rural roads that are low in traffic. Some of the route is hard-surfaced, but most of it is dirt roads. Small sections are also footpath-like in nature. However, all the routes are accessible by basic bike. The route is not marked in the terrain.
Services (food and drink) are available along the route at the above-mentioned starting points and in the towns of Virolahti and Miehikkälä. There are also a few accommodation options in the immediate vicinity of the route.
Note
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Public transport friendlyFrom the direction of Hamina, you can take a bus twice a day to Ravijoki, where the bus stop is located about 0.5 km from the Harju Learning Centre. More detailed timetables are available at https://www.kotkanaikataulut.fi/hamina/ (Hamina-Vilniemi-Klamila-Virojoki route)
Getting there
This circular route has three natural starting points:
- Harju Learning Centre, Virolahti, Katariinankuja 19
- Virolahti Bunker Museum, Vaalimaantie 1318
- Miehikkälä Salpa Line Museum, Säästöpirtintie 70
Parking
There is plenty of free parking available at all the starting points of the routeCoordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Author’s map recommendations
Equipment
- This cycling route is mainly dry canvas terrain and does not require wearing specific boots or any other equipment either. There is however water on the floor of some of the dugouts, so in case you want to explore them more closely, wearing boots is advised.
- As it is completely dark in the dugouts and caves, it is also advisable to carry a functional and powerful flashlight with you.
- Also, while in the dugouts, wearing a bicycle helmet is a good idea, as the building structures can be low-cut, and the possibility of hitting your head in the ceiling is real.
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Statistics
- 31 Waypoints
- 31 Waypoints
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