Stage 1: Iron curtain trail, Imatra - Simpele (Rautjärvi)

Museums are the theme of this leg of the Iron Curtain Trail (Rautaesirippureitti). Start your bicycle trip from Imatra and visit the Border Museum in Immola, as well as Kollaa and Simo Häyhä Museum in Miettilä, Rautjärvi. You can explore the border area between Finland and Russia by cycling along the museum road, which starts from northern Imatra. In the 17th century, it was a local road. In the 18th century, it was a military road and later, part of Highway 6. Many sites tell their stories of times plagued by wars. There are small lakes where you can take a dip. After pedalling through the rural landscape, you will arrive at River Hiitolanjoki, which runs to Lake Ladoga. Take a nature trail and have snacks by campfires. Over the next few years, the rapids in River Hiitolanjoki will be cleared, making them suitable for the Ladoga Salmon to swim to the headwaters of the river. The leg ends close to Simpele Railway Station. There are meal and accommodation services in Simpele. 

Surface material on the route: asphalt, gravel road.