Lentuankoski rapids, barrier-free nature and fishing site, Kuhmo Finland

Arrival and parking

The route starts from the Lentuankoski car park, Niska-ahontie 200. There are no designated accessible parking spaces in the parking area. The same car park is also used for escorted transport. The parking area is flat and the surface material is hard sand. The route starts at the edge of the parking area and the starting point is marked by an information board about fishing at Lentuankoski rapids. There is no separate information board for the accessible route. At the starting point there are two dry toilets and a rental hut.

Description of the accessibility of the route

The route is classified as an accessible nature route. As this is an out and back route, on the return journey, the ascents of the route description become descents and vice versa. The route is signposted but not waymarked. The flat route leading to the rapids is graveled with black pebble ash and therefore clearly distinguishable from the rest of the environment. The track is more than 1.8 m wide. There are two passing areas along the route, the latter providing two benches facing each other. The route leads across a footbridge to a wooden walking and fishing pier built on a stone ledge in the water. The longitudinal gradients of the trail range from 2-8% and lateral gradients from 3-11%.

After a 300 m flat section, the route ascends to a wooden footbridge over a branch of the river. The bridge is accessed via a 10 m long ramp with an incline of 8%. The bridge and the ramp have a width of 1,2 m and with cross-board spacing of about 0.5 centimetres. A 6 m long ramp leads from the bridge down to the pedestrian and fishing platform. The ramp has a width of 85 cm and a longitudinal gradient of 8 %. The whole section of the bridge has a protective border and guard rails.

The length of he wooden pedestrian and fishing platform is approximately 80 metres and the width is 1.8 metres. At the time of mapping, the pier had a maximum lateral slope of 11%, but the slope is subject to change due to water level fluctuations. The accessible section of the pier has a protective border and guard rails. The wooden structure features three fishing platforms with openings in the guardrails to facilitate fish retrieval. The clearance of the fishing platforms is more than 1,5 m in each direction. There is one fixed bench for resting on the barrier-free section. At the bench, the width of the pier is approximately 1 metre. After the accessible part, the pier continues as a 45 cm wide duckboard without any guardrail or protective borders.

Rest area and other constructions

At the parking area there are two partially accessible dry toilets, which are not marked with the international wheelchair symbol. The width of the toilet door is 95 cm and there is a concrete slab in front of the door. The absence of handles or alike makes it difficult to close the door. The seat is located on the rear wall of the wooden toilet. As the full width of the rear wall is used for the seat recess, the construction does not allow space for wheelchair access from the sides. The seat does not have separate support handles to facilitate movement. The seat recess and the separate urinal on the side wall narrow the interior space in terms of depth and width. The interior free space in front of the seat is 1,2 m deep and 2 m wide. The lighting in the toilet comes through the door window, so the weather and time of day affect the amount of light in the interior.

A rental hut with fireplace is located near the parking area on Lentua beach. The width of the door is 85 centimetres and there is a wooden area the width of the door in front of the entrance. The door has a steeply ramped threshold. The floor of the spacious cottage is made up of logs and the gaps in the floor can be challenging for the users of the assistive devices. In the middle of the hut there is a  hearth with fixed chimney. Around it you will find good space to move even with a wheelchair. In addition, there are fixed benches along the wall of the hut. The building is lit through large windows, so the amount of light is affected by the weather and time of day.

Things to note in addition to the general accessibility description of the route

There is no advance material in sign language produced for the route.

Things to note in addition to the general accessibility description of the route

No prior information has been produced for the route in Braille or as audio file. 

The route may occasionally have branches bending over the path.

The route signposts are clear and have good colour contrast.

The lack of colour contrast makes it difficult to use the constructions of the route.

Things to note in addition to the general accessibility description of the route

No advance material in plain language has been produced for the route.

In terms of length and clarity, the route is safe and there is no risk of getting lost.

There are guard rails on the river section to prevent falls.