Paddling from Sotkamo to Katinkulta 16 km, Sotkamo - Vuokatti

The paddling route starts from the Sotkamo harbor right near the center. You can launch a canoe or kayak into the water, for example, next to the breakwater behind the summer café or from the boat ramp. Ahead opens the maze-like Pirttijärvi. The shores of the lake are largely inhabited, especially the shoreline on the Sotkamo center and Hirvenniemi side. 

At first, the route follows the inhabited shores of Akkoniemi and Siltasaari. Immediately after departure, it passes Aatokka's parsonage, which was initially completed in 1924 as the sheriff's official residence but was sold to the parish in 1941 to serve as a parsonage. Today the building is owned by the municipality of Sotkamo and is used by the adult education center and cultural activities. In summer, the house hosts, among other things, art exhibitions and small concerts.

From this point of Pirttijärvi, views open over Hirvenniemi towards Vuokatti and the Teneti stream towards Naapurinvaaralle. Sotkamo was already at the early stage of its history at the crossroads of two important routes. Across the area ran an active Viena route from east to west and at Sotkamo's Pirttijärvi, it joined the important large Karelian main road passing through the Pielinen region and extending all the way to Karelia by Lake Ladoga. Numerous prehistoric artifacts and dwelling sites have been found on the shores of the lake, for example at Kiikarusniemi and Ammonsaari. The route passes north of Ammonsaari towards the mouth of the Teneti stream. 

Much timber was still floated in these waters for industrial needs in the 1970s. Traces of these log driving facilities can still be seen along the route in places. Before this, tar was transported by boats to Oulu and further to the world along these waters. Tar boats are no longer seen here, but a church boat might appear. The swift Teneti stream leads the waters of the Sotkamo route of the Oulujoki basin to Lake Oulujärvi through Kajaani rapids. Teneti stream is a good spot for trolling because it carries many nutrients for fish. You can catch large pike or zander and even trout or graylings there. 

At the beginning, the Teneti stream is quite wide, but narrows further downstream. On the southern shore lies Teneti upper school and soon after, the stream is joined on the northern shore by the Autiojärvi water route through the vegetation-covered Vihtamolampi. The pond is a good bird wetland. The stream continues downstream, and in the middle of the river lie two islands, one of which is crossed by the railway from Vuokatti to Kontiomäki. After the railway bridge on the southern shore is new Vuokatti, the Härkökivi residential area. The stream curves south and passes under a highway bridge. Ahead is a small island and Mujethoulu. This water area is by some considered a continuation of the stream and by others a lake. Mujethoulu derives from the Sami language and tells that vendace used to be apparently abundant in this water system. On the southern shore are Katinkulta golf courses. On the northern shore among residences are the vertical Halola cliffs. Here are Sotkamo’s only and some of Finland’s northernmost rock paintings. 

Mujethoulu is more interesting to paddlers from its northern shore. At the western end is first Naapurinvaaran harbor and next to it a beach. Shortly after on the same shore is Naapurinvaaran holiday resort and a birdwatching tower. The resort's café-restaurant serves as a good resting place. Next to the pier is a beach. Naapurinvaaran holiday village is an alternative endpoint for the paddling route - the route is about 10.5 km long up to here. 

After the holiday village, it is advisable to paddle near the opposite shore of Kaarreniemi. The shore is a good bird wetland. After a narrower strait opens the large open waters of Nuasjärvi, where waves may be slightly higher. 

At the tip of Kaarreniemi there is a good resting place - a lean-to shelter. 

After Kaarreniemi, the route curves east towards the scenery of the Vuokatti fell ridge. In the west, at the other end of the lake, is Kajaani. The shore is largely shallow and sandy. 

After two smaller peninsulas, the paddling route reaches Hiekkaniemi, whose shores have Katinkulta holiday homes. The peninsula tip is largely shallow and sandy but reed-covered. After the peninsula opens the Jäätiönlahti bay, whose bottom has Katinkulta beach and boat pier and is the endpoint of the route.