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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 skating map and alla routes from Winter Routes map.

THU 8.1. TOMORROW SEASON STARTS

9 km of tracks tomorrow! Additional routes will be opened next week. The following weekend we will focus on upgrading the current routes, as the ice surface demands work: Work has already started and everyday it proceeds. The first few days we estimate it to be quite alright for experienced skaters.

WED 7.1. SEASON STARTS ON FRIDAY WITH 9 KM ROUTES

Approx. 9 km of skating tracks open starting from Friday! Startint point from Harjun Portti shore. On Thursday, we will try to get the routes in skating condition, among other things, by starting freezing the routes (more details below), so tomorrow, Thursday, you can't come yet. Ice for experienced skaters in the early days.

  • Harjun Portti - Kruunupuisto (approx. 5 km round trip)
  • Valkialampi loop (approx. 2 km)
  • Kaarnalahti loop (approx. 2 km)

In general, the ice of Kaarnalahti and Valkialampi is mostly ok on the surface, but mostly the ice surface is rough in many places, which requires planing and/or freezing. Despite the temperature, we will try to start freezing on Thursday, which is a slow job, however. The next freezing attempts will be next week when it is a little milder.

On Friday, we should be able to start planing (evening the ice with cutter) on some of the routes. Equipment rentals from the restaurant 10 am-4 pm!

6.1.

Work on the ice is progressing. The season will start on Friday with 5-8km sections. Tomorrow we will know if some sections will be ready for skating by Thursday - ice quality cannot be largely improved before friday. 

5.1. SKATINGS START THIS WEEK

We got on the ice today with precise step marks to make the first drawings on the snowmobile! It will take a few more days to get the ATV on the ice and start working on the first routes to make them fit for skating. We looked into the crystal ball and concluded that the tour skating season will start on Friday at the latest on the first routes.

We will report on the progress of the work throughout the week.

1.1.

Start of skating season starts to look more probable during next week: Right now -20 degrees and it thickens the ice quite fast! Tomorrow a longer examination of ice route area.

31.12. ESTIMATES FOR NEXT WEEKS(?) START

We've been on the ice, can't get yet go further from the holiday village from the beaches. There's a little bit of snow on the ice slowing down the freezing. Hopefully we'll be able to get further out on Friday to measure the ice thickness.

Forecast (snowfall affects the below): With these frost forecasts, if the weekend snowfall remains moderate, it's possible to get the ice work started early next week. No matter how much we want to, we can't yet predict which day we'll be able to start. :)

WINTER SWIMMING_ Our renovated sauna area is open every day
WINTER CYCLING: Head to Topeliusen Path or the tree species park on a rental E-Fatbike!
SKIING: The trails in the area are prepared for freestyle skiing, when further snow comes nearby days, follow the trail tracker for up-to-date information
SNOWSHOEING: The weekend snowfall will bring enough snow

29.12. SNOW AND ICE FINALLY

The lakes have a thin ice cover and finally some snow - and freezing temperatures have arrived! The snowfalls in the coming days will tell us what steps the ice will take to strengthen:

  • If heavy snowfall and the weather stays below freezing, a thick layer of snow will prevent the ice from strengthening.
  • If the snow accumulation remains small, the ice may quickly strengthen in the freezing temperatures within a few days.

At the moment, its not possible walking on the ice from our shores, so there's hardly any chance of opening ice trails this week. We'll monitor it daily. Activity tip: Rent an E-Fatbike and head to the snowy landscape of the ridge!

19.12.

Last week's forecast turned warm and this week has been very warm. The lakes are covered with a couple of centimeters of ice and a little frost for next week. So no ice work yet. Merry Christmas!

9.12.2025 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.

Right now we are waiting for lakes starting to freeze - depending on various circumstances, even just a 10-12 day cold period might be enough to start ice route season. Weather forecast shows two extreme possibilities for next week, so have to wait and see.

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.

Lenghts of past seasons

  • 2024-2025: Start 18.12.2024, end of maintenance 25.3.2025
  • 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
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