Hiking & outdoor recreationLength1,3 km
Kaunissaari is a peaceful island destination on the Eurajoensalmi strait, surrounded by sea and forest. You can reach the island by rowing just 250 metres with a rental boat provided by the municipality of Eurajoki. Once there, follow nature and cultural trails, take a break at a scenic campfire spot, and enjoy views of the sea. Along the route, you’ll pass through pine-covered hills, lush groves, meadows and rocky shores. In summer, sheep graze on the island, maintaining the landscape and charming visitors. A. Ahlström Oy established a sawmill on the island in 1874, and by the early 1900s more than 300 people lived here – today, the sawmill is gone and nature has reclaimed the island in peace.
- Helppo soutumatka (n. 250 m) Karhunlaakasta Kaunissaaren Katavankarin laavulle; soutuvene varattavissa Visit Eurajoen kautta.
- Monipuoliset polut: luontopolku (vihreä), kulttuuripolku (punainen) ja risurata (keltainen).
- Saarella kohtaat luonnon monimuotoisuuden, kuten lehdot, kalliomänniköt, rantaniityt ja kosteikot, sekä voit tutustua kulttuuripolulla entisen sahayhdyskunnan historiaan.
- Kesäisin saarta hoitavat ja elävöittävät laiduntavat lampaat.
- Reitin varrella useita taukopaikkoja tulentekopaikkoineen ja polttopuineen.
- Kaunissaaren etelä- ja pohjoisrannoilla on retkisatamat laitureineen ja melontalaituri. Pohjoissataman laituriin voi rantautua myös isommalla veneellä.
- There are visitor harbours with jetties and a canoe landing stage on both the northern and southern shores of Kaunissaari. The jetty at the northern harbour is also suitable for larger boats.
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Kaunissaari – Nature and History by the Sea
Kaunissaari is a diverse nature destination on the Eurajoensalmi strait, where the calm of the sea meets the tranquillity of the forest. The island lies along popular boating and paddling routes and is easy to reach by rowing or by boat. The municipality of Eurajoki offers a rowboat for visitors, located at Karhunlaaka on the Olkiluoto side, which can be conveniently booked via Visit Eurajoki. The rowing distance to the Katavankari campfire shelter on the island is just 250 metres, and the landing points are clearly marked with rowing symbols.
The island features both a nature trail and a cultural trail, offering a glimpse into Kaunissaari’s rich natural environment and fascinating history. The nature trail is marked in green, the cultural trail in red, and the Risurata trail in yellow. Along the route, visitors can explore groves, rocky pine forests, coastal meadows and cliffs, as well as interpretive signs telling the story of the former sawmill community. From 1874 to 1923, a steam-powered sawmill and cargo harbour operated on the island, founded by Antti Ahlström. The sawmill brought a small settlement to life, with over 300 people living on the island at its peak. Traces of that time remain in the landscape — old apple trees, lilacs and ballast plants still grow near the ruins.
Several rest spots can be found along the trail, including campfire sites, lean-tos and dry toilets. Each fire site is equipped with a wood shed and firewood for visitors. Some sections of the trail cross wetlands via duckboards to ease walking. The path can be overgrown in places, requiring attention, which makes the trail moderately demanding. The section called Risurata (Old Timber Trail) leads hikers from a former timber-burning site to the Risunokka loading yard. In summer, grazing sheep help manage the landscape and bring the island to life.
Kaunissaari has two harbours for boaters, one on the south shore and one on the north, both with jetties. The north shore also features a dedicated canoe dock. The northern jetty has a depth of around three metres, allowing easy landing even with a larger vessel. Kaunissaari is not only a peaceful and beautiful destination — it also offers a unique combination of Satakunta’s cultural heritage and valuable natural diversity.