Rafting in Kapeenkoski rapids, Äänekoski

Äänekoski (pop 18,500 in 2021) is an industrial town in Central Finland. The adjacent municipality of Uurainen is also handled in this article.

Get in

Coaches from Jyväskylä, Helsinki, Oulu and Lahti stop at Äänekoski. Äänekoski town has an info page about transport connections.

By boat

Äänekoski is on the Keitele–Päijänne–Vesijärvi waterway, between the lakes Ala-Keitele (lower Keitele) and Kuhnamo. The Paatela Canal connects the lakes and provides access to Keitele (via some further locks) from Leppävesi and Päijänne by Jyväskylä. Also Viitasaari, Vesanto and Konnevesi are on Keitele. Keitele is reachable from Iisalmi, Pielavesi, Keitele, Tervo, Suonenjoki and Rautalampi farther north-east. Draught 2.4 m, height 5.5 m. The Saarijärvi route (Kyyjärvi–Karstula–Pylkönmäki–Saarijärvi) can be paddled, and reaches the north-west part of Äänekoski (the last stretch to the centre has hydroelectric plants without porting infrastructure).

• Päijänne-risteilyt Hilden, ☏ +358 10-320-8820. 2023: Saturdays 3 May–17 Jun and 12 Aug–2 Sep. Cruises from Jyväskylä (5½ hr). €42, children 4–11 years €20. (updated Apr 2023)

Get around

By taxi

See Central Finland#By taxi

• Smartphone app: Valopilkku

Do

• Metsänkutsu ("call of the forest"), ☏ +358 45-231-1080, jukka@metsankutsu.fi. Programme services: biking, fishing, hiking, wild herb courses etc. 
• 1 Kapeenkoski outdoor recreation area, with hiking infrastructure, rapids suitable for whitewater sports, and businesses taking care of those visitors who want guiding. By the Keitele canal.

Sleep

• 1 Hotelli Hirvi, Kotakennääntie 9, ☏ +358 14 520121, hirvi@avainhotellit.fi. Hotel. (updated Aug 2023)

Go next

Routes through Äänekoski

Oulu ← Viitasaari ←	N  S	→ Jyväskylä → Helsinki
Kokkola ← Kaustinen ← Saarijärvi ←	NW  SW	→ Laukaa → Jyväskylä → Lappeenranta