Discover Kauhajoki

Kauhajoki combines trails through a rural cultural landscape with insights into the region’s history and a wide range of activities. You can tailor your stay to very different interests: from a circular trail in a raised bog area to cycling and winter sports, as well as museums and historic farmsteads. This variety offers useful pointers when deciding which experiences you want to prioritise when choosing your holiday rental.

Hiking trails between river, bog and cultural landscape

In the Hyypänjokilaakso, a network of marked circular trails runs through Kauhajoki’s rural cultural landscape. The routes are between 5 and 17 kilometres long. If you are specifically looking for a challenging hike, the Katikankierros is a 1.9-kilometre circular trail along the slopes of the Katikankanjoni and at the bottom of a stream valley.

The Partiopolku offers a different landscape experience. It follows the Ikkelänjoki River through a spruce forest landscape; you may be able to spot beaver signs along the river. On the Kauhalammin kierros, boardwalks lead around Kauhalammi, the largest lake in a protected raised bog area. For planning your outings, this means you can choose between a stream valley, a river landscape and a bog environment, without these routes offering the same kind of nature experience.

There are also shorter destinations. Hangonkangas-Laavu is an easy day trip for the whole family; it is 50 metres from the starting point. An easy, one-kilometre access route leads to Sikarämäkkä-Laavu. It is supplied with firewood and is easily accessible all year round. These specific differences can help you choose: Hangonkangas is an option for a very short outing, while the route to Sikarämäkkä is longer.

Cycling, winter sports and motorsports

Kauhajoki’s cycling routes are part of the Two Billion Year Tours cycling network. It spans nine municipalities in the UNESCO Global Geopark Lauhanvuori–Hämeenkangas. If you would like to include cycling in your stay, this provides a framework for planning your trip that extends beyond the municipality.

There are several different options in winter. Kauhajoki has around 200 kilometres of snowmobile trails. The Sotka biathlon stadium has 30 shooting lanes, as well as a lit ski and fitness trail with routes of 5 and 8.5 kilometres; around 6.5 kilometres of the ski trail are lit in total. Sotkanrinteet also has two ski slopes of around 600 metres and a free practice slope with a small lift. If you are mainly interested in winter activities when choosing your accommodation, these different options can help guide you, although they do not all involve the same sport.

Sotka also has motorsport tracks for motocross, speedway, dirt track, karting, rallycross and Jokkis. Together with the cycling, hiking and winter sports options, they show how varied a stay in Kauhajoki can be. It therefore makes sense to choose a holiday rental based on the experiences you actually want to make time for.

Local history and culture

Kauhajoki Local Heritage Museum presents buildings and objects that illustrate rural life from the 19th century through the 1940s. The Eduskuntamuseo offers another historical perspective: visitors can see the plenary chamber, photographs and other material from the time of the Winter War. The two places offer different ways to explore the past: one through rural everyday life over several decades, the other through material from a particular historical period.

Hämes-Havunen is one of the few old farmsteads preserved in South Ostrobothnia. The double farmstead is an example of an Ostrobothnian farmhouse built for a specific place and setting. Every spring, Kauhajoki hosts the annual Kriuhnaasu Culture Week. It is for residents of all ages, from infants to older people, and includes music, dance, theatre, spoken-word art, lectures, art exhibitions and village evenings, among other events. Depending on your interests, you can combine your trip with historical sights or a varied cultural programme.

Discover more places

If you would also like to explore other destinations: Tyrnävä, Pyhäjärvi, Komsi, Salmilamminkylä, Hyytiälä, Haukipudas, Kuusamo and Jokioinen.

For the overview of the wider region: North Ostrobothnia.