Village trips: Moonlight trip to Noitasaari Island

The magic of moonlight and a touch of history – a series of village tours kicked off on Noitasaari Island

Located near Kiesimä in the Konnevesi waterway, Noitasen Island awoke from its winter slumber on Friday, March 14, 2025, when a group of hikers arrived there for a moonlight hike.

The Kerkonkoski Travel Project working group is organizing village trips open to everyone this year, and the Noitasen moonlight trip was the first in the series. The project working group consists of residents of the Kerkonkoski and Kiesimä areas, and this trip was led mainly by people from Kiesimä. During the event week, a 2 km ice route was driven to the island, allowing visitors to reach Noitase on foot, skis, or snowshoes. Some rushed to the island on snowmobiles or ATVs.

The organizers were nervous about the weather, both in terms of ice conditions and moonlight, but Mother Nature gave us her best. On our way to the island, we enjoyed a magnificent sunset. The sky changed color from orange to light pink to dark purple in a matter of moments. On the way back, the clear sky allowed us to admire the full moon and stars throughout the journey home.

Upon arrival on the island, campfires awaited the hikers, and warm juice, coffee, and freshly baked buns were served at Noitainen's cabin. The winter breeze was chilly, but the cabin was a nice place to warm up.

There were nearly 50 hikers, and for many of them, Noitaseen Island and its history were completely unknown. Irene Pakkanen, who comes from nearby Koipiniemi, told stories about the history of Noitaseen and the surrounding area as the fire crackled and the sausages sizzled. Perhaps the most famous event is the church boat disaster that took place on nearby Murhaluoto, where an entire family drowned on their way to a funeral in 1684. When Irene mentioned Murhaluoto, the clouds parted as if on cue and the full moon rose to illuminate the frozen lake. Another interesting feature of Noitasen is an ancient fishing lure found there, the origin of which is not precisely known. The lure is on display at the Rautalammi Museum.