An Autumn Adventure to Lammassaari and Kuusiluoto

Published 25.8.2018

Helsinki's Islands is a series of easy island destinations for children. The series showcases the favorites of the Small Helsinki team across the city.

Update 2025: The summer sheep have left Kuusiluoto to spend winter elsewhere and will return in early June 2026.
Please note that the summer sheep are initially shy in their new environment, so approach them calmly.
The photos in this article from Lammassaari and Kuusiluoto are from June and autumn 2017.

The boardwalks leading to Kuusiluoto were renovated during summer 2024 and now you can often reach the island even during high water without getting your shoes wet. The boardwalks are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, but Kuusiluoto is not fully accessible as you walk along narrow trails.

Note! In spring and autumn, the boardwalks to Kuusiluoto may be underwater, so before heading out, it's worth checking the sea water level on, for example, the Finnish Meteorological Institute's website. If the sea water level is below +20 cm, you can reach Kuusiluoto in sneakers.

*Pornaistenniemi is a wonderful nature destination. Photo from June 2017.*

Lammassaari and Kuusiluoto are small islands in Vanhankaupunginlahti Bay. The islands are owned by the city and are open recreation areas for everyone, but Lammassaari also has summer cottage areas available for private rental. You can move freely along the paths on the island, marvel at nature and animals from bird observation towers, and explore the boardwalk routes.
New, wide boardwalks lead to Lammassaari, so the trip works even with strollers or wheelchairs. You can push a small stroller to the accessible bird platform, but for longer exploration, it's worth bringing a baby carrier - especially if you want to continue your adventure to nearby Kuusiluoto, whose boardwalks are older and considerably narrower.

*The boardwalks leading to Lammassaari in autumn 2017.*

The boardwalk route to Lammassaari starts from Pornaistenniemi and the path through the peninsula to the boardwalks runs through a beautiful birch forest and over small wooden bridges. There's plenty to marvel at and observe on the boardwalks. On Lammassaari, you should also climb the bird tower and try to spot birds in the reed beds.

You should definitely continue the adventure to Kuusiluoto as well, because the island is home to and inhabited by sheep in summer and autumn! Update May 2022: The summer sheep arrived at Kuusiluoto in May 28.5.2022 and can be met on the island through September and October. Please note that the summer sheep are initially shy in their new environment, so approach them calmly. The boardwalk route to Kuusiluoto starts from the corner facing the center of Lammassaari and leads through tall reed beds. So we left the stroller parked on the Lammassaari side and the journey continued with the youngest explorer in a baby carrier. Overall, the journey itself is an adventure: rarely in the heart of the capital can you go on such an expedition!

When arriving at Kuusiluoto, remember to close the gate leading to the island, as the sheep roam freely on the island. We managed to walk for a while on the island and climb a rock, but there was no sign of the sheep. Perhaps the sheep were just a rumor? Fortunately not, as we found the first traces of island life on the ground from the rock top, and a wonderful view towards Helsinki's center opened up. A few steps further, the expected island inhabitants appeared: three sheep!

The sheep lounging on the rock are really tame and didn't seem bothered at all when someone came by to pet them. After a short rest, the flock quietly moved off to the nearby forest. We followed the sheep's activities at a distance and marveled at the island's nature. When moving around the island, you should choose a snack spot carefully, as the sheep have left their traces all around the island ;). We ate our snacks on top of a tall rock and tried to count the cranes in Kalasatama. However, keep in mind that Kuusiluoto is a natural island with no facilities like trash bins, so you must carry snack waste back to the mainland.

*In the sheep forest on Kuusiluoto in autumn 2017.*

Lammassaari and Kuusiluoto are gems in the heart of Helsinki. They are also excellent adventure destinations for children. On Lammassaari you can move around with strollers, for example to the bird tower and platform, so you can head out on this trip quite easily. The journey to Kuusiluoto is certainly more challenging, but with older children or with a little one in a baby carrier, this trip is manageable and absolutely worth the effort. The distance from Vanhankaupunki rapids to Kuusiluoto is a couple to three kilometers.
The boardwalks to Lammassaari were renovated a few years ago and thanks to this, you can now access the island without barriers. The boardwalks to Kuusiluoto are still older and considerably narrower.

I don't know how I would describe the trip. A wonderful experience, but it's hard to compare it to anything. I can't think of another place where you find such a nature destination literally in the middle of the city. Or actually, two wonderful nature destinations.

The sheep on Kuusiluoto leave for their winter break often in September-October.