Haapajärvi Church

Finland's first president (serving 1919-25) lived for some of his childhood in the town's clergy house, as his father worked as a priest in Haapajärvi. Today the house is a museum.

The medals of one of the most successful cross-country skiers in the 1990s, Mika Myllylä, are on display in the town hall.

About 8,000 years ago lake Päijänne flew north-west into the Bothnian Bay through the river Kalajoki. Lohijoki gorge is an ancient river bed, reminiscent of the much larger river that once flowed on the site. For the same reason, at many sites in Haapajärvi the riverbanks are surprisingly tall. The gorge and Tynnyrinkoski rapids are inside a nature reserve (Lohijoen lehtojensuojelualue), so fishing is forbidden and pets must be kept on a leash all the time. Nature trail. There is a lean-to shelter by the trail, which leads downstream to an information board and the Tynnyrikoski rapids