Types of Huts

Open Wilderness Huts

Open wilderness huts are simple buildings meant for hikers, skiers, canoeists or row boaters to use. These unlocked huts are suitable places to stop and rest, or stay overnight. It is possible to stay for one or two nights without making a reservation. It is good to bear in mind that during peak seasons, there is not always enough room in the huts.

The facilities in open wilderness huts include bunks for sleeping, a table, benches, cookware, a stove and a dry toilet. Sometimes there is also a gas cooker. In addition, there are firewood, an axe and a saw.

Smoking is not allowed in the open wilderness huts. Pets are not allowed into some open wilderness huts. Please, check it on hut description. People accompanied by guide or assistance dogs have a statutory right to access all locations. This also applies to Metsähallitus huts.

Day-use Huts

Day-use huts are similar to open wilderness huts, but they are meant as stopping places for hikers passing by, and not for overnight stays. Day-use huts are usually located nearby tourist centres. In emergency, it is possible to stay overnight in a day-use hut but there the hiker has to sleep on the floor because there are usually no bunks for sleeping.

The facilities in day-use huts include a table, benches, cookware, a stove and a dry toilet. Sometimes there is also a gas cooker. In addition, there are firewood, an axe and a saw.

Smoking is not allowed in the day-use huts. Pets are not allowed into some day-use huts. Please, check it on hut description. People accompanied by guide or assistance dogs have a statutory right to access all locations. This also applies to Metsähallitus huts.

Turf Huts

Turf huts are small buildings partly under the ground. They have a roof made of turf. Some turf huts are only meant to be used during the day, and in others it is possible to stay for one or two nights without reservation.

The facilities in turf huts are very basic. In some turf huts, there are bunks for sleeping, in others the hiker has to sleep on the ground. There is usually a fireplace or a stove, and a dry toilet.

Smoking is not allowed in the turf huts. Pets are not allowed into some turf huts. Please, check it on hut description. People accompanied by guide or assistance dogs have a statutory right to access all locations. This also applies to Metsähallitus huts.

Campfire huts

Campfire huts are meant as stopping places for hikers passing by. Campfire huts are usually located nearby marked trails or snow mobile tracks. In emergency, it is possible to stay overnight in a campfire hut but there the hiker has to sleep on the ground or on the floor because there are usually no bunks for sleeping.

There is a fireplace in the middle, and benches around it. There is usually no floor but sometimes campfire huts have wooden plank floor. In addition, there are firewood, an axe and a saw.

Smoking is not allowed in the campfire huts. Pets are not allowed into some campfire huts. Please, check it on campfire hut description. People accompanied by guide or assistance dogs have a statutory right to access all locations. This also applies to Metsähallitus huts.

Reservable Huts

Reservable huts are meant for hikers, skiers, canoeists or row boaters to use. They are locked and a fee is charged for staying overnight. Only the visitors who have made a bed reservation for a night or two can stay in the hut. A visitor who has made reservation gets the key for the hut by paying a fee. Reservable huts can be in the same building or otherwise connected to open wilderness huts. In addition to you and your group, there can be other visitors staying in the hut at the same time.

The facilities in reservable huts include bunks for sleeping, a table, benches, cookware, a stove and a dry toilet. Sometimes there is also a gas cooker. In addition, there are firewood, an axe and a saw. In reservable huts, there usually are also mattresses, blankets and pillows.

Smoking is not allowed in the huts. Pets are not allowed into some huts. Please, check it on hut description. People accompanied by guide or assistance dogs have a statutory right to access all locations. This also applies to Metsähallitus huts.

Reservable Turf Huts

Reservable turf huts can be rented as a whole for one group for a night or two. Only Urho Kekkonen National Park has reservable turf huts. A large reservable turf hut can accommodate 6 people, a small one 3 people.

The facilities in reservable turf huts include bunks for sleeping, a table, benches, cookware, a stove, a gas cooker and a dry toilet. In addition, there are firewood, an axe and a saw. In reservable turf huts, there usually are also mattresses, except in Vongoiva turf hut.

Smoking is not allowed in the huts. Pets are not allowed into some reservable turf huts. Please, check it on hut description. People accompanied by guide or assistance dogs have a statutory right to access all locations. This also applies to Metsähallitus huts.

Rental Huts

Rental huts are meant for hikers, skiers, canoeists or row boaters to use in nature reserves or wilderness areas. They are locked and a fee is charged for staying overnight. Huts are rented as a whole for a certain night or a couple of nights.

The facilities in rental huts include bunks for sleeping, a table, benches, cookware, a stove and a dry toilet. Sometimes there is also a gas cooker. In addition, there are firewood, an axe and a saw. In rental huts, there can also be mattresses, blankets and pillows.

Smoking is not allowed in the rental huts. Pets are not allowed into some rental huts. Please, check it on hut description. People accompanied by guide or assistance dogs have a statutory right to access all locations. This also applies to Metsähallitus huts.

Rental Campfire Huts

Lockable rental campfire ‘kota' huts are designed for groups and companies for enjoying meals and sitting by the fire. Reservations can be made for a few hours or a day. Some of the huts are suitable for overnight stays. The rental huts are equipped with an open fireplace, benches and tables for serving food, as well as a dry toilet near the hut. They have basic equipment for making coffee, but tenants must bring their own dishes for meals.

The Pallaskota hut located in Pallastunturi is accessible to all, including users of wheelchairs, pushchairs and prams. There is no smoking in the hut, and pets are not permitted.

Smoking is not allowed in the rental campfire huts. Pets are not allowed into some rental campfire huts. Please, check it on hut description. People accompanied by guide or assistance dogs have a statutory right to access all locations. This also applies to Metsähallitus huts.

Rules for Using Wilderness Huts

Read how to use wilderness huts

Safety Tip

There are fire alarms at wilderness huts, but we recommend to bring a 9 V battery and/or your own travel fire alarm with you.

Information for Companies and Big Groups

Do you plan to organize guided excursions to the Finnish National Parks or other protected areas? It is possible due to partnership agreement with Metsähallitus, Parks & Wildlife Finland.

Overnighting

Many kinds of Huts for the Hiker. Please note, that it is not allowed for big groups or commercial groups to overnight in Open Wilderness Huts and in Day-use Huts