Kota Tents and Sauna Tents

Camping rules also apply to kota tents and sauna tents which have become more common in recent years.

In national parks and other state-owned nature reserves where camping is only permitted at the maintained rest areas and campfire sites that are marked on the map and in the terrain, using tent stoves is mostly allowed in marked places using your own firewood. However, there are exceptions, so check the rules in the area in advance on the site’s Instructions and Rules page. 

In the remote parts of large national parks, wilderness areas and other state-owned areas where temporary camping is freely allowed, using the stove in sauna tents and kota tents is mainly allowed using your own firewood. In addition, you are allowed to use dry branches, twigs and small roots for heating on state-owned land in Lapland, North Ostrobothnia, Kainuu and North Karelia. However, this does not apply when you are within less than half a kilometre from a serviced campfire site.

The stoves of some tents are structurally similar to open fires, in which case the regulations and instructions concerning open fires are applied to them. Stove users must also take care of the ashes and ensure fire safety when handling them. Visitors must bring their own stones for the sauna tent’s stove (stones found on the campsite may not be used). Half-platoon tents and other larger tents with stoves are often used for events, and their use in camping requires submitting an event notification. 

Please note when camping:

  • Camping rules apply to kota tents and sauna tents.
  • In national parks and other state-owned nature reserves where camping is only permitted at the maintained campfire sites that are marked on the map and in the terrain, using kota tent stoves and sauna tent stoves is mostly allowed in marked places using your own firewood. Check the site's Instructions and Rules page to see if camping is permitted
  • In the remote parts of large national parks, wilderness areas and other state-owned areas where temporary camping is freely allowed, using tent stoves is mainly allowed using your own firewood, or in some parts of Finland, using dry branches, twigs and small roots. Read more about making fires on state-owned lands in Northern Finland.
  • Some stoves are comparable to open fires, so take regulations concerning open fires and forest fire warnings into account. Read more about making fires (pelastustoimi.fi).
  • Take care of the fireplace's ashes and their fire-safe handling.
  • You have to bring your own stones for the stove.
  • The person starting the fire is always responsible for its safety.
  • Half-platoon tents and larger tents with stoves require submitting an event notification (metsa.fi).