Sunny August dried up the Patvinsuo trails
Decaying trees are cut down at the Suomu parking area
Toilet roof renovations in Patvinsuo
Vehicle bridge to Lahnalampi parking area
Carpool service between Lieksa and Patvinsuo
Summer season has started at the Suomu Nature Information Hut
The Nälmänjoki rope-pulley ferry has been taken into use
Tips for hiking in the spring season
Passage and movement restrictions
Shooting training 2023
Sunny August dried up the Patvinsuo trails
(Updated on August 23, 2023)
Sunny weather in August has dried up the Patvinsuo trails. Suomun kierto -trail is completely dry and the duckboards leading to Teretti lean-to are above water level so the trails can be walked without rubberboots.
Decaying trees will be cut down from the edge of the Suomu motorhomes' and caravans' parking area
(Updated on August 17, 2023)
Dangerous decaying trees will be felled from the edge of the parking area for motorhomes and caravans at Suomu Nature Information Hut. The parking area will be closed from Sunday, September 3rd and will be accessible again on Thursday, September 7th. During this period, motorhomes can use the Surkanpuro parking area for camping.
Renovations are underway for the roofs of Patvinsuo toilets at Virtaniemi, Surkanpuro, and Surkansuo
(Updated on August 17, 2023)
Renovations for the roofs of three toilets are taking place at Patvinsuo. The renovation starts today at Virtaniemi toilet and will then proceed to Surkanpuro and Surkansuo toilets. The roof renovation process will last for about two weeks in total, during which the toilets will be out of use one at a time.
A vehicle bridge construction work finished on the road at the location of Lahnalampi parking area.
(Updated on June 19th, 2023)
A vehicle bridge has been built at the spot where a road culvert fell onto the Lahnalampi parking area in Patvinsuo.
Carpool service between Lieksa and Patvinsuo
(Updated 6th of June 2023)
There is a carpool service every Thursday on the route Patvinsuo-Hattuvaara-Lieksa and back. The ride departures approx. 7.15 am at the Hattuvaara village and heads back from downtown Lieksa at about11.00-11.30 am. The ride costs 7,50 €/ one way trip. The ride is ordered directly from the driver on the day before the service, i.e. on Wednesdays between 16:00 to 18:00 o'clock. Driver: taxi Arto Kortelainen, tel. 040 530 9147.
The summer season has started at Suomu Nature Information Hut
(Updated 15th of May 2023)
Suomu Nature Information Hut is open from the beginning of May to the end of September. See opening hours.
The Nälmänjoki rope-pulley ferry has been taken into use
(Updated 15th of May 2023)
The Nälmänjoki rope-pulley ferry on the trail section between Pirskanjoki and the Majaniemi camping area has been put into use.
The ferry is located in the southern part of the Patvin kierto Circle Trail (25 km), between Pirskanlampi and Majaniemi camping areas. Patvin kierto Circle Trail can be traveled as a circular route along the southern path when the ferry is in use.
When planning your hike, please take a closer look at the Patvinsuo National Park's maps and trails.
Tips for hiking in the spring season
(Updated 11th of April 2023)
Passage and movement restrictions in Patvinsuo
(Updated 11th of April 2023)
In the national park, you are allowed to move freely on foot, skiing, rowing, and kayaking except in restricted areas:
- Movement within the integrated monitoring area (YYS) around Hietajärvi marked on the map is prohibited from January 1 to July 10 and from August 1 to December 31.
- Movement outside the marked trails is prohibited on the restricted areas marked on the map (Patvinsuo on both sides of Teretinniemi and Surkansuo) from April 1 to July 10.
- Movement outside the marked trails is prohibited on the restricted areas marked on the map (Lahnasuo, Säästö-Maksimansaari, Iso-Maksimansaari, and Hulkkonen and its surrounding swamp areas) from February 15 to July 10.
- Also, please note the restricted access to the shooting range.
Shooting training at the Finnish Frontier Guard's restricted military area
(Updated 21th of April 2023)
The Patvinkierto trail leading from Lahnalampi parking area to Pirskanlampi camping area goes next to the Finnish Frontier Guard's restricted military area. This shooting range is marked in the terrain by red circles around tree trunks. Entering the restricted area during shooting practice is strictly forbidden, so stay at the marked trails.
During 2023 shooting practice will take place:
- 04.–08.09.2023
- 02.–06.10.2023
- 09.–13.10.2023
- 23.–27.10.2023
There are signs in the areas vicinity and along trails leading to the area with information about shooting practice times.
Waste management is being developed in Patvinsuo National Park
(Updated 1st of December 2022)
We are developing waste management in Patvinsuo National Park. In the future, the toilets in Surkansuo and Surkanpuro will be changed to suction-emptied ones, which will simplify both the waste management and the post-treatment of waste. The installation work is still a little under way at the sites, so for now the toilets in Surkansuo and Surkanpuro will still serve as dry toilets.
The toilet in the Kurkilahti parking area and the accessible toilet located near the Suomu Nature Information Hut are suction-emptied. Please note that you should not add litter or put organic waste in a toilet that is emptied by suction. Garbage among the toilet waste can cause problems in the further processing of the waste.
Suomu Nature Information Hut
(Updated 24th of September 2022)
The Suomu Nature Hut in Patvinsuo is open 1.9.-30.9. Wed-Sun at 10 am - 5 pm. More information about the services and opening hours of the Suomu Nature Hut: Read more.
When forest and grass fire warnings (en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi) are in effect, fire is only allowed at covered campfire sites that have a flue. A fire can be also lit in fireplaces at wilderness and other huts. Always use extreme caution when handling fire. The one who lights a fire is always responsible for its safe use. Please note, that making fire at these campfire sites can be banned locally. 