Instructions and Rules in Leivonmäki National Park

9.1.2024
Koskikaran kierros -nature trail and Rutalahti connecting trail are closed due to the ice that has covered the bridge on Rutajoki river.

The Leivonmäki National Park was established to protect the forest, esker, mire and small water systems of Lakeland Finland. Make sure to familiarise yourself with the area in advance. Prepare for your hike by studying the instructions and rules of the Leivonmäki National Park (pdf 350 Kb, julkaisut.metsa.fi, in Finnish).

Respect Nature
Pets
Getting around in National Park 
Camping
Lighting Campfires
Litter-free Hiking
Fishing
Picking Berries, Mushrooms and Wild Herbs
Flying Drone
Biking
Horse Riding 
Other Rules and Instructions
Forbidden Activities
Safety

Respect Nature

The outdoor activities in the Leivonmäki National Park are guided with the rules and regulations. When getting around in nature, let’s show respect for it. Take a look at the Outdoor Etiquette.

Please don’t share any such contents on the Internet that break the rules of the national park.

Letting pets running at large is forbidden. Dogs and other pets are welcome in the national park but only on a leash.

Getting around in National Park 

In the Leivonmäki National Park, you may freely walk, ski, row and canoe, except in restricted areas:

Camping

Temporary camping is permitted in camping areas, lean-to shelters, campfire sites and their immediate vicinity.

Lighting Campfires

Campfire is only allowed at sites marked for this purpose. Please note that when the wildfire warning is in effect, fire lighting is allowed only in the campfire site of Harjujärvi cooking shelter, that has a flue. Check the current warnings (ilmatieteenlaitos.fi). The person who lights the campfire is always responsible for the fire.

The use of a camp stove is permitted wherever hiking is permitted.

The use of hobo stoves is not permitted during wildfire warning due to the risk of sparking.

Litter-free Hiking

There are no waste-bins in the area. Measures should be taken in advance to avoid taking unnecessary waste into the area.

In the Leivonmäki National Park, there are two types of toilets: dry toilets (Lintuniemi, Joutsniemi and Niinisaari) and suction toilets (Selänpohja, Harjujärvi and Soimalampi). In a dry toilet, you can recycle any biowaste produced along the way, but no waste other than human is to be put into a suction toilet. Any excess waste in the suction tank will cause problems and increase the cost of waste treatment. 

Small amounts of clean paper and cardboard can be used as kindling in a campfire. Other waste, such as packages that contain aluminium foil or plastic, may not be burned in a fireplace, as they may form non-biodegradable waste and toxic gases.

Read more about Hiking without littering.

Fishing

Hook and line fishing and ice fishing are allowed under everyman's rights, except where specific restrictions apply.

Lure fishing with a single rod is permitted, except in the restricted areas. Persons aged 18-69 years must pay the fisheries management fee (eraluvat.fi). Fishing permits are available from Metsähallitus' online shop (eraluvat.fi).

The water areas of Rutajärvi Lake are not part of the national park. More information about fishing on Lake Rutajärvi is available from Leivonmäki fishing collective (kalapaikka.net, in Finnish).

The water areas of River Rutajoki are not part of the national park. Further information on fishing on the Rutajoki River (rutalahti.fi, in Finnish).

Fishers need to check the restrictions on fishing sites at kalastusrajoitus.fi (in Finnish).

Picking Berries, Mushrooms and Wild Herbs

Picking berries and edible mushrooms is allowed, taking access restrictions into consideration.

Taking or damaging trees, bushes, other plants or their parts, or mushrooms other than edible ones is forbidden. Picking wild herbs is therefore forbidden.

Flying Drone

Flying a drone is prohibited in the Haapasuo Mire restricted area during bird nesting season, which runs from 15 April to 15 July. Flying a drone is allowed as long as its operation does not disturb people or wild animals. Special care should be taken during the bird nesting season.

Biking

Mountain biking is allowed according to everyman's rights except in the restricted areas. Always stay on clearly visible tracks and pay attention to other hikers. There is a 22 km long mountain biking trail in the National Park.    

Horse Riding 

Horse riding is allowed only on the roads.

Other Rules and Instructions

As a rule, a permit issued by Metsähallitus is required for activities other than those included in everyman's rights, which may include research, organised events and the shooting of films or advertisements in the terrain. Further information on required permits: research and access permits (metsa.fi) and permits and notifications related to events (metsa.fi).

The use of the trails and structures of Leivonmäki National Park  for business activities is always subject to a fee, and for frequent business use, a contract with Metsähallitus (metsa.fi) is required. The right of use fees for specific days are paid at the Eräluvat webshop (eraluvat.fi).

Other Forbidden Activities in the Leivonmäki National Park

  • Damaging soil or rock, and extraction of earth material or minerals.
  • Killing, catching or disturbing wild vertebrates, or damaging their nests.
  • Catching or collecting invertebrates.
  • Driving motor vehicles, except on roads designated for motor vehicles.
  • Leaving waste in the area, or damaging structures.
  • Covering, changing, damaging, removing, violating or excavating in archaeological sites.
  • Other activities that may adversely affect the natural conditions, landscape or conservation of species in the area.
  • Activities that disturb other people.

Rules and Regulations for Leivonmäki

The rules and regulations of Leivonmäki National Park (pdf 350 Kb, julkaisut.metsa.fi, in Finnish), ratified on 28 June 2010.

Safety

It is important that you get as much information as possible about your hiking destination in advance and prepare for your trip thoroughly. Knowing your route and sticking to it and knowing what the weather and warnings in effect (ilmatieteenlaitos.fi) has in store, will help make your trip a success. 

  • Make sure you pack a first-aid kit. If you face an emergency on your hike, e.g. get lost, get injured or observe wildfire, call 112 and report an emergency. More information on how to act in an emergency.
  • Mobile telephones work quite well in Leivonmäki National Park, except in some areas in the park where cliffs or forest block signals. Download the 112 Finland application (112.fi) to your phone.
  • Dress for hiking in colorful clothes and according to the weather. 
  • Drinking water and food need to be carried, as there are no cafés or shops with regular opening hours in the area. There are no places to get drinking water in the forest either. The nearest shops are in the village of Rutalahti (about 9 km) and in the centre of the municipality of Leivonmäki (about 12 km).
  • The terrain is not difficult in the national park, so the trails are suitable for family day trips. The trails mostly go into dry pine forests, and the mire sections have duckboards.
  • Outdoor Guide

112 Emergency Number

If you have an emergency during your trip, such as getting lost, injured or finding a wildfire, call 112. Read more detailed emergency instructions.

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Download the 112 Finland application (112.fi) to your phone. When an emergency call is made through the 112 Finland application, the emergency centre attendant is automatically informed of the caller's location.

It is recommended to keep the mobile phone warm and to bring extra food and water with you. There are many excursion locations with no mobile coverage and some mobile phones does not work in sub-zero temperatures, that is why it is always a good idea to let someone know about your itinerary and timetable.

Outdoor Etiquette

A cartoon picture of a family walking on a summer path.

1. Respect nature.

2. Mainly use marked trails.

3. Camp only where it is allowed.

4. Light your campfire only where it is allowed.

5. Do not litter.

Read more

Game and Fisheries Wardens supervising nature destinations

Two people standing on top of a high hill, wearing snowmobile clothes. A wide, open view in the background.

Wilderness supervision (eräluvat.fi) offers services and education for the benefit of Finnish nature. A Game and Fisheries Warden is responsible for supervising the legality and authorisation of operations and the use of nature in state-owned areas.

If you witness or suspect a violation, you can report your observations to the warden (eräluvat.fi). Although we would like for you to leave your contact details when filing a report, you may also file a report anonymously.