What's Currently Happening in Patvinsuo National Park

The Nälmänjoki rope-pulley ferry will be taken out of use end of October
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
Tips for hiking
Passage and movement restrictions
Shooting training 2023

The Nälmänjoki cable ferry will be lifted for winter storage on October 30th.

(Updated on October 13, 2023)

The Nälmänjoki cable ferry, located on the trail section between Pirskanjoki and Majaniemi camping area, will be lifted for winter storage on October 30, 2023. The ferry is situated in the southern part of the Patvinkierto circular trail (25 km). When planning your hike, please take a closer look at the maps and routes of Patvinsuo.

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. 

Tips for hiking 

(Updated 11th of April 2023)

• Familiarize yourself with The Outdoor Guide to Finland’s National Parks. You can find basic information, gear lists, safety tips, and destination suggestions for hikes. Read Outdoor Etiquette and also check the Instructions and rules in the Patvincuo National Park before heading out on your hike.
• Check the restricted areas for the shooting range and other movement limitations in Patvinsuo National Park.
•  Check the weather and snow conditions (ilmatieteenlaitos.fi). Also, get to know our partner's equipment rental options.
• Be prepared for the hike with enough drinking water and energy-rich snacks.
• Ensure the safety of your hike. Always check the warnings in advance (en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi). The National Park may have some areas where the phone connection can be bad. Download the 112 Finland application (112.fi) to your phone. When an emergency call is made through the 112 Finland application, the emergency center attendant is automatically informed of the caller's location.

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:

• 23.–27.10.2023
• 1.–2.11.2023

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.

News in Patvinsuo