Getting around in nature is limited in the restricted areas. Take a look at the restricted areas in the national park on Maps pages.
Respect Nature
Pets
Getting Around in National Park
Camping
Lighting Campfires
Litter-free Hiking
Fishing
Picking Berries, Mushrooms and Wild Herbs
Biking
Other Rules and Instructions
Forbidden Activities
Safety
Respect Nature
The outdoor activities in the Archipelago 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
You are free to walk, ski and boat in the National Park, with the exception of the restricted areas:
- To protect birds nesting in the archipelago, landing on some of the islands in the National Park is prohibited from April to July. In addition, access to some parts has been restricted to protect islets favoured by seals. On the offshore islets of Trunsö, Sandholm and Borstö in Nagu, which are important for seal protection and as a reference area for research, landing is prohibited throughout the year. This also applies to the southernmost corner of the restricted area of Jurmo and Utö (Grimsörarna seal reserve). In addition to landing, access with boats and scuba diving in these areas are also prohibited without permission granted by Metsähallitus. Check the restricted areas (Pdf, 1,4 Mb, julkaisut.metsa.fi, in Finnish).
Camping
Camping is only permitted at designated sites.
Lighting Campfires
Lighting a fire is allowed at the maintained campfire sites that have been marked on the map and in the terrain. You are only allowed to use the firewood that has been reserved for the purpose. The person who lights the campfire is always responsible for the fire.
The use of a portable camping stove is allowed in areas where hiking is allowed. During the wildfire warning, the use of hobo stoves is not allowed, as sparks may be created.
Lighting any campfires is strictly forhibited if the wildfire warning is in effect. Always check the current warnings (en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi). This prohibition does not apply to cooking shelters or other fireplaces with a flue.
Litter-free Hiking
There are no mixed waste containers maintained by Metsähallitus in the Archipelago National Park. On some islands that belong to the National Park fully or in part, Keep the Archipelago Tidy association maintains mixed waste containers. These containers are found on the islands of Jurmo, Björkö, Bodö and Berghamn. In Örö, waste management is handled by an entrepreneur. Did you bring it? Then take it home!
You can put leftovers and other biowaste in a dry toilet at rest spots.
Small amounts of clean paper and cardboard may be used as kindling at a campfire site or a fireplace at a hut. 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, ice fishing and fishing with a simple herring rig are permitted under everyman's rights.
Persons aged 18-69 years must pay the fisheries management fee (eraluvat.fi). If you are fishing with more than one rod, for example trolling or spinning for whitefish, in Saaristomeri National Park you will also need Metsähallitus' angling permit no 7412 for the sea area (eraluvat.fi). Licences are available via the web shop (eraluvat.fi).
For netting and other trap fishing you will need, in addition to paying the fisheries management fee (eraluvat.fi), trap fishing permit no 6015 for the Archipelago National Park (eraluvat.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, except in restricted areas.
Taking or damaging trees, bushes, other plants or their parts, or mushrooms other than edible ones is forbidden. Picking wild herbs is therefore forbidden.
Biking
Mountain biking is allowed throughout the park under everyman's rights, with the exception of the restricted areas. Please stay on clearly visible trails and respect others who are using the trails.
Other Rules and Instructions
In the Archipelago National Park, using sauna tents is only permitted at designated campsites where they do not cause disturbance or danger to grazing animals or local residents. In the National Park area, campers who bring their own firewood may use sauna tents at the campsites on the following islands:
- Dalskär, Pargas (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 60° 05,1' lon: 22° 09,2' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6670842 E: 230460).
- Högland, Kimito (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 60° 06,5' lon: 22° 18,9' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6672684 E: 239544).
- Sandön, Kimito (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 60° 02,15' lon: 22° 20,4' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6664619 E: 240260.
- Stora Hästö, Pargas (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 60° 04,04' lon: 21° 32,4' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6671391 E: 196134).
Visitors must bring the stones for the sauna tent stove with them (stones found on the campsite may not be used). The stoves of some sauna tents are similar in structure to open fires, in which case the regulations and instructions concerning open fires are applied to them. Sauna tent users must also look after the ashes and ensure fire safety when handling them.
Accessing the waters and landing are prohibited round the year in Trunsö area in Nagu and Grimsörar area in Korpo. Scuba diving in these areas is only allowed by specific permission granted by Metsähallitus.
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 the Archipelago 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 Archipelago 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.
- Activities that disturb other people.
Rules and Regulations for Archipelago
The rules and regulations of Archipelago National Park (Pdf 1,4 Mb, julkaisut.metsa.fi, in Finnis), ratified on 16 April 2001.
The park regulations are also available as a booklet. We recommend that you keep this booklet in your boat. To order the regulations, call 0206 39 4620.
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 (en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi) has in store, will help make your trip a success.
- At the sea it is always important to be prepared for quickly changing weather conditions. Especially important is to make sure that the boat is in good condition.
- Nautical charts are also necessary, the archipelago area is covered in the series D.
- When walking on the islands, it is good to remember that the rocks are slippery when wet, and so are moss and algae.
- Ticks live in damp grass, and some of them carry viruses and bacteria which cause diseases. It is especially important to cover your legs, which is easily done by wearing your socks on top of your trouser legs. Tick pliers and tick check done every night are also essential.
- Snakes are common in the archipelago, so it is advisable to watch out when walking.
- Dress for hiking in colorful clothes and according to the weather. Drinking water and toilet paper are good to have along.
- 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. Maritime Rescue Centre's calling number is 0294 1000. More information on how to act in an emergency.
- Mobile telephones work quite well in Archipelago National Park, except in some areas in the park where cliffs or forest block signals. Read more about mobile phone coverage (112.fi).
- Hiking in Finland
- Before your trip see also page What is New.
