Instructions and Rules in Näränkä

Instructions on Exploring Näränkä

In the Näränkä Natural Forests it is

allowed

• walking, skiing, row boating and canoeing, except in the restricted border zone
• picking berries and mushrooms
• hook and line fishing and ice fishing. Fishers need to check the restrictions on fishing sites at kalastusrajoitus.fi (In Finnish).

restricted

• part of the Näränkä Natural Forests area belongs to the border zone, which may not be entered without permission from the Frontier Guard
• fires must primarily be lit at maintained campfire sites. You must always do so away from the trails if a maintained campfire site is available within five hundred metres. In other cases, fires may be lit using dry branches, twigs and small stumps.

forbidden

• lighting campfires if the forest fire warning is in effect
• driving motor vehicles, except on roads designated for motor vehicles
• leaving waste in the area, or damaging constructions

Please note

• The trails and built-in structures in the area are concentrated in the vicinity of Närängänvaara Hill and Julma Ölkky ravine lake.

Preparations

Due to Näränkä's remote location, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the area and its services in advance. In the summertime, the nearest accommodation and restaurant services are found in the villages of Teeriranta and Hossa.

Mobile Phone Coverage

• Although Finland has a broad network for mobile phones, there are some areas in the park without signal. There may also be some smaller spots where there is interference. If this happens try to climb to a higher place or go into an open area. It may be worth removing the SIM card from your phone and then trying again to make emergency call. Different phones also differ in their coverage.
• In the Näränkä area, mobile-phone reception is generally good, but at low spots and the foot of hills, the reception may be poor.
• We recommend that you keep your mobile phone warm at all times and take along food and drink. Certain phone models do not work when the temperature falls below zero. You should therefore let someone know your planned route. To keep your mobile phone charged, bring along a spare power source, a spare battery or an old phone with a working battery.

Safety

• If you face an emergency on your hike, e.g. get lost, get injured or observe wildfire, call 112 and report an emergency. Information on how to act in an emergency.
• Make sure you pack a first-aid kit.
• Hiking in Finland:
  • What to Pack
    • Safety

Seasons

• In the Kuusamo region, you can typically enjoy the blazing glory of the autumn colours from mid-September to the end of the month. At the turn of November, autumn storms blow the leaves off the trees.
• The winter in the region is harsh due to the extreme cold and thick snow. We only recommend winter treks for experienced hikers. The permanent snow cover arrives each year about the end of October, and during the winter the average snowfall is 80 cm. The lowest temperatures measured in Kuusamo have been below -40°C.
• Spring usually arrives in the region in late April as the days grow longer, and summer does not begin until mid-June.

Mosquitoes

• In the Kuusamo region, the mosquitoes usually arrive in June after midsummer and disappear at the turn of July and August. The amount of mosquitoes varies from year to year.