Services in Päijänne National Park

Customer Service and Guidance

• Metsähallitus answers questions about Päijänne National Park round the year:
  • Tel. int. +358 206 39 5270 (mon-fri 09:00-15:00)
    sisasuomi(at)metsa.fi
• Lehmonkärki Resort (lehmonkarki.fi)
  • Information point for Päijänne National Park, tel. int. +358 50 5501 776, lehmonkarki(at)lehmonkarki.fi
    • Open all year, weekdays 8 am - 4 pm and weekends by arrangement. From mid-June to early August, the information point is open from 8 am to 6 pm on weekdays and from 11 am to 6 pm on weekends.
• Päijänne House - Päijännetalo (asikkala.fi, Asikkala's Fishing and Cultural Centre, in Finnish) is located in the municipality of Asikkala, near Vääksy canal, tel.int. +358 44 778 0680.
  • The exhibitions display the history of fishing, the nature and history of the Päijänne area and the 150-year-old history of the Vääksy canal.

Services Offered by Enterprises and Organisations in the National Park

• Enterprises and organisations offering services in the national park
  • They have a cooperation agreement with Metsähallitus and they follow the principles of sustainable nature tourism when operating in the national park.

Meals, Where to Buy and Prepare

Shops, Kiosks, Cafés and Restaurants

• Several enterprises and organisations Metsähallitus works in cooperation with offer cafe, kiosk and restaurant services near the national park.
• In the centre of the municipality of Padasjoki (padasjoki.fi, in Finnish), there are shops 2 km away from the guestharbour.
• At Padasjoki Guest Harbour, there is a summer shop, a restaurant, a cafe and a barbeque shelter of a summer restaurant.
• At Pulkkilanharju Ridge, there is a restaurant, and a kiosk nearby the bridge at Karisalmi Strait. Both are open during the summer.
• All basic services can be found in the village of Vääksy in the municipality of Asikkala (asikkala.fi, in Finnish) and in the municipality of Sysmä (sysma.fi).

Campfire Sites

There are 17 campfire sites in the National Park. The facilities of the campfire site include a constructed place for the campfire, an axe, a saw, a firewood shelter and a dry toilet.

• The campfire sites are located on Iso Lammassaari, Vähä-Haukkasalo, Lietsaari, Höysniemi, Pitkäniemi, Tupasaari, Hietasaari, Päijätsalo, Paatsalo and on Kelvenne Island at Likolahti, Isohieta, Karhunkämmen, Koukunlahti, Nimetön, Kyyränlahti, Hinttolanhiekka, Kalainsaari and Kirkkosalmi.
• Please note that lighting campfires is forbidden at campfires sites in Päijänne national park when the wildfire warning is in effect. Check the current warnings (ilmatieteenlaitos.fi). 
• More information about lighting campfires can be found at Hiking in Finland.

Drinking Water

• There is drinking water available in Padasjoki Guest Harbour, and in the guest harbours of Vääksy and Sysmä. In the southern part of Lake Päijänne, it is said that the water tastes very good. The quality of the water in the southern part is excellent, and it is therefore suitable for drinking.
  • However, all surface water, such as water from lakes, rivers and brooks, should be boiled before drinking, as the quality of the water can change.
  • Look at the tips for outdoors drinking water in Hiking in Finland -pages.

Waste Management

• There are no waste-bins in the area. Measures should be taken in advance to avoid taking unnecessary waste into the area. Biodegradable waste should be placed in a dry toilet and small amounts of clean paper and cardboard can be used as kindling in a campfire.
• Read more about Hiking without Littering.  

Toilets

• Padasjoki Guest Harbour (in the summer shop and the restaurant)
• Pulkkilanharju (Restaurant Reimari, Karisalmi parking area)
• Service station Tankkaus-Majakka (Majakkapaviljonki) in Vääksy
• Sysmä Guest Harbour
• There are dry toilets at all the campfire sites and camping sites in the National Park.

Overnight Stays

Camping and Lean-to Shelters

• There are also lean-to shelters on Iso Lammassaari Island and in Pitkäniemi on Virmailansaari Island.
• The camping sites of the National Park are at Iso Lammassaari, Pitkäniemi, Hietasaari, and on Kelvenne Island at Isohieta, Nimetön and Hinttolanhiekka.
  • The facilities of the camping site include a constructed place for the campfire, an axe, a saw, a firewood shelter and a dry toilet.

Lodging in the Surrounding Area

• Several enterprises and organisations Metsähallitus works in cooperation with offer accommodation options near the national park.
• In the municipality of Padasjoki (padasjoki.fi, in Finnish), there are many accommodation options nearby Lake Päijänne.
• In the municipality of Asikkala, more information on accommodation options can be found in Asikkala (asikkala.fi, in Finnish) Internet pages.
• In the municipality of Sysmä (sysma.fi), there are good accommodation possibilities in the immediate vicinity of the guest harbour.
• The guest harbours are located in Padasjoki, Sysmä and Vääksy.

Equipment Rental

• Equipment Rental is offered by many cooperative entrepreneurs of Päijänne National Park.
• Equipment can also be rented at the Päijänne National Park information point Lehmonkärki Resort (lehmonkarki.fi, in Finnish) (e.g. boats, fishing equipment, walking sticks, SUP boards and frisbee discs).
• Information about renting equipment in the surrounding areas can also be found on the websites of Padasjoki (padasjoki.fi, in Finnish), Asikkala (asikkala.fi, in Finnish) and Sysmä (sysma.fi, in Finnish).

Accessible Services 

• In the park, at the Kirkkosalmi on Kelventee island, there is an accessible fire place and an accessible dry toilet.
• Päijänne House - Päijännetalo (asikkala.fi, in Finnish) in Vääksy is easily accessible. In the National Park area, there are no special accessible services.

Services for the Boaters

Routes

All the routes are 2,4 metres deep, except a short section southeast of Kelvenne Island, which is 1,8 metres deep. The routes go by all the islands of the National Park.

Guest Stages, Excursion and Guest Harbours

The coordinates are given using the WGS-84 Coordinate System as well as in the ETRS-TM3FIN planar coordinate system. Blue nautical charts are always drawn using the WGS-84 Coordinate System, while green nautical charts are still drawn using the Finnish national KKJ Coordinate System. For more information on nautical charts see the Finnish Maritime Administration boating website (vayla.fi).

• Karisalmi, guest stage (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 17.6' lon: 25° 32.1' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6796341 E: 421500)
  • East of Karisalmi Bridge (11 m high), kiosk
• Lietsaari, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 22.1' lon: 25° 24.7' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6804848 E: 415096)
  • Shallow, fine sandy shores
  • On the northern side landing is possible with 0,6 - 0,7 metres draught.
• Padasjoki, guest harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 21.7' lon: 25° 17.8' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6804260 E: 408930)
  • In the end of a route, shaft mooring berth
  • Shop, telephone, waste management, suction draining, toilet, sauna, shower, drinking water, swimming place, café-restaurant.
  • To the centre of the municipality of Padasjoki 2 km.
  • Concrete boat ramp
  • Fuel (98E, 95E, fuel oil).
  • Weather station where it is possible to check the weather and the forecast.
• Vähä-Haukkasalo, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 22.1' lon: 25° 21.3' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6804923 E: 412067)
  • Campfire site, toilet, no waste management
• Iso Lammassaari, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 23.3'  lon: 25° 20.9'  ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6807159 E: 411767)
  • Campfire site, toilet, no waste management
• Kelvenne, Kirkkosalmi, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 19.7' lon: 25° 27.1' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6800342 E: 417128)
  • Sandy shore, campfire site, toilet, no waste management

• Kelvenne, Hinttolan hiekat, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 20.4' lon: 25° 28.3' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6801616 E: 418229)
  • Sandy shore on the eastern side, camping allowed, campfire place, toilet.
• Kelvenne, Kyyränlahti, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 21.1' lon: 25° 27.2' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6802938 E: 417279)
  • Sandy shore on the western side, campfire place, toilet, no waste management.
• Kelvenne, Nimetön, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 21.8' lon: 25° 27.2' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6804237 E: 417309)
  • For shallow boats (< 0,7 metres draught) and canoeists, narrow route
  • Sandy shore, camping allowed, campfire place, toilet, no waste management.
• Kelvenne, Koukunlahti, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 22.3' lon: 25° 27.2' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6805165 E: 417331)
  • Deep bay on the eastern side, there is a rock on the mouth of the bay on the northern side.
  • Gravel shored which steeply get deeper, campfire place, toilet.
• Kelvenne, Karhunkämmen, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 22.7' lon: 25° 27.3' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6805906 E: 417438)
  • Deep lagoon, where landing is also possible with a keel boat.
  • Incoming route narrow, drive along the shore at about 10 metres distance, between the shore and the rock. The location of the rock is often marked.
  • Constructed place for the campfire, toilet.
• Kelvenne, Isohieta, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 23.1' lon: 25° 27.0' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6806655 E: 417188)
  • Shallow sandy shore, constructed place for the campfire, toilet, camping allowed
• Kelvenne, Likolahti, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 23.7' lon: 25° 26.8' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6807772 E: 417037)
  • Sandy shore, constructed place for the campfire, toilet.
• Paatsalo, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 24.0' lon: 25° 31.6' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6808230 E: 421322)
  • Constructed place for the campfire, toilet, no waste management.
• Höysniemi, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 23.9' lon: 25° 24.2' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6808200 E: 414732)
  • Constructed place for the campfire, toilet, no waste management.
• Pitkäniemi, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 22.9' lon: 25° 25.3'  ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6806320 E: 415666)
  • Very rocky shores, suitable primarily for canoeist.
  • Constructed place for the campfire, lean-to shelter, toilet, no waste management.
• Hietasaari, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 24.7' lon: 25° 26.4'  ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6809637 E: 416725)
  • Sandy shores, constructed place for the campfire, toilet, camping allowed.
• Tupasaari, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 25.1' lon: 25° 26.8'  ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6810371 E: 417099)
  • Constructed place for the campfire, toilet, no waste management.
• Päijätsalo, excursion harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 28.9' lon: 25° 33.7' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6817284 E: 423391)
  • Beware of the rocks!
  • Constructed place for the campfire, toilet, scenic lookout tower.
• Sysmä, guest harbour (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 61° 30.0' lon: 25° 41.5' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 6819180 E: 430355)
  • Guest stage north of the pier.
  • Kiosk which sells food stuffs, shop, waste management, shower, sauna.
  • Swimming place nearby the harbour, on the eastern side.
  • About 0,5 km to the centre of Sysmä.
  • Fuel for boats has to be carried from a service station nearby.
  • Concrete boat ramp.
  • Accommodation services next to the harbour.

Other Services in the Surrounding Area

• All the necessary services can be found in Padasjoki, in Vääksy in the municipality of Asikkala, and in Sysmä.
• There is a pharmacy in the centre of Padasjoki, in the village of Vääksy and in the centre of Sysmä.
• Fuel can be got by the boat in Padasjoki and in Vääksy. In Sysmä, fuel for boats has to be carried from a service station nearby.
• Fishing permits for the area can be bought for example in Padasjoki in the summer shop at the boat traffic dock, and in Vääksy in Tankkausmajakka (Majakkapaviljonki) service station.