Respect Nature
Getting Around in Nature
Camping
Lighting Campfires
Fishing
Berry and Mushroom Picking
Other Rules and Instructions
Forbidden Activities in the Rokua National Park
Safety
Respect Nature
Nature in the Rokua National Park is particularly sensitive. It is important that you get to know with the national park's instructions and rules in advance and prepare for the trip carefully.
The outdoor activities in the Rokua National Park are guided with the nationalpark's rules and regulations (in Finnish). When getting around in nature, let’s show respect for it. Take a look at the Outdoor Etiquette too.
Please don’t share any such contents on the Internet that break the rules of the national park.
Letting pets run free at large in the national park is forbidden. Dogs and other pets are welcome in the national park but only on a leash.
Getting Around in Nature
You can move freely in the national park by walking, snowshoeing, and skiing. We recommend staying on the marked routes to preserve Rokua’s sensitive nature!
Biking is only allowed on designated routes.
You can swim in every lake in the national park.
Riding is prohibited elsewhere in the national park than along the forest roads.
Camping
Temporary camping is allowed at the official resting areas at Kirvesjärvi, Lianjärvi, Pitkäjärvi, Pookivaara, Rokuanjärvi and Saarinen. Please, camp only on already degraded soil. Nature of Rokua is very fragile and erodes easily.
Lighting Campfires
Lighting an open fire in the Rokua National Park 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. In Rokua National Park lighting campfire is prohibited during the forest fire warning at all campfire sites due to the sensitivity of the terrain. The ban also applies to the fireplaces with roof and flue, including Pookin pirtti rental hut! The person who lights the campfire is always responsible for the fire.
Make sure you are aware if a forest fire warning has been issued for the area (ilmatieteenlaitos.fi).
The use of a portable camping stove is only allowed at the maintained campfire sites.
Fishing
Fishing is forbidden in Pitkäjärvi, Hätäjärvi and Saarijärvi. In other lakes, fishing is permitted with the fishing licence.
Berry and Mushroom Picking
Picking berries and edible mushrooms is allowed in the national park.
Other Rules and Instructions
Other activities than those based on Everyman’s rights you need a permit from Metsähallitus. This includes, for example, research activities and organized events.
Information about required permissions:
The use of Rokua National Park’s trails and structures for business activities is always subject to a fee, and for frequent business use, a contract with Metsähallitus is required (metsa.fi). The right to use trails and structures for specific days are paid at the Eräluvat webshop (eraluvat.fi).
The use of vaporising insecticides (e.g., Thermacell and Ryobi) is prohibited in national parks and other state-owned protected areas when travelling on trails and other routes, at rest stops, campfire sites, and at lean-to shelters.
Forbidden Activities in the Rokua National Park
- Lighting campfire during the forest fire warning at all campfire sites due to the sensitivity of the terrain.
- The ban also applies to the fireplaces with roof and flue!Leaving waste in the area and damaging the structures.
- Letting pets run free is forbidden.
- Activities that disturb other people.
- Taking or damaging trees, bushes, other plants, or their parts, or other than edible mushrooms.
- Hunting or other ways to kill, catch or disturb wild animals and other vertebrates, or destroying their nests.
- Catching or collecting invertebrates.
- Fishing is forbidden in Pitkäjärvi, Hätäjärvi and Saarijärvi.
- Driving a motor vehicle beyond designated roads.
- Damaging soil or rock, and extracting earth material or minerals.
- Other measures that may be disadvantageous to the natural conditions of the national park, landscape or the preservation of the animal or plant species.
Safety
Gather information about your destination in advance. Staying on the route and following the weather forecast will help your trip to be success. Dress according to the weather.
Follow the situation about the possible forest fire warnings! In Rokua National Park lighting campfire is prohibited during the forest fire warning at all campfire sites. The use of a portable camping stove is only allowed at the maintained campfire sites when the forest fire warning is not in effect.
Coverage of mobile phones is quite well in the Rokua National Park.
There are not water supply points in the Rokua National Park. Bring your own drinking water. If you use the water of lakes and ponds at the national park, you do it at your own riks. We recommend boiling the water. During summer season, blue-green algae has often appeared in Rokuanjärvi lake.
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.
Hiking in Finland: What to Pack.
