Getting around in nature is limited in the restricted areas. Take a look at the restricted areas in the national park on Maps pages and in Excursionmap.fi.
Respect Nature
Pets
Getting Around in National Park
Camping
Lighting Campfires
Litter-free Hiking
Fishing
Picking Berries, Mushrooms and Wild Herbs
Biking
Climbing
Other Rules and Instructions
Forbidden Activities
Safety
Respect Nature
The outdoor activities in the Helvetinjärvi 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
In the Helvetinjärvi National Park, you may freely walk, ski, row and canoe, except in the restricted areas:
- Entering and landing are prohibited in the restricted area in Haukkajärvi between 15 April and 31 July to to allow birds to nest in peace.
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 (ilmatieteenlaitos.fi). This prohibition does not apply to cooking shelters or other fireplaces with a flue.
Litter-free Hiking
There are no waste-bins or recycling points in the park. Measures should be taken in advance to avoid taking unnecessary waste into the area. Take away everything you brought along.
In the Helvetinjärvi National Park, there are two types of toilets: dry toilets and suction toilets. In a dry toilet, you can recycle any biowaste produced along the way, but no waste other than human is to be put into a suction toilet. Any excess waste in the suction tank will cause problems and increase the cost of waste treatment.
Small amounts of clean paper and cardboard may be used as kindling at a campfire site. 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 and ice fishing are allowed under everyman's rights, except where specific restrictions apply.
Lure fishing is prohibited.
The Helvetinjärvi National Park also has water areas that are not part of the National Park. These are private water areas and managed by joint ownership associations. Private water areas are located in, for example, the northern parts of Haukkajärvi and Iso Helvetinjärvi, Luomajärvi and Koverojärvi. You can check the boundaries of the national park's water areas on the Excursion Map.
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.
It is prohibited to pick or damage other than edible mushrooms and trees, bushes or other plants or their parts. Picking wild herbs is therefore forbidden.
Biking
Biking is permitted under Everyman’s rights, with the exception of the restricted areas. Always stay on clearly visible tracks and pay attention to other hikers.
Climbing
Rock climbing is only permitted at designated sites.
Rock climbing is allowed in the National Park in a designated place in the northern part of the park, near Helvetinkolu Gorge, east of Sammakkolammi Pond. On the other rocks in the National Park, climbing is forbidden to protect the rock ecosystems.
Ice climbing is allowed until 15 March. The only frozen waterfall suitable for ice climbing is located at the north end of Lake Iso Helvetinjärvi, on its western shore. The restrictions give birds nesting peace.
Other Rules and Instructions
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 Helvetinjärvi 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 Helvetinjärvi 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 Helvetinjärvi
The rules and regulations of Helvetinjärvi National Park (pdf 0.3 MB, julkaisut.metsa.fi, in Finnish), ratified on 7 May 2024.
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 (ilmatieteenlaitos.fi) has in store, will help make your trip a success.
- Especially around the gorges the terrain is characterised by great differences in altitude, which means the trails are reasonably demanding and take longer time to walk. Choice of shoes should depend on both weather and the terrain.
- 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. More information on how to act in an emergency.
- Mobile telephones work quite well in Helvetinjärvi 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
