What's Currently Happening in Patvinsuo National Park

Carpool service between Lieksa and Patvinsuo
Tips for hiking
Passage and movement restrictions
Shooting training 2024

Current information on hiking

(Updated September 9 2024)

Hiking in Patvinsuo takes place in fairly normal, yet warm autumn conditions. We recommend moisture-resistant footwear with good grip, especially for hikes into the swampy areas.

The Suomun nature hut is open in September from Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm. Read more on the Suomun nature hut's website.

Excavation work will be carried out in Patvinsuo at the beginning of week 39. Final touches to the well renovation and installation of a new wastewater system will take place in the yard of the Suomun nature hut. Additionally, the Lahnalampi parking area (Lahnalammentie 18) will be moved 700 meters towards Uimaharjuntie.

Significant disturbances in GPS tracking and mobile networks have been observed in the area. Keep this in mind when planning your trip. It is better to call the Suomun nature hut rather than send an email, as messages may not be delivered.

The yard well at the Suomun nature hut is in use again, but the water should be boiled. Also, the well located next to the Suomunjärvi lake, near the Suomun campfire site, is operational, and the water is drinkable without boiling. Please note that washing dishes, bathing, or even washing hands over the wells is not permitted.

Poison hemlock has been spotted at Pirskanlampi. Do not drink the water from the pond or bathe in it. Signs have been placed at the pond to inform visitors.

Several hiking structures have been renewed in Patvinsuo. The new structures have been possible thanks to special funding. The latest completed projects include a new footbridge to Kurkilahti and a birdwatching platform on the Lakkapolku trail. Additionally, duckboards on the Patvinkierto hiking trail in the swamp areas have been replaced.

Passage and movement restrictions in Patvinsuo

(Updated 18th January 2024)

In the national park, you are allowed to move freely on foot, skiing, rowing, and kayaking except in restricted areas:

• Movement within the integrated monitoring area (YYS) around Hietajärvi marked on the map is prohibited from January 1 to July 10 and from August 1 to December 31.
• Movement outside the marked trails is prohibited on the restricted areas marked on the map (Patvinsuo on both sides of Teretinniemi and Surkansuo) from April 1 to July 10.
• Movement outside the marked trails is prohibited on the restricted areas marked on the map (Lahnasuo, Säästö-Maksimansaari, Iso-Maksimansaari, and Hulkkonen and its surrounding swamp areas) from February 15 to July 10.
• Also, please note the restricted access to the shooting range.

Shooting training at the Finnish Frontier Guard's restricted military area

(Updated 18th January 2024)

The Patvinkierto trail leading from Lahnalampi parking area to Pirskanlampi camping area goes next to the Finnish Frontier Guard's restricted military area. This shooting range is marked in the terrain by red circles around tree trunks. Entering the restricted area during shooting practice is strictly forbidden, so stay at the marked trails.

During 2024 shooting practice will take place:
29.1.–1.2.2024
4.–8.3.2024
8.–12.4.2024
22.–28.4.2024
5.–9.6.2024
16.–18.8.2024
9.–13.9.2024
17.–24.9.2024
7.–11.10.2024
21.–27.10.2024
20.–22.11.2024

There are signs in the areas vicinity and along trails leading to the area with information about shooting practice times.

Waste management is being developed in Patvinsuo National Park

(Updated 1st of December 2022)

We are developing waste management in Patvinsuo National Park. In the future, the toilets in Surkansuo and Surkanpuro will be changed to suction-emptied ones, which will simplify both the waste management and the post-treatment of waste. The installation work is still a little under way at the sites, so for now the toilets in Surkansuo and Surkanpuro will still serve as dry toilets.

The toilet in the Kurkilahti parking area and the accessible toilet located near the Suomu Nature Information Hut are suction-emptied. Please note that you should not add litter or put organic waste in a toilet that is emptied by suction. Garbage among the toilet waste can cause problems in the further processing of the waste.

News in Patvinsuo