Services in Ruunaa Hiking Area

Customer Service and Guidance

  • Ruunaa Hiking Centre (ruunaa.fi)
    • Information on hiking and guidance in the Hiking Centre.
    • Fishing permits, products for hiking and maps on sale.
    • Accommodation and restaurant services
  • Guided tours in the Hiking Area are organised by local enterprises.

Services Offered by Enterprises and Organisations in the National Hiking Area

Meals, where to buy and prepare

Cafés, Restaurants and Shops

  • There is a restaurant in Ruunaa Hiking Centre in Neitikoski, seating 120 customers. The Hiking Centre is open from the beginning of May until the end of September, and at other times by special arrangement.
  • The nearest shop is in the city of Lieksa, 30 km from Ruunaa Hiking Centre.

Campfire Sites

There are about 30 campfire sites in the Hiking Area.

  • All the lean-to shelters have a campfire site.

Hikers sitting in a lean-to shelter made of logs in the dusk. The campfire is lighting up the shelter. There is a forest in the background.

In addition, in Haapavitja area there are:

  • Paasikoski campfire site
  • Haapavitja campfire site
  • Mustanpyörre campfire site
  • Mutikaisenkari campfire site
  • Korpiniemi campfire site (opposite side of the river to the Mutikaisenkari caravan and camper van parking area, lean-to moved to Miikkula 09/21)
  • Patosaari campfire site

In Neitikoski area:

  • Lakkapää campfire site
  • Neitisaari campfire site
  • 2 campfire sites along the plank trail going to Neitikoski
  • Kirppuvirta campfire site
  • Neitikoski parking area campfire site
  • Airovirta campfire site
  • Naukuniemi campfire site

In Murrookoski - Siikakoski area:

  • Murroonkangas campfire site
  • Niskalahti campfire site
  • Uittopato campfire site
  • Murroopuro campfire site
  • Siikakoski parking area campfire site

Lighting campfires if the wildfire warning is in effect. Check the current warnings (lmatieteenlaitos.fi). 

  • This prohibition does not apply to cooking shelters or other fireplaces with a flue and a roof. 

Cooking Shelter

The only cooking shelter in the area is located on Neitikoski parking area.

Smoke Oven

At the lean-to shelters of Haapaniska and Siikakoski, and at the campfire site of Neitikoski parking area.

Drinking Water

  • There is drinking water available at Ruunaa Hiking Centre.
  • The water in the river and lakes of the area has not been tested but it is suitable for drinking if boiled.

Waste Management

  • Recycling points are at Siikakoski and Neitikoski parking areas and at parking area east of Haapavitja. There are no waste-bins in the forest. Measures should be taken in advance to avoid taking unnecessary waste into the area. Of the waste that accumulates during your trip, you can use campfire sites to burn those articles which can safely be burnt, and leave biodegradable waste in the dry toilets. Take all other waste out of the area. Read more about Hiking without littering.

Toilets

  • There are dry toilets at all the parking areas, campfire sites and lean-to shelters.
  • Toilet paper is good to have along.
  • There are toilets in Ruunaa Hiking Centre.

Overnight Stays

Camping and Lean-to Shelters

Temporary camping is allowed in the area. It is recommended that you camp in the marked campfire places or by the lean-to shelters. Inside the Hiking Area, there is also a camping ground at Ruunaa Hiking Centre where a fee is charged for camping.

Two hikers are sitting on a bench at a campfire site opposite a lean-to shelter.

In the Hiking Area, there are 12 lean-to shelters made of logs. They are meant for temporary overnight stays. The lean-to shelters are located at:

  • The lean-to shelters of Haapaniska ja Kakkinen on both sides of Haapavitja, near the suspension bridge
  • The lean-to shelter of Miikkula at the southern end of Haapavitja on the western bank, 2,4 km south of the Haapavitja suspension bridge (lean-to moved to Miikkula from Korpiniemi 09/21)
  • The lean-to shelter of Saunaniemi at the end of the cape on the southern shore of Lake Neitijärvi, 0.5 km away from the scenic lookout tower of Huuhkajanvaara
  • The lean-to shelter of Onkilampi on the shore of Lake Iso Onkilampi
  • The lean-to shelter of Neitisaari at the northern end of Neitisaari Island
  • The lean-to shelter of Kattilaniemi at the end of Kattilaniemi cape.
  • The lean-to shelter of Murroojärvi on the eastern shore of Lake Murroojärvi, near the crossing place
  • The lean-to shelter of Murrookoski on the western bank of Murrookoski Rapids
  • The lean-to shelter of Murroonsuvanto on the eastern bank of Murrookoski Rapids
  • The lean-to shelter of Siikakoski on the western bank of Siikakoski Rapids and the lean-to shelter of Horkka on the eastern bank

Rental Cottages and Cabins

  • In Ruunaa Hiking Centre:
    • There are 11 rental cottages which can accommodate 6 people each. There are a sauna, an electric cooker, a microwave and running water in all the cottages
    • During the summer, there are six rental cabins which can accommodate 4 people each. The cabins are without modern conveniences. There is also a Campfire shelter for 20 - 30 people.
    • There are 3 cottages built of logs on the eastern shore of Lake Neitijärvi: Juolukka, Pilvi and Puolukka (lomarengas.fi). These can accommodate 7 people each. The facilities include wood stove heating, solar cell lighting, a gas cooker and a gas refrigerator, and a well.
  • The cabin at Kattilakoski Rapids is suitable for groups and corporate nature tourism.

Services for Caravan Tourists

  • There is a chargeable parking area for caravans and camper vans at Ruunaa Hiking Centre, where kitchens and bathrooms are also available. There is also toilet waste disposal and water tank filling possibilities at the caravan parking.
  • There are parking areas for caravans and camper vans on the eastern bank of Haapavitja, at the end of the road and on the west bank of the Lieksanjoki River between Murroo- and Siikakoski at the end of the road.

Washing Facilities

  • There are showers at Ruunaa Hiking Centre for visitors staying on the camping ground. There is also a reservable sauna on the shore.

Equipment Rental

  • At Ruunaa Hiking Centre it is possible to rent canoes, boats, bikes, and hiking and fishing gear.
  • White-Water Rafting
    • The white-water rafting trips start from the parking area next to Naarajoki Bridge, or from the summer café, Ruunaan tupa. You can choose a more peaceful ride in a wooden boat steered by an experienced cox, or a faster one paddling in an inflatable dinghy. The boat route from Matkalahti to Naarajoki bridge is about 30 km. The inflatable dinghy route (7 km) starts from Neitikoski Rapids and ends at Siikakoski Rapids. It is possible to make a reservation to shoot the rapids on a raft made in logger style, on a route of your choice.
    • White-water trips usually include stopping for a wilderness lunch.
    • The local enterprises organising boat trips.

Accessible Services

Special Services for Boaters

Boat Launching Places

  • There are gravel ramps at Kirppuvirta on Neitikoski Rapids near the parking area of Neitikoski, and near the parking area on the southern shore of Lake Neitijärvi.
  • There is a boat stage and a concrete ramp by Siikakoski parking area.
  • There is a concrete ramp belonging to local companies in Matkalahti west of the nature reserve near the Hiking Area.
  • There is a boat stage and a concrete ramp by Naarajoki parking area.

Other Services in the Surrounding Area