Services in Vätsäri Wilderness Area

Customer Service and Guidance

• Siida - Sámi Museum and Northern Lapland Nature Centre
  • Guidance, information, maps, publications, fishing and hunting permits, and snow mobile track permits for the area.
  • The exhibitions of the nature centre and the Sámi museum, and the collections and services of the museum.

Services Offered by Enterprises and Other Organisations in Vätsäri Wilderness Area

• Following enterprises and other organisations offer services in the Vätsäri Wilderness Area.
  • They have a cooperation agreement with Metsähallitus and they follow the principles of sustainable nature tourism when operating in the wilderness area.

Meals, Where to Buy and Prepare

Campfire Sites

• There are maintained campfire sites at Lake Inarijärvi by the open wilderness huts of Suolistaival and Pisteriniemi, and at Lake Nammijärvi by the open wilderness hut of Piilola.
• On state-owned lands in the Northern Lapland, it is allowed to use fallen branches and sticks from the ground for making a campfire. It is recommended to use a campfire place which has been previously used, if you find one.
• Please note that lighting campires is forbidden also at the constructed campfire places if the wildfire warning is in effect. However, it is allowed to use a camping cooker.
  • This prohibition does not apply to cooking shelters or other fireplaces with a flue.

Drinking Water

• Water in the area is normally suitable for drinking, although it is at the hiker own risk to drink it without boiling or filtering. Usually running water is better for drinking than still water. It is not wise to drink out of small still water ponds. It is recommended to boil or filter the water, if you cannot be sure how clean it is.

Waste Management

• Measures should be taken in advance to avoid taking unnecessary waste into the area. Take all the waste that accumulates during your trip out of the area for recycling. However, there are waste bins at the huts.
• Biodegradable waste should be placed in a toilet or composter, and small amounts of clean paper and cardboard can be used as kindling in a campfire.
• Read more about Hiking without Littering.

Toilets

• There are dry toilets at the open wilderness huts.

Overnight Stays

Camping

• The hiker is free to choose his own camping place in the wilderness, according to the Everyman's right (environment.fi).

Open Wilderness Huts

There are four open wilderness huts in the wilderness area. In open wilderness huts, it is possible to stay over a night or two.

• Pisteriniemi open wilderness hut. The hut is located in the northern part of Lake Inarijärvi, on the nothern shore of Cape Pisteriniemi. A snowmobile track goes past the hut.
• Suolistaipale open wilderness hut. The hut is located on the isthmus between Lake Suolisjärvi (Tsuolisjavri) and the end of Suolisvuono Fjord (Tsuolisvuona) which projects northeast of the Lake Inarijärvi. A snow mobile track goes past the hut.
• Rajapää open wilderness hut. The hut is open 1.6. - 30.9 and it is located on the fell highland of Vätsäri, on the western side of Rajapää Fell.
• Piilola open wilderness hut. The hut is located on the eastern shore of Lake Nammijärvi.

Rental Huts

• Kettuniemi rental hut lies 10 km southeast of the village of Partakko.

Lodging in the Surrounding Area

• There are cottages and camping grounds in Nellim, Partakko, Jorvapuolijärvi, Sevettijärvi and Näätämö. More information (inari.fi).

Camping

• The hiker is free to choose his own camping place in the wilderness, according to the Everyman's right (environment.fi). At Lake Inarijärvi, there are maintained campfire sites by the open wilderness huts. There are also covered campfire sites on Suovasaari Island, at Tyllylahti Bay and at Pielpavuono Fjord. Uncovered campfire sites are located at the ice cave of Iso-Maura and in front of Cape Veskoniemi on Palosaari Island.

Open Wilderness Huts

There are five open wilderness huts around Lake Inarijärvi, where it is possible to stay over a night or two.

• Petäjäsaari open wilderness hut. The hut lies on the northwestern shore of Hoikka Petäjäsaari Island.
• Jääsaari open wilderness hut. The hut is located on the southeastern shore of Iso Jääsaari Island.
• Kaikunuora open wilderness hut. The hut is on the southern part of Lake Inarijärvi, in the northern end of Cape Sarminiemi.
• Kärppäsaari open wilderness hut. The hut is located in the northern end of Kärppäsaari Island, south of Varttasaari Island.
• Kahkusaari open wilderness hut. The hut lies on the southeastern shore of Kahkusaari Island, northeast of Viimassaari Island.

Equipment Rental

• Hiking gear, canoes, boats and snow mobiles can be hired from private tourism enterprises (inari.fi) organising activities.

Accessible Services

• There are no specific accessible services in the area.
• Siida - The Sámi Museum and Northern Lapland Nature Centre is accessible by a wheelchair. There is also an accessible toilet in Siida, and the outdoor museum is accessible by a wheelchair with assistance.

Services for Boaters

• Boat channels are marked. Lake Inarijärvi boating map 1:50 000.
• There are boat harbours in Inari, Veskoniemi and Nellim.
• Boat launch places are located at Ivalo, Veskoniemi, Nanguniemi, Nellim, Ukonjärvi, Inari, Partakko and Nitsijärvi.

Other Services in the Surrounding Area

• The nearest banks, a post office, a pharmacy, a health centre, garages and shops are in Ivalo (inari.fi).
• In the villages of Inari, Sevettijärvi and Kaamanen, there are village shops and restaurant services, in Nellim there is a restaurant/hotell.
• The petrol station is in Näätämö.