Services in Petkeljärvi National Park

Customer Service and Guidance

Two hikers with rucksacks on their backs are looking at a large map. A wooden building can be seen behind them.

Services Offered by Enterprises and Organisations in the National Park

Meals, Where to Buy and Prepare

Shops

  • The closest shop is in the village of Ilomantsi, 25 km from the park.
  • In the summertime there's a small shop also in Möhkö (12 km from the park), tel. int. +358 40 722 6057. 

Café and Restaurant Services

  • The Café-Restaurant at Petkeljärvi Outdoor Centre is open daily from 1.5. to 31.8.
    • Group meals can be arranged if reserved in advance. Special diets can be accommodated.

Grill Shelter, Hut for grilling and Camp Kitchen

A hiker is standing under the roof of the grill shelter and cooking some food. A plateful of cooked sausages and burgers has been set aside.In Cape Petraniemi there is an open grill shelter behind Petkeljärvi Nature Information Hut, and a rentable Hut for grilling. Making fires is forbidden anywhere else.

  • At Petkeljärvi Camping Ground there is a camp kitchen.
  • Lighting campfires is forbidden if the wildfire warning is in effect, also in the open grill shelter. Check the current warnings (ilmatieteenlaitos.fi).  
    • This prohibition does not apply to the Hut for grilling, which is opened to visitors during wildfire warning. 

Drinking Water

  • Visitors can get drinking water from two points outside the café-restaurant at Petkeljärvi Outdoor Centre. The water points are open from the beginning of May till the end of October.
  • Surface waters, like that in lakes, rivers and streams should be boiled or filtrated, before drinking it as water quality varies from one area to another.

Waste Management

  • The National Park's recycling point is located at Petkeljärvi Camping Ground. There are no waste-bins in the park. Measures should be taken in advance to avoid taking unnecessary waste into the area. Biodegradable waste should be placed in a composter (not in the toilets!), and small amounts of clean paper and cardboard can be used as kindling in a campfire. Take all other waste out of the area. Read more about hiking without littering.

Toilets

  • Toilets (including an accessible toilet) can be found in the camping ground café-restaurant.
  • A toilet can be found at Petraniemi parking area.

Overnight Stays

Outdoor Centre

  • Petkeljärvi Caravan & camping is located at the tip of Cape Petraniemi at the end of Petkeljärventie Road. Visitors are charged a fee for staying there. Visitors may then also use the showers, toilet, camp kitchen and dining area there. Caravan & camping is open every day.
  • Lodging: 9 rooms for 4 people and 1 room for a group of 8 people (extra beds for 2 people)
  • A comfortable conference room with a fireplace can be found in the building.
  • 10 parking places with electrical supply points for caravans.
  • There is space for 50 tents on the level heath terrain.
  • Services at the Outdoor Centre include a sauna by the lake shore, a café-restaurant, a conference room, sales of fishing permits, rental of canoes and boats, as well as, guided group tours outdoors. Visitors can get more information from the Outdoor Centre information desk. Tel. int. +358 41 436 1790.
  • Traveller Info and check in for caravan & camping areas and rooms when cafe/info is closed: +358 41 436 1790.
  • More information on site petkeljarvi.com

Lodging in the Surrounding Area

More information about lodging services available from Visit Karelia tourist services (visitkarelia.fi).

Equipment Rental

Rental of boats and canoes at Petkeljärvi Outdoor Centre (petkeljarvi.com).

Accessible Services

Petkeljärvi Nature Information Hut and the café-restaurant at the Outdoor Centre are accessible by wheelchair if assisted. There is an accessible toilet in the café-restaurant.

The campsite has an accessible campfire hut.

Services for Boaters

  • A small harbour can be found at Lake Petkeljärvi in the northeast part of the park. Boat places can be rented from Metsähallitus.
  • The lodging and bathing services at Petkeljärvi Outdoor Centre are situated on the shore of Lake Valkiajärvi. There is a boat stage for landing at the area.

Other Services in the Surrounding Area

  • More services such as shops, pharmacies, banks and petrol stations can be found in the centre of the municipality of Ilomantsi 25 km from Petkeljärvi National Park.