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 Nature Park
Camping
Lighting Campfires
Litter-free Hiking
Fishing
Picking Berries and Mushrooms or Collecting Plants and Rocks
Biking
Other Rules and Instructions
Forbidden Activities
Peak Seasons
Safety
Respect Nature
The outdoor activities in the Lauhanvuori 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 Lauhanvuori National Park, you may freely walk, ski, row and canoe, except in the restricted areas:
- Access to the restricted sections of Likolammi is completely prohibited between 15 April - 31 July to to allow birds to nest in peace.
Camping
Campfires and camping are only permitted at the designated sites.
- Camping on the cooking shelter side of the shore of Lake Spitaalijärvi is not allowed.
- Parking overnight is restricted down to three sequential days at the Spitaalijärvi lake parking area's spots for camper vans.
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 Lauhanvuori 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 or a fireplace at a hut. 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
Fishing is prohibited.
Picking Berries and Mushrooms or Collecting Plants and Rocks
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.
Moving, turning and collecting rocks is prohibited.
Biking
Biking is permitted under Everyman’s rights, with the exception of restricted areas. Please stay on clearly marked trails and take other trail users into consideration.
Other Rules and Instructions
Hunting elk in the national park is always subject to a permit. Metsähallitus has prepared separate guidelines and forms (eraluvat.fi) for applying for these permits.
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 Lauhanvuori 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 Lauhanvuori 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.
- Parking elsewhere than in parking areas indicated by traffic signs.
- 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 Lauhanvuori
The rules and regulations of Lauhanvuori National Park (Pdf 1,4 Mt, julkaisut.metsa.fi, in Finnish), ratified on 2 December 2015.
Peak Seasons
In July and August there are a lot of visitors in the park.
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.
- At Lauhanvuori the terrain is not very difficult, and the mire sections have duckboards. When there is no snow, it is possible to walk on the footpaths with trainers on. If it rains, footwear should of course be appropriate for the weather.
- Café services can only be found outside the park, at Lauhansarvi Nature Tourism Centre. So it is advisable to take a packed meal and a water bottle.
- 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 Lauhanvuori National Park, except in some areas in the park where cliffs or forest block signals. Read more about mobile phone coverage (112.fi).
- Dress for hiking in colorful clothes and according to the weather. You should always bring toilet paper.
- Hiking in Finland
