Customer Service and Guidance
The main information and guide point is Suomu Nature Information Hut near Lake Suomunjärvi.
- Rental of canoes, boats and sauna. Indoor lodging at Suomu Nature Information Hut for a fee. Payment in cash only.
- Contact Suomu's guide: p. +358 465 720 766 / Pekka Turunen.
Services Offered by Enterprises and Organisations in the National Park
- Enterprises and organisations offering services in the national park
- They have a cooperation agreement with Metsähallitus and they follow the principles of sustainable nature tourism when operating in the national park.
Meals, Where to Buy and Prepare
Campfire Sites and Cooking Shelters
There are nine campfire sites in Patvinsuo National Park. They are located:
- At Suomu
- At Lapinniemi Cape on the shore of Lake Suomunjärvi.
- At Pokkaniemi Cape on the shore of Lake Suomunjärvi.
- At Virtaniemi Cape on the shore of Lake Suomunjärvi.
- On the shore of the Nälmänpuro Brook.
- At Teretinniemi Cape near the bird watching tower.
- At Majaniemi Cape on the shore of Lake Koitere.
- On the shore of Lake Pirskanlampi.
- On the shore of Lake Iso Hietajärvi.
- The park's cooking shelters are located at Kaunisniemi Cape in Suomu and at Kurkilahti parking area.
Campfires are not allowed while a wildfire warning is in effect. Check the current warnings (ilmatieteenlaitos.fi).
- This prohibition does not apply to cooking shelters or other fireplaces with a flue and a roof.
Camping Tables
- Tables and benches can be found at Suomu Nature Information Hut and all other parking areas, except Sumukka and Jokivaarankangas.
Drinking Water
- The water of the well in the yard of Suomu Nature Information Hut must be boiled before using it. The water of the well in the vicinity of the tent area can be used without boiling.
- The water in the well at Teretinniemi bird watching tower is not clean and should only be used to extinguish campfires.
- Water from the park's rivers, lakes and streams should be boiled or otherwise cleaned before drinking, as water quality varies in different areas.
Waste Management
- Patvinsuo National Park is a Hiking without Littering -area.
- Recycling points can be found at Suomu Nature Information Hut and Kurkilahti parking Area. Visitors can sort their compost waste and waste which cannot be burnt at these points. The parks dry toilets act as compost points. Burnable waste can be burnt at the park's campfire sites, when the wildfire warning is not in effect.
Toilets
- Dry toilets are located at all the park's camping sites and parking areas (except Kurkilahti parking area).
- Kurkilahti parking area's toilet and the accessible toilet near the Suomu Nature Information Hut are emptied with suction. Do not put any food waste or other garbage in them.
Toilet paper is good to have along.
Overnight Stays
Camping and Lean-to Shelters
The park's eight camping sites are located:
- At Suomu
- At Lapinniemi Cape on the shore of Lake Suomunjärvi.
- At Pokkaniemi Cape on the shore of Lake Suomunjärvi.
- At Virtaniemi Cape on the shore of Lake Suomunjärvi.
- On the shore of Nälmänpuro Brook.
- At Teretinniemi Cape near the bird watching tower.
- At Majaniemi Cape on the shore of Lake Koitere.
- On the shore of Lake Pirskanlampi.
There is also one small lean-to shelter in the National Park. It is located on a trail close to the bird watching tower at Teretinniemi. In the lean-to shelter can sleep four persons at a time. There is also a lean-to shelter outside of the park on the shore of Suomujoki on the Susitaival Hiking Trail (ilomantsi.fi, in Finnish). This lean-to shelter is managed by the Municipality of Ilomantsi (ilomantsi.fi, in Finnish).
Indoor Lodging
- Visitors can rent a room to lodge in, at Suomu Nature Information Hut during summer. There are beds for nine persons.
- Suomu House, Rental Hut for 20 persons
Services for Caravan Tourists
- Caravans can be parked at Surkanpuro parking area. There are no electrical supply points or other special services for those with caravans or camper vans. There is a camping table and dry toilet at Surkanpuro. It is located 2 km from Suomu Nature Information Hut.
- Suomu Nature Information Hut rents 7 caravan and camper van parking spaces, 20 € / vehicle / day. No electrical supply points. Payment to Suomu Nature Information Hut. Payment includes the use of sauna and a possibility to empty the gray water and waste water tanks. You can reserve your spot in advance from Suomu Nature Information Hut.
Other Lodging Services
- More information on lodging services can be found at Suomu Nature Information Hut, Koli Nature Centre Ukko or Visit Karelia Tourist Services (visitkarelia.fi).
Lodging in the Surrounding Area
Rental Cabins
- The Väärälampi rental cabin (lomarengas.fi), which is located north of the park at Lake Ahven-Väärälampi can lodge 4 persons. The cabin is equipped with gas lanterns, a gas stove, a dry toilet, a well and a sauna. The cabin is about 1 km from the boundary of the National Park. There is however no trail into the park.
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The Mäntyjärvi rental cabin (lomarengas.fi, in Finnish), which is located north of the park at Lake Valkea Mäntyjärvi can lodge 4 persons. The cabin is equipped with gas lanterns, a gas stove, a dry toilet, a well and a sauna. The cabin is about 5 km from the boundary of the National Park. There is however no trail into the park.
Rental Sauna
- The sauna on the shore of Lake Suomunjärvi can be rented from the guide at Suomu Nature Information Hut by email thturunen(at)gmail.com .
Equipment Rental
- During summer the National Park guide rents row boats, canoes and a kayak for 8 e / h or 30 e / 24 h. This price includes life-vests. Rental costs must be paid in cash.
Accessible Services
- Visitors with wheelchairs can get from Suomu Nature Information Hut to the campfire site on the shore of beautiful Lake Suomunjärvi with assistance.
Other Services in the Surrounding Area
- Services, such as the nearest shop, an ATM, a bank, a post office, and café and restaurant services can be found in the centre of Uimaharju Village, 40 km from Patvinsuo National Park.
- The closest pharmacy and medical centre are at Uimaharju, 40 km from the park. There is a first-aide kit at Suomu Nature Information Hut.
- The closest petrol station is in Uimaharju Village.
- Taxis can be reserved called in from Lieksa (lieksa.fi, in Finnish) or Ilomantsi (ilomantsi.fi, in Finnish). Lieksa tourist information will also be able to give information on Hatunkylä Village taxi services.
- Information on other services can be found at Suomu Nature Information Hut or Visit Karelia Tourist Services (visitkarelia.fi).
