Instructions and Rules in Repovesi National Park

The Repovesi National Park is a nature conservation area established to protect and manage exceptionally representative rock formations, lake and forest nature and species occurring in these areas. It is important that you learn about the park in advance and prepare for your excursion by reading the park's instructions and rules.  

Note that national parks are nature conservation areas where everyman's rights do not necessarily apply as usual but they can be restricted.  It is also forbidden to hike or move around without authorization at the eastern and north-eastern part of the park, where the Pahkajärvi army shooting and practice area is.

Respect Nature
Pets
Biking 
Getting Around in Nature
Camping
Campfire 
Litter-free Hiking
Fishing
Picking Berries, Mushrooms and Wild Herbs
Flying Drone
Rock Climbing
Driving Motor Vehicles
Other Rules and Instructions
Other Forbidden Activities
Safety
Equipment and Planning
Peak Seasons

Respect Nature

Please don’t share any such contents on the Internet that break the rules of the national park.

Dogs and other pets are welcome in the national park but only on a leash.  Letting pets run free is forbidden.

In addition to nature, you should also respect other visitors. Give everyone the chance to enjoy the peace and quiet of nature.  

Getting Around in Nature

In the Repovesi  National Park, you may freely walk, snowshoe, ski, row and canoe, except in the restricted areas.

It is forbidden to hike or move around without authorization at the eastern and north-eastern part of the park, where the Pahkajärvi army shooting and practice area is. A permit is required if going into this area. Unauthorized hikers are caught and always get fined. The restricted area is established for safety purposes only and the area may contain for excample unexploded munitions. The borders of restricted area are marked on the map (pdf, 6 Mb, julkaisut.metsa.fi) with red color and with white-blue paint marks in the terrain.

Biking is allowed on the roads of the area and on specifically marked routes, please see the map (pdf, 5,97 Mb, julkaisut.metsa.fi).

Boating and canoeing on Lake Olhavanlampi is prohibited up to mid-summer. The only exception is the use of boats by rock climbers to reach the foot of the cliff.
 

Camping

Camping and building campfires is allowed only in places designated for this purpose. Camping for short periods is permitted as an everyman's rights (ym.fi) in areas where people are permitted to be, but campfires cannot be built at these self-made campsites.

All huts, lean-to shelters and campfire sites in Repovesi National Park are available on the map (pdf, 5,97 Mb, julkaisut.metsa.fi.)

Campfire

Lighting an open 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.

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 at Lapinsalmi and Kuutinkanava or fireplaces inside the rental campfire huts.

The use of a portable camping stove is allowed in areas where hiking is allowed. During the wildfire warning, the use of twig stoves is not allowed, as sparks may be created.

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.

Repovesi has chemical toilets where bio-waste is not allowed. Waste can block the pipes of the tank truck. In addition, mixed waste in sludge could make the waste unsuitable for composting. 

Small amounts of clean paper and cardboard may be used as kindling at a campfire site or a fireplace at a wilderness 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

Hook and line fishing and ice fishing are permitted under everyman's rights, except in the restricted access area. Lure fishing with a single rod is permitted, except in the restricted access area.

Persons aged 18-69 years must pay the fisheries management fee (eraluvat.fi). Fishing permits are available from Metsähallitus' online shop (eraluvat.fi) Fishing permits for waters not owned by the state or UPM-Kymmene are available from Orilampi Holiday Centre.

Fishers need to check the restrictions on fishing sites at kalastusrajoitus.fi (In Finnish).

Picking Berries, Mushrooms and Wild Herbs

Picking berries and other fungi than those growing on trees is allowed, unless prevented by restricted access to the area.

Picking mushrooms other than edible ones and picking or ripping or otherwise harming trees, shrubs and other plants is forbidden. Picking wild herbs is therefore forbidden.

Flying Drones

Flying drones is allowed anywhere visitors are allowed to go to, as long as it does not disturb other people or wild animals. In conservation areas, drones should not be flown during bird nesting season from 1 April to 31 July.

The eastern part of the national park is part of the Finnish Defence Forces' Pahkajärvi shooting and training area, where flying drones is prohibited.  

Rock Climbing

Rock Climbing is allowed at Olhavanvuori but not on the parks other hills, because the parks vegetation is easily damaged. Finland's Antiquities Act also prohibits rock climbing in the vicinity of rock paintings at Olhavanvuori Rock.

Drilling new bolts or anchors to the cliff-face is forbidden.

Driving Motor Vehicles

Driving motor vehicle (such as car, moped, motorcycle, snowmobile, ATV, etc.) on closed off roads and off-road is forbidden.

Kuismantie Road is closed off from public traffic with bar gates from Saarijärvi Parking Area to Tervajärvi Parking Area. Motor vehicles are not permitted in this area. Only exeptions are rescue services, park security and maintenance personnel. Cottage owners can travel to their properties through the park area. Permits are not given for any other events.

Snowmobiles are not permitted in the terrain around the sounds (for example Lapinsalmi, Ruskiansalmi Sounds). The ice of the sounds cannot be reached from this terrain. Riding on private land without the owner's permission is considered trespassing and is punishable by law.

Travelling by motorised water transport in state or UPM-Kymmene owned waters is not allowed, except in Lakes Repovesi, Kapiavesi and Tihvetjärvi. The local fishing collective has forbidden the use of motor vehicles on Lake Tervajärvi.

Travelling in the Lakes Repovesi, Kapiavesi and Tihvetjärvi by motor vehicles (such as water bus, motor boat, water scooter, etc.) is not allowed if it causes undue noise or other harm.

Landing on state or UPM-Kymmene owned water with aircrafts is prohibited.

Other Rules and Instructions

Research activities, organised events and the shooting of films or advertisements in the terrain always require a permit from Metsähallitus. Additional information: permits for research and getting around in nature (metsa.fi), a well as the permits and notifications regarding events (metsa.fi).

The use of the trails and structures of the Repovesi 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 

• Littering and damaging or destroying structures.
• Causing harm to earth or rock, taking minerals or other earth or rock.
• Hunting, killing or frightening small vertebrates or destroying their dens.
• Hunting or collecting invertebrates.
• Hunting or driving game.

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 has in store, will help make your trip a success. It is also good to know if the wildfire warning is in effect (ilmatieteenlaitos.fi). 

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.

Although Finland has a broad network for mobile phones, in the Repovesi National Park there are some areas without signal. There may also be some smaller spots where there is interference. If this happens try to climb to a higher place or go into an open area. It may be worth removing the SIM card from your phone and then trying again to make emergency call. Different phones also differ in their coverage.
Read more about Hiking in Finland.

• What to Take
• Outdoor Etiquette

Equipment and Planning

Sturdy shoes are needed for hiking in Repovesi National Park. Trails are rocky and have roots growing across them. Cliffs, especially the edges of cliffs can be slippery. Loose rocks may also cause hikers to slip. Steep uphills and downhills make hiking demanding and hikers should reserve more time than usual for their trips.

Drinking water, toilet paper and first aid kit are good to have along. A flashlight or head-lamp is useful on hill-side trails at twilight. Dress for hiking in colorful clothes and according to the weather. Find out about the weather and conditions in advance.

In summer its good to notice that adders (Vipera berus) adore warm rocks and cliffs on Repovesi also. Having a snake venom antidote pack, a first aid medication for snakebite found in Finnish pharmacies is essential.Be prepared for the onslaught of mosquitoes and Elk Flies (Lipoptena cervi). Mosquitoes start to appear in mid-June and disappear in August. Elk Flies appear in August or September.

In autumn weather conditions change quite quickly. So be prepared for rain and wind, even on short hikes. As the days get shorter, keep in mind that there are no lit areas in the national park.
  
In winter, it is recommended to avoid going onto ice, unless it is a serviced route such as a ski track. The currents under the ice are constantly changing and make the ice weak.There is no winter maintenance of the hiking tracks. Check current hiking conditions at page Whats New.

Peak seasons

Repovesi is a very popular recreation and outdoor exercise area. Lapinsalmi is the most popular spot for visitors. Especially in July, the entrance in Lapinsalmi is crowded. The busiest hours are between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the queues to the Ketunlossi ferry might be long. The other peak season takes place in the autumn at the beginning of October during autumn colours, when weekends with beautiful weather often are the busiest days of the year.  

During the busiest season, we recommend visiting the park on weekdays and in the morning and evening. It’s also a good idea to plan your excursion for the routes starting from the entrances at Tervajärvi and Saarijärvi.