To the National Park for an excursion

Petkeljärvi National Park is a nature conservation area intended as a public attraction, whose task is to preserve the ridge and lake nature of North Karelia. It is important to familiarise yourself with the area in advance and prepare carefully for your hike by reading the area's instructions and rules. Hiking in Petkeljärvi National Park is guided by its rules and regulations. Therefore, act and move in nature with respect. Please do not share content online that violates the National Park's rules.
Keeping pets off-leash is forbidden. Pets are welcome in the National Park, but only on a leash.

At hiking destinations managed by Metsähallitus, routes, paths, and bridges are maintained, as well as rest areas and camping sites with toilets, parking areas, and landing sites. The sites also have guidance structures such as signs and pointers. Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland is responsible for free service facilities for hikers in protected areas and historical sites. At nature huts, hiking centers, etc., contract entrepreneurs are responsible for paid services.

You can read the hiking etiquette from the link https://www.luontoon.fi/fi/lajit/retkeily-ja-ulkoilu/etiketti

You can read about everyman's rights in national parks from the link https://www.luontoon.fi/fi/lajit/retkeily-ja-ulkoilu/jokaisenoikeudet

You can access the official pages of Petkeljärvi National Park from here https://www.luontoon.fi/fi/kohteet/petkeljarven-kansallispuisto

You can find the National Park's PDF brochure here https://julkaisut.metsa.fi/julkaisu/petkeljarvi-kansallispuisto/

An announcement must be made to Metsähallitus regarding events planned for Metsähallitus' nature conservation areas or multi-use forests, and the camping of large groups.

An event notification must be made when it concerns, for example, an off-road competition, an outdoor event, the camping of a large group, or long-term camping in the same location. The aforementioned events and comparable ones require the landowner's consent. Notification of these must be made well in advance, at least two months before the event, to allow sufficient time for processing.

The event may not be marketed or published on online services before the event notification has been processed. The event notification is made using an electronic form. More information on the permit requirements for activities on Metsähallitus lands https://www.metsa.fi/luvat

Event notification form  https://link.webropolsurveys.com/S/DA6276B0FBD43439

Notifying events in advance helps to avoid overlaps and overcrowding of areas. The use of national parks is guided by regulations. In other nature conservation areas too, everyman's rights may have been restricted. The principle of litter-free hiking is observed in all areas. The event organizer is responsible for the cleanliness of the event site and its immediate surroundings during the event and will remove litter and other waste at their own expense immediately after the event.

No notification is required

• for organizing a small-scale event or excursion with fewer than 20 participants, if it is free of charge for the participants
• day trips for educational institutions, unless the groups are exceptionally large
• for photography, if it does not cause harm or disturbance to wildlife and vegetation, and if a blind is not used. https://www.metsa.fi/maat-ja-vedet/luvat/filmituotantoluvat/
• for short-term camping (1–2 days) in designated areas or for other activities conducted under everyman's rights.

Are you a peace-seeking hiker who comes to nature to find balance in life? Do you come to walk the trails for the freedom that each step of the journey brings? Or are you a long-distance hiker with stages ready from lean-to to lean-to, wanting to test yourself?
Perhaps you are the one who brings your children to explore the secrets of the forest and wants to stay within a safe distance so that it would be easy to return for a snack and maybe a nap with the smallest hikers if needed. What kind of hiker are you? Feel free to be yourself, discover your inner adventurer, your wilderness survivor, or just be who you know you already are.

Remember, however, to respect nature and other hikers. This way, we preserve what we have now, also for the future.