Petkeljärvi National Park instructions and rules

Petkeljärvi National Park is a nature reserve intended as a public attraction, whose mission is to preserve the North Karelian ridge and lake nature. It is important that you familiarize yourself with the area in advance and prepare for the trip carefully by reading the area's instructions and rules.

Visitor's checklist, in brief
• The national park is a nature reserve. Every person's rights do not apply as such in national parks.
• Always keep pets on a leash. Dog waste must be cleaned up away from the paths.
• Only make fires in permitted places.Always check the current wildfire warning before making a fire. During a wildfire warning, fires may only be made in the hiking center hut.
• Only camp in permitted camping places. Camping is only allowed in the camping area of the hiking center, which is subject to a fee
• Remember to bring a garbage bag. Bring a garbage bag and take your garbage to the recycling center when you go.
The hiking center's waste point, Petkeljärventie 61, 82900 Ilomantsi. Combustible energy waste.
Ekopiste Möhkö, Leminahontie 3, 82980 Ilomantsi. Glass and small metal
Ekopiste Kuuksenvaara, Möhköntie 75, 82900 Ilomantsi. Glass and small metal
Rinki Ekopiste, Kauppatie 9, 82900 Ilomantsi. Cardboard, paper, plastic, glass, small metal and reusable textiles.
• Be prepared for mobile phone network blackouts. Remember your paper map and compass.

Respect nature

In Petkeljärvi National Park, hiking is governed by rules of procedure. So, we act and move in nature with respect. Learn about Hiking Etiquette.

Please do not share content online that violates the rules of the national park.

Keeping pets free is prohibited. Pets are welcome in the national park, but only on a leash.

Movement

You can move freely in the national park on foot, skiing, rowing and kayaking, except for possible restricted areas.

The use of motorboats is only permitted in Petkeljärvi and Valkiajärvi.

Camping

Camping is only permitted in the camping area.

Fire pit

There is a covered barbecue shelter and a bookable fire pit in Petraniemi. Fires are prohibited elsewhere.

There is a camp kitchen at the campsite for those staying overnight.

During a wildfire warning, the only place allowed to make a fire is the fire hut, which is open for everyone to use during the warning period.

Check the current ones (ilmatieteenlaitos.fi).

Trip-free camping

The park's waste container for combustible energy waste is located at the Petkeljärvi campsite. Small amounts of clean paper and cardboard can be used as kindling. Other waste, such as packaging containing aluminum foil or plastic, must not be burned in a campfire, as they can create non-biodegradable waste and toxic gases.

Read more about litter-free hiking.
https://www.luontoon.fi/fi/artikkelit/roskaton-retkeily

Fishing

Anyone can fish with an angling or ice fishing permit.

For lure fishing, people aged 18-69 must pay a fishing care fee (eraluvat.fi).
If you fish with more than one rod, you will also need Southern Finland fishing permit no. 7413 (eraluvat.fi). Permits can be purchased from the online wildlife permit store (eraluvat.fi). For trap fishing, in addition to the fisheries management fee, Ilomantsi fishing permit no. 7004 (eraluvat.fi) is required. Permits can be purchased from the service number 020 69 2424. However, all types of fishing are prohibited in Kuikkalampi, Pieni Kuikkalampi, Savulampi and Mustalampi.

Fishermen must check the fishing restrictions at kalastusrajoitus.fi!

Berry picking, mushroom picking and plant collection

Picking berries and edible mushrooms is permitted.
It is prohibited to take or damage non-edible mushrooms, trees, bushes or other plants and their parts. Therefore, collecting wild herbs is prohibited.

Cycling

Mountain biking is permitted for everyone. Please stay on clearly marked trails and be considerate of others on the trails.

Other rules and instructions

A permit from Metsähallitus is generally required for activities other than those that are part of everyone's rights. This may include, for example, research activities, organized events, and filming films or advertisements in the terrain. More information about the required permits: research and movement permits (metsa.fi) and event permits and notifications (metsa.fi).

The use of Petkeljärvi National Park's trails and structures for business purposes is always subject to a fee, and repeated business use requires an contract with Metsähallitus (metsa.fi). Daily usage fees are paid in the Eräluvat-e-koopkauppa (eraluvat.fi).

Flying a drone

The entire Petkeljärvi National Park is part of the ADIZ border zone and therefore all unmanned aircraft are required to have a flight plan to operate in the ADIZ area, meaning that even hobbyists must make a flight plan for flying a drone to AIS Finland. Flight plan preparation instructions and submission forms can be found on the Fintraffic ANS aviation information service website (fintraffic.fi). For more information about flying a drone, please visit Fintraffic ANS's website (ais.fi). For more information, please call Petkeljärvi Hiking Center (petkeljarvi.fi) or the customer service of Koli Nature Center.

In Petkeljärvi National Park, flying a drone that disturbs other people or animals is prohibited. Special care must be taken during the bird nesting season.

Other prohibited activities in Petkeljärvi National Park

• Damaging the soil or bedrock and taking soil or minerals.
• Catching, killing or disturbing wild vertebrate animals or destroying their nests.
• Catching or collecting invertebrate animals.
• Hunting.
• Driving a motor vehicle except on designated roads.
• Landing aircraft in the water area of the national park without a permit from Metsähallitus.
• Littering or damaging structures.
• Excavating, covering, altering, damaging, removing or otherwise tampering with fixed ancient remains.
• Disturbing other people operations.

Petkeljärvi Rules of Procedure

Petkeljärvi National Park Rules of Procedure (pdf 76 KB, julkaisut.metsa.fi), confirmed on 3 February 1978.

Seasons

Petkeljärvi is a popular stopover destination, especially between Midsummer and the first week of August. In May, many camp schools are held in the national park.

Safety

Get to know the excursion destination in advance. Staying on the trail and following weather forecasts and warnings (ilmatieteenlaitos.fi) will help ensure a successful hike.

• It is a good idea to take a first aid kit with you. If you get into an emergency while hiking, for example, you get lost, get injured or notice a wildfire, call 112 and file an emergency report. Background information on what to do in an emergency.
• Although Finland's mobile networks are comprehensive, there may be areas with poor coverage in the Petkeljärvi National Park area. Read more about mobile phone coverage.
• Dress colorfully for the hike and according to the weather. Sturdy shoes are necessary in the Petkeljärvi ridge terrain.
• It is always a good idea to take drinking water and toilet paper with you.
• Information on canoeing safety and equipment: Kayaking safety (melontajasoutuliitto.fi) and Kayaking guide (melonta.wasalab.com)
• The ABCs of hiking ( luontoon.fi/retkeilynabc )

•  Safety
• Hiking etiquette
• Hiker links

• Also see the current events page for your hiking destination.