Nuuksio National Park (Nuuksion kansallispuisto in Finnish, Noux nationalpark in Swedish) is in Southern Finland, 35 km from Helsinki on the outskirts of Espoo and the neighboring counties of Kirkkonummi and Vihti.
The park has very good English web pages.
Covering an area of 45 km², Nuuksio is a pint-sized marvel.
Established only in 1994, Nuuksio is one of Finland's newest national parks, set up to ensure that a piece of pristine wilderness is kept within striking distance of the capital. Its location so close to a major city is unusual, and due mostly to the fact that the rocky and wet terrain was unsuitable for farming or other development.
Nuuksio's landscape is archetypically Finnish: conifer and birch forests, forty-three lakes, small swamps between them and gentle rolling hills, sometimes covered in moss, sometimes with the granite bedrock exposed where the vast ice sheets of the last ice age scraped them clean. There are plenty of quiet spots of beauty, but don't expect jaw-dropping gorges or soaring mountains (good advice for traveling anywhere in Finland, that).
The Siberian Flying Squirrel (Liito-orava) is official park emblem, but being nocturnal and living high up in the treetops, it's very difficult to spot. The Haukkalampi info center has an exhibit about the critter and even gives handy tips on how to spot its poo.
Nuuksio's climate is the same as Helsinki's: lovely summers, wet spring and fall, brutal winters. The high season is obviously summer, although mushroom pickers continue to tramp the trails well into the fall and hardcore cross-country skiers venture within in the winter.
- Entry to the park is free and no special permits are necessary.
- Haltia, a museum of nature, has its fees maintained in here: http://www.haltia.com/visit-haltia/opening-hours-and-tickets/
- You can find meal prices and other service fees in the park from here.
A number of well-signposted trails are available, while hardcore hikers can head out into the bush and stay at one of the many campsites. For the first time visitor, doing the Haukankierros loop and half of Korpinkierros will provide a good representative look.
- Haukankierros. The "Hawk's Tour" is a 4-km loop starting and ending at the Haukanpesä information center, looping around Lake Haukkalampi. Lake views, cliffs, mossy boulders. This is also the most popular route, and it can get almost crowded on weekends if the weather is good.
- Korpinkierros. The "Raven's Tour" is an 8-km loop starting at the Haukanpesä information center, passing through Mustalampi (with campground), Siikaranta and Siikaniemi before returning back. It's also possible to walk only half the route by taking bus 28 in and 85 out.
- Other trails route. You can find other trails from this link.
Haukankierros. The "Hawk's Tour" is a 4-km loop starting and ending at the Haukanpesä information center, looping around Lake Haukkalampi. Lake views, cliffs, mossy boulders. This is also the most popular route, and it can get almost crowded on weekends if the weather is good.
Korpinkierros. The "Raven's Tour" is an 8-km loop starting at the Haukanpesä information center, passing through Mustalampi (with campground), Siikaranta and Siikaniemi before returning back. It's also possible to walk only half the route by taking bus 28 in and 85 out.
Other trails route. You can find other trails from this link.
Picking berries in late summer and mushrooms in the fall are popular activities. Fishing is allowed, although there isn't all that much to catch. In winter, the trails are open to cross-country skiing, although they are not lit or maintained.
Rock climbing is allowed only at Pitkäjärvi and the eastern Kolmoislammet. Ice climbing is permitted throughout the park.
Several tour operators specialize in Nuuksio:
- Green Window, +358 40-407506001. Arranges guided hikes, group tours, corporate retreatd, in Nuuksio. Has access to several cottages and even a Lappish hut for group accommodation, with saunas for charter as well.
- Feel The Nature Treks, +358 10 581 3890. Feel The Nature Treks arranges guided canoeing, hiking and mountain biking tours in Nuuksio National Park. Wintertime company organizes also snow shoe and ski tour programs.
- BioGeo-Traveller, +358 44 928 0343. Offers guided hikes of various duration and difficulty in Nuuksio National Park. from €50/person; children under age 16 free of charge.
- Finnish Friend, +358407419307. Does guided hikes for 1 to 4 people. Has outdoor clothing and other equipment such as snowshoes for customers.
- Full list. See the list of companies offering guided excursions and nature and outdoor activities, equipment rental, food and catering services, transportation services and lodging and conference space services.
Green Window, +358 40-407506001. Arranges guided hikes, group tours, corporate retreatd, in Nuuksio. Has access to several cottages and even a Lappish hut for group accommodation, with saunas for charter as well.
Feel The Nature Treks, +358 10 581 3890. Feel The Nature Treks arranges guided canoeing, hiking and mountain biking tours in Nuuksio National Park. Wintertime company organizes also snow shoe and ski tour programs.
BioGeo-Traveller, +358 44 928 0343. Offers guided hikes of various duration and difficulty in Nuuksio National Park. from €50/person; children under age 16 free of charge.
Finnish Friend, +358407419307. Does guided hikes for 1 to 4 people. Has outdoor clothing and other equipment such as snowshoes for customers.
Full list. See the list of companies offering guided excursions and nature and outdoor activities, equipment rental, food and catering services, transportation services and lodging and conference space services.
- Haltia serves high class meals. You can find the pricing info from here: http://www.nationalparks.fi/nuuksionp/services
- Water is available at Haltia and Haukkalampi information center. Making an open fire is allowed at the designated fireplaces near the campgrounds, so bring some sausages and have a picnic. Some of the fireplaces are covered and thus usable even when it rains.
Hotel Siikaranta (see below) restaurant offers Finnish-style buffets for hungry hikers, but opening hours are limited.
Apart from vipers and the very remote chance of meeting a bear, there is little dangerous fauna in the park. Thanks to the swampy terrain, mosquitoes can be a nuisance, so stock up on the bug spray. Stay on the main trails if you don't have a compass and orienteering experience.