Instructions & tips for hiking
Temporary stay in nature, such as resting, swimming, and sunbathing, is allowed in the same places as walking is, if it does not cause damage or any inconvenience to the owner or holder of the land. Respect nature and fellow hikers by not littering or disturbing your surroundings.
Take the condensed hiking etiquette to heart and familiarize yourself with these instructions.
Check the weather and warnings:
Hiking instructions
Respect nature – don’t change it. Keep pets on a leash.
Favour marked trails and follow the rules regarding different modes of movement. Check the restricted areas and times for movement at your hiking destination.
Camp only in designated areas. Do not wash dishes or bathe directly in the water.
Make fires only in designated areas, prefer a camping stove. Do not make a fire during a forest or grass fire warning. Check the forest fire warnings: www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/en/warnings
Don’t litter.
Do not disturb the peace of nature or fellow hikers by making noise or, for example, playing loud music at a resting place or on the route. Respect the peace of nature.
Everyman's rights
Everyman’s right refers to everyone’s right to access nature, regardless of who owns or holds the area. In nature conservation areas, Everyman’s right is limited.
With everyman’s right, you are allowed to
- move on foot, ski, and cycle in nature, such as forests, natural meadows, and waterways
- ride horseback
- stay and camp overnight in areas where movement is allowed
- pick natural berries, mushrooms, and non-protected plants
- fish and ice fish
- boat, swim, and bathe in water bodies, and walk on ice
With everyman’s right, you are not allowed to
- hinder the landowner’s land us
- walk on yards, plantations, or cultivated fields
- fell or damage growing trees
- take dried or fallen wood
- collect moss or lichen
- make an open fire on another person’s land
- disturb domestic peace, for example, by camping too close to residences or making noise
- litter the environment
- drive a motor vehicle off-road
- disturb or damage bird nests and chicks
- disturb animals
- fish and hunt without proper permits
- allow a dog onto a public beach, an area designated as a children’s playground, a maintained ski trail, or a sports field
- keep a dog unleashed in urban areas, on a fitness trail, or on someone else’s property
Domestic peace and public peace
Intentional violation of domestic peace is prohibited. Places protected by domestic peace include, among others, residences, holiday homes, tents, caravans, inhabited boats, as well as private yard areas and the buildings immediately associated with them.
Making a fire
In hiking, outdoor, and camping areas, there are designated places for making fires, and fires should not be made elsewhere. Caution should be exercised when handling fire. When the campfire break is over, trash should be collected. However, the fireplace is not a waste bin, do not attempt to burn non-combustible waste.
Extinguishing the fire
When you want to extinguish the campfire, stop adding wood and let the fire die down slowly. If the fire is still smoking when you’re leaving, extinguish it thoroughly with water or snow. Always make sure that the fire is truly out and doesn’t smoulder. The person who started the fire is liable for compensation if the fire escapes and causes damage.
With a dog in nature
Hiking with a dog can be very rewarding for both the dog and its owner. However, the owner must ensure that the dog does not disturb wild animals. To them, a dog is always a predator, regardless of its breed or hunting instincts. Ground-nesting birds are particularly sensitive to disturbance, and even if the dog itself does not harm the nestlings, the mother bird leaving the nest can provide an opportunity for crows or gulls to take advantage of the situation and empty the nest while the mother is away.
The presence of other nature enthusiasts must also be considered. Some people genuinely fear dogs, so the dog should be kept on a leash.
The law also requires that dogs be kept on a leash. According to the Public Order Act, dogs must always be kept on a leash in urban areas. Even leashed, a dog is not allowed on public swimming beaches, children’s playgrounds, on markets during market hours, or on a public-use ski trail or sports field. In addition to the actual urban area, a dog must be on a leash on outdoor trails and beaches.
According to the Hunting Act, a dog must never be allowed to roam freely on another person’s property without the consent of the landowner or hunting rights holder. The dog’s owner is liable for damages if the dog causes harm.
