Calm and quiet autumn evening in the Nuuksio National Park
Beauty of Finland – Autumn Evening in Nuuksio
Calm and quiet autumn evening in the Nuuksio National Park
Tag: Finland’s National Parks
Nature Destination: Nuuksio National Park
Would you like to visit a Finnish national park, but don’t have time to travel very far from Helsinki? Don’t worry. Nuuksio National Park is just around the corner!
Would you like to visit a Finnish national park,
but don’t have time to travel very far from Helsinki?
Then look now further.
Nuuksio National Park is just around the corner!
Facts About Nuuksio National Park
- Location Helsinki Region
- Established 1994
- Area 56 km²
- 314 500 visits/year (2021)
National Park in Helsinki Region
Nuuksio National Park really is a green oasis almost in the middle of the city. It is located in Espoo, which is right next to Helsinki. If you start your journey from the centre of Helsinki, it takes just little over half an hour to get there by car. So it’s very easy to reach.
But don’t let the short distance fool you. This isn’t just a small forest area inside the city. Nuuksio is so much more. Once you arrive to the hilly landscape of Nuuksio, you would think that you have traveled much further from the city. It’s so different in here.
In addition to the vast forest areas, there are over 80 little lakes and ponds in Nuuksio. There are also some rocky hills, which some of them can reach up to 110 metres above the sea level. So Nuuksio isn’t just about wandering through the forest. You can climb to the rocky hills to enjoy the amazing views and descend down the gorges. Just choose the trail of you own liking. But remember to follow the marked trails. Nuuksio is so large you can even get lost in here.
What to do in Nuuksio
Nuuksio offers wide range of possibilities how to enjoy nature. Most popular activity is of course hiking in the forest. There are a number of marked trails ranging from 2 km to over 10 km. And if you want to walk all the way from Helsinki, there is a 110 km long hiking trail starting from Laakso district in Helsinki which goes through the Nuuksio National Park.
There are also 30 km of cycling routes and 22 km of paths for horseback riding. Or why not explore the Lake Pitkäjärvi or Lake Haukkalampi by renting a canoe. And remember to take a towel with you, if you decide to take a dip in one of the lakes.
One popular attraction in Nuuksio is the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia. Haltia showcases local flora and fauna so it’s very easy way to learn about Finnish nature. In addition to the exhibitions, the Haltia building itself is interesting as it presents modern architecture combined with ecological solutions. It is the first public building in Finland built entirely of wood, while the heating and cooling of the building are powered by solar panels and geothermal pumps. Learn more about haltia by visiting www.haltia.com.
Nuuksio is Very Popular
As Nuuksio is located close to Helsinki it is easy to reach by over a million people in the Helsinki region. This means that Nuuksio has become a very popular destination. With over 300 000 visits a year, Nuuksio is Finland’s third most popular national park.
And its popularity is also its only bad things. It is great that people have found it, but unfortunately it can get a bit crowded sometimes. Especially on a weekends if the weather is fine. So if possible, try to schedule your visit for a weekday. Or perhaps visit in the evening. Summer evenings are warm and bright in Finland.
And even if you have visit during weekend, that’s no problem either. Once you have cleared off from the crowded parking lot and avoided most popular campfire sites, the trails are hardly ever very crowded. Here you get to enjoy the nature in peace and quiet, just as you planned!
Visit any Time of the Year!
But summer isn’t the only time to visit Nuuksio. Nuuksio offers completely different experience depending on the season. It looks amazing during autumn when you can experience the beautiful autumn colors. Or visit in winter and have an interesting experience hiking in the snow.
So whether you live in the Helsinki region or you are just visiting, Nuuksio is definitely one of the must-visit nature destinations! But before you go, check our guide to national parks!
Sources:
Metsähallitus/National Parks
History Trip: Korteniemi Heritage Farm
What life was like on a Finnish farm a hundred years ago? Visit Korteniemi Heritage Farm to find out!
What life was like on a Finnish farm a hundred years ago? Visit Korteniemi Heritage Farm to find out!
Korteniemi Heritage Farm is a former forest ranger’s estate. What makes Korteniemi quite unique is that it’s the only forest ranger estate in Southern Finland which has remained almost unchanged for over a hundred years. The grounds and the buildings on the estate are almost the same as they were in 1910s.
Story of Korteniemi
History of Korteniemi can be traced back to 1880s. After Finnish government bought the forest lands, the district forest surveyors needed a place to stay during their inspection trips. The secluded farm in Korteniemi was a perfect for this purpose.
In the late 1800s the main house got an extra room. Also, the additional buildings, including the sauna, shed, stable, livestock barn and the woodshed were built around the same time period between 1880-1900. The government took part in construction expenses and monitored the quality of the buildings, but other than that, there were no instructions or blueprints. Houses were built mainly just by following traditional construction methods. Because of this the buildings have a real cultural value.
Who were the Forest Rangers ?
So why forest rangers were needed? The main duties of the forest rangers were to monitor and to protect the crown-owned forests. Their job was to prevent forest fires and illegal logging, assist foresters, and sometimes arrange hunts of the large carnivore. Forest rangers usually lived on the secluded farms with their families. They took care of the farm and the livestock, while taking care of their forest ranger duties.
At first forest rangers worked part time, but as they got more tasks, it slowly became a full time job. And often sons took over their father’s job. At the Korteniemi farm, the men from the Lönngren family held the forest ranger’s position for over a hundred years.
Korteniemi Heritage Farm
Nowadays, buildings on the Korteniemi farm are protected and maintained by Metsähallitus, the same goverment organization which manages Finnish national parks. Metsähallitus has restored the farm buildings and created a unique destination.
At the farm old Finnish crops are farmed in both the estates gardens and fields by traditional methods. Rye is cut with scythes, dried on racks and threshed with flails in the drying barn. Farm is also home to indigenous Finnish farm animals like horses, cows, sheep, chickens and of course a rooster.
Korteniemi can be visited during summer, and like Finnish national park, there is no entry fee. Korteniemi is located in Liesjärvi National Park, so if you want an authentic forest ranger experience, why not taking a hiking trip on one of the trails in the national park.
Address to the farm is Korteniementie 270, Tammela, Finland.
Sources:
Metsähallitus
Beauty of Finland – Landscape of Koli
The view from the top of the Koli hill to Lake Pielinen is probably the best known national landscape of Finland. And with these images, it’s easy to see why it is so musch loved and appreciated by the Finns…
The landscape of Koli is probably the best known national landscape of Finland.
When you climb to the top of the Ukko-Koli hill and enjoy the view opening up to the Lake Pielinen, it is easy to see why this landscape is so loved and highly valued by the Finns…
Respect Nature – National Park Etiquette for Visitors
National parks are protected areas, so nature is almost untouched. And by following a simple national park etiquette, we all can help to preserve them
Visiting a national park is one of the best ways to enjoy Finnish nature. You get to enjoy it’s beauty, silence, purity. It’s close to perfect out there. National parks are protected areas, so nature is almost untouched. And by following a simple national park etiquette, we all can help to preserve these wonders of nature.
The biggest threat to these nature reserves are the visitors. We are all nature lovers. That’s why we want to enjoy it. So how we can help to preserve the nature and keep it as it is? Well, there is a one easy thumb rule to follow: Respect nature!
National Park Etiquette – Just 6 Simple Rules
1. Respect Nature
National parks are created to preserve nature. But to make visits possible, there are usually marked trails to follow. These trails will lead you to the most beautiful places. To avoid any unnecessary wear and tear, stay on these trails. Don’t take shortcuts.
You may pick berries and mushrooms, but don’t collect plants or cut tree branches. Don’t build rock piles either. Even if you have seen that others have done it. Rock piles can be harmful to nature and disrespectful of cultural values.
2. Respect Wildlife
National parks are excellent for wildlife watching. But remember that this is their home. We are just visiting. Observe wildlife from distance. Don’t try to approach or feed animals. And don’t enter restricted areas. Dogs are usually welcomed to national parks but must be kept on a leash.
3. Respect Other Visitors
How cool it would be if you were the only visitor in that forest. Unfortunately, there are usually others who want to enjoy of the same nature experience as you do. So let’s make it great for everyone. Nature trails aren’t usually very crowded, but sometimes there are more people on the same trail. Let others pass you easily. And when you stop for a view, move off the trail. People usually greet each other on the forest trail. It’s not a must, but a nice habit if the trail isn’t very crowded.
4. Camp Only Where Allowed
Camping is usually allowed only in designated camping areas. Check if camping is allowed in your destination.
5. Be Careful with Fire
If you want to light a fire, there are designated campfire sites for that. Check first if the forest or grass fire warning is in effect. And always be careful with fire.
6. Keep Nature Clean
The easiest way to keep nature clean and beautiful is to avoid littering. Leave nothing behind! Instead you can have a little bag with you for your trash. And if you see someone else have accidentally dropped something, you can pick that up and take it away with you.
So here you go. Just a few things. A simple national park etiquette for visiting a nature reserve in Finland, or in any country. But always check the destination’s own guidelines and rules before you go.