Please read this before you go hiking, trekking, camping and adventuring in Finnish nature<3
Everyones’s rights, also known as Jokaisenoikeudet in Finnish, grants everyone the freedom to enjoy nature in the Finnish countryside, regardless of land ownership. Here are the key points:
Everyones rights:
You are allowed to walk, ski, cycle, or horseback ride freely in nature, except very near homes, private buildings, cultivated land, or nursery plantations.
Temporary camping is permitted at a reasonable distance from homes.
You can pick wild berries, mushrooms, and flowers (as long as they are not protected species or in protected areas).
Fishing with a simple rod and line is allowed.
You can use boats, canoe, swim, or bathe in inland waters and the sea.
Walking, skiing, or driving a motor vehicle on frozen lakes, rivers, and the sea is also allowed.
Rules of special areas:
Nature parks, Nature reserves and National parks have their own special rules:
Many of these special areas have their own rules and special regulations that restrict activities such as camping, moving, picking berries, hunting and using motor vehicles.
In these areas, there may also be separate restricted zones where you may not be there either during a certain time of year or not at all.
Always check online or ask at each visitor centers before venturing into national parks or other nature reserves!
The most important guidelines and limitations:
Respect nature, people, and properties.
Keep your pets on a leash.
Do not cut down or damage trees.
Do not collect moss, lichen, or fallen trees from others’ property.
Do not light open campfires without permission. -> Light your campfire only where it is allowed, meaning the official built campfire sites. Use a camping stove where possible.
Do not light a fire when a forest or grass fire warning is in effect. Always check the warnings before lighting a campfire.
Do not disturb people’s privacy by camping too near the properties or making excessive noise.
Do not wash the dishes or yourself directly in a water body.
Do not litter or leave your trashes behind. What you carry to the woods, you will carry back.
Do not drive motor vehicles off-road without landowner permission.
Do not hunt without relevant permits.
Do not use nets, traps, or a reel and lure for fishing without relevant permits.
Please remember, rights come with responsibilities. Let’s preserve Finland’s unspoiled beauty for future generations! 🌲🏞️
For more detailed information, you can explore the following sources:
Go check out my guide for the best free things to do as well as itineraries and travel tips to make your trip unforgettable.