National park · Finland
Hiidenportti National ParkHiidenportin kansallispuisto
Go if you want a quiet gorge walk in old forest: the 3 km Palolampi circle to Hiidenportti takes about 1.5 h and entry is free; do the 17 km through-hike only with a map, and skip it in June–July unless you accept gnats.Go if you want a quiet gorge walk in old forest: the 1.9 mi Palolampi circle to Hiidenportti takes about 1.5 h and entry is free; do the 11 mi through-hike only with a map, and skip it in June–July unless you accept gnats.
Map to the park
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Area
42 km²16 sq mi
approximate
Established
1982
Best months
Aug–Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Nordic countries ↗Decide light or dark before anything else: summer trips (June–August) and aurora trips (September–March in the Arctic) need different countries, clothes and bases.
- Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
- Finland ↗Finland is in the EU and the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border.
- Finland ↗The land border with Russia is closed to travellers; do not plan a route across it.
- Finland ↗Everyman's rights let you walk, camp for a night and pick berries on most land, but not near homes, and not to make fires without permission.
At a glance
- Country
- Finland
- Area
- 42 km²16 sq mi
- 42 km² of national park; the adjoining Peurajärvi Recreational Area and Teerisuo-Lososuo Mire Reserve are managed separately and add more walking (check current boundaries).
- Established
- 1982
- Best months
- Aug–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Hiidenportti National Park protects 42 km² of old-growth forest, mires and lakes in the south-east corner of Sotkamo, on the border with Kuhmo and the Valtimo side of Nurmes. Its centrepiece is the Hiidenportti gorge — a narrow cut with vertical walls and a boggy floor of swamp and ponds — reached in 1.3 km from the Palolampi information point. The park was established in 1982 and entry is free, with no gate, no ticket and no booking; you park at one of the trailheads and walk in under Finland's right to access. The forest in the Portinsalo area is 100–150 years old and near-natural, in visible contrast with the commercially logged land around the boundary. Next door are two separate Metsähallitus areas: the Peurajärvi Recreational Area, with easy lakeside trails, beaches and fishing lakes, and the Teerisuo-Lososuo Mire Reserve, 8 km of open bog with an 8 km circle trail on duckboards. There is no public transport to any of them.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1982.
Size and age
42 km²16 sq mi · national park since 1982
42 km² of national park; the adjoining Peurajärvi Recreational Area and Teerisuo-Lososuo Mire Reserve are managed separately and add more walking (check current boundaries).
Why go
- Hiidenportti itself: a narrow gorge with vertical walls, swamp and ponds on its floor, 1.3 km from the Palolampi information point.Hiidenportti itself: a narrow gorge with vertical walls, swamp and ponds on its floor, 0.8 mi from the Palolampi information point.
- Old-growth forest in the Portinsalo area, 100–150 years old, next to commercially logged land — the contrast is the point.
- Free entry and no booking: you park, walk and camp at lean-to shelters under Finland's right to access.
- Beaver workings along the Porttijoki river, plus bear, wolverine, lynx and a dense elk population in the wider area.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanDeep snow; only Palolampi road is ploughed, trails unmarked under snow
- FebSnowshoe or ski only; no maintained tracks
- MarSnowshoeing possible; daylight returns
- AprThaw; trails wet and partly snow-covered
- MayDry-ish forest, but mire reserve birds nesting — keep to trails
- JunPeak gnat season (räkkä); repellent essential
- JulGnats and mosquitoes; warmest walking
- AugBerries and mushrooms; insects easing
- SepRuska colours, few people, dry trails
- OctQuiet; early snow possible
- NovWet, dark, no snow base
- DecShort daylight; only ploughed road access
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bean goose, common crane, osprey, black-throated diverApr–Jun · Mire reserve and lakes; keep to trails during nesting. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Great grey owl (the park's emblem) and red-flanked bluetailMar–Jun · Old-growth forest; rare and not guaranteed. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Siberian jay, brambling, rustic buntingAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Wild forest reindeer (peura)Dec–Mar · In the region in winter; elk are common year-round. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Gnats, sand flies, gad flies and midges (räkkä)Jun–Jul · Worst in the mire reserve; repellent and long sleeves. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Kuhmo
No public transport; taxi or your own car to Palolampi (Hiidenportintie 86), signposted from road 76.
40–50 min
From Sotkamo
Car via road 76, then follow park signage; do not trust navigator routes onto Hopeatie, which is broken.
50–60 min
From Nurmes / Valtimo
Car via road 5284 (≈ US$6,500) to Käärmesärkkä or Urpovaara trailheads.
1–1.5 h
From Helsinki
Train or flight to Kajaani, then car or taxi east; the park has no rail or bus link.
7–9 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Hiidenportti gorge and Palolampi | The main sight: vertical-walled gorge with swamp and ponds, plus the Kovasinvaara croft hill. | Open; 3 km circle trail from the Palolampi information point.Open; 1.9 mi circle trail from the Palolampi information point. |
| Portinsalo old-growth forest | Near-natural forest 100–150 years old along the main trail and Porttijoki. | Open on foot; no marked side trails. |
| Peurajärvi Recreational Area | Easy lakeside trails, beaches, campfire sites and fishing lakes at the southern edge. | Open; roads reach the middle of the area. |
| Teerisuo-Lososuo Mire Reserve | Open mires with an 8 km circle trail and birdlife; duckboards over wet sections.Open mires with an 5 mi circle trail and birdlife; duckboards over wet sections. | Open; keep to trails in spring and early summer to avoid disturbing nesting birds. |
Sketch map
- 1Palolampi information point · Headquarters≈63.902, 28.998Main entrance, parking, well, cooking shelter; road ploughed in winter.Map ↗
- 2Hiidenportti gorge · Viewpoint≈63.893, 29.0091.3 km from Palolampi along the trail.0.8 mi from Palolampi along the trail.Map ↗
- 3Kovasinvaara croft hill · Viewpoint≈63.894, 28.996Map ↗
- 4Porttilampi lean-to shelter · Sleep≈63.888, 29.022Map ↗
- 5Kitulanlampi lean-to shelter · Sleep≈63.872, 29.040Map ↗
- 6Pitkä-Portti campfire site · Trail≈63.857, 29.101Turnaround point for the 17 km out-and-back.Turnaround point for the 11 mi out-and-back.Map ↗
- 7Käärmesärkkä parking · Gate≈63.841, 29.145On road 5284; main trail through the park starts here.Map ↗
- 8Urpovaara parking · Gate≈63.895, 29.077Forest road not ploughed in winter.Map ↗
- 9Allaslahti trailhead · Gate≈63.821, 29.007On the Talonpojan Taival trail, part of the Karelian Circuit.Map ↗
- 10Teerisuo parking · Gate≈63.924, 29.195Main entrance to the mire reserve, 10.7 km north of Käärmesärkkä.Main entrance to the mire reserve, 6.6 mi north of Käärmesärkkä.Map ↗
- 11Paistinvaara · Summit≈63.820, 29.227Old-growth protection area with the Kärnänkivi boulder; 1 km sidetrip from the Iso-Valkeinen trail.Old-growth protection area with the Kärnänkivi boulder; 0.6 mi sidetrip from the Iso-Valkeinen trail.Map ↗
- 12Mäntyjärvi lean-to shelter · Sleep≈63.828, 29.194Southern shore; water available.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | Finnish national parks have no entrance fee (2026 estimate). |
| Parking at Palolampi, Käärmesärkkä, Urpovaara, Teerisuo | Free | vehicle | Free; no booking. |
| Day-use rental cabin at Palolampi | Free | day | Bookable through Metsähallitus; price varies — check. |
| National fishing fee (lure fishing, age 18–64) | Free | person | Required for lure fishing anywhere in Finland; buy online — check current price. |
| Local fishing permit, Iso-Valkeinen and Urtti-Valkeinen (area 7510) | Free | person | Needed for any fishing on those two lakes — check. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Fishing (other than hook-and-line or ice-fishing) permit or guide
Small-game hunting in the recreational area and mire reserve permit or guide
Camping no permit
Park rules
- Right to access
- Walk, ski, canoe or row anywhere as long as you do not damage the ground or disturb wildlife.
- Mire reserve in spring
- Keep mostly to the trails in spring and early summer so nesting birds are not disturbed.
- Fishing
- Hook-and-line and ice-fishing are allowed in the park under right to access; all other fishing is forbidden in the national park.
- Fires
- Light fires only at marked campfire sites and shelters, and never during a forest fire warning.
- Mountain biking
- Allowed on the trails, but the terrain is very difficult by bike.
- Winter
- No maintained skiing tracks; skis or snowshoes are essential, and steep sections suit neither.
Where to stay
In the park
Lean-to shelters (Porttilampi, Kitulanlampi, Iso Oravijärvi, Allaslahti, Mäntyjärvi)
Free open shelters with campfire sites; tent camping allowed nearby.
Near the park
Rental cabins by Peurajärvi
Cabins on the eastern shore, booked through a rental agency — check availability.
Near the park
Kuhmo or Sotkamo
Hotels, guesthouses and shops, 40–60 min by road; buy food before you go.
Safety
Gnats and mosquitoes in June–July medium
Wet, boggy ground and duckboards medium
Navigation on the long and neglected trails high
Winter conditions high
Accessibility
- The Palolampi information point, shelter and well are reached by car with a short walk on firm ground.
- The Hiidenportti gorge rim, the long trails and the mire duckboards are rough, steep or narrow; there are no trails for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on marked trails in the mire reserve in spring and early summer to protect nesting birds.
- Use the campfire sites rather than making new fire rings, and carry out all rubbish.
- Keep distance from bears, wolverines and lynx; never feed wildlife.
- Buy food and fuel in Kuhmo, Sotkamo, Valtimo or Nurmes so the park's gateway towns benefit.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Hiidenportti National Park?
Nothing. Like other Finnish national parks, Hiidenportti has no entrance fee and no gate — you park free at Palolampi, Käärmesärkkä, Urpovaara or Teerisuo and walk in. You only pay if you fish with lures (national fishing fee, plus a local permit on Iso-Valkeinen and Urtti-Valkeinen) or rent a cabin.
What are the best hikes in Hiidenportti National Park?
For most visitors the 3 km circle from the Palolampi information point past the Hiidenportti gorge and the Kovasinvaara croft is the best value, about 1.5–2 hours. The main trail through the park, Palolampi to Käärmesärkkä, is roughly 12 km one way and 17 km if you return from the Pitkä-Portti campfire site. The 8 km Teerisuo mire circle and the easy Peurajärvi lakeside trails suit families.
When is the best time to visit Hiidenportti National Park?
August and September: dry trails, berries and mushrooms, ruska colours and few people. June and July are the worst for gnats and mosquitoes, especially in the mire reserve. Winter is possible on skis or snowshoes but only the Palolampi road is ploughed and there are no maintained tracks.
Do I need a guide or a permit to hike here?
No. There is no entry ticket and no guide requirement; right to access lets you walk, ski, canoe and camp. You do need a map and compass for the longer and neglected trails, and permits for fishing and hunting.
Can I camp in the park?
Yes. Tents are allowed by the lean-to shelters and campfire sites and at the Palolampi information point; pitch a little away from the facilities. Caravans can park at Palolampi, at the Mäntyjärvi shelter parking and at the marked lots by Iso-Valkeinen, with no special facilities.
How do I get to Hiidenportti without a car?
There is no public transport to the park. The practical option is a taxi from Kuhmo, Sotkamo, Valtimo or Nurmes, 20–50 km depending on the trailhead, or a guided tour from the area.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go