Everyman’s right: what you may do in a Finnish forest

In Finland you are allowed to walk in any forest, pick wild berries and mushrooms, and swim in any lake — even on land you do not own. You do not need permission and you do not pay anything. This is called jokamiehenoikeus, the everyman’s right, and it surprises most visitors from Central Europe, where the same act would be trespassing.

For many of our guests this turns out to be the best part of the holiday. You step out of the cabin door and the forest is simply open to you.

Salkolahti rents ten cabins and villas by the lake in Orivesi, about 70 km and under an hour from Tampere. Eight cabins are available from May to September; two villas are open all year.

What you may do

• Walk, ski and cycle in forests and on natural land, also on private property.
• Pick wild berries, mushrooms and flowers that are not protected. They are free to take and you may eat them or take them home.
• Swim, row, paddle and wash in lakes and rivers, and walk on the ice in winter.
• Rest and stay temporarily in the forest, and put up a tent for a night at a reasonable distance from homes.
• Fish with a simple rod and line or through the ice without a permit.

What you may not do

• Do not walk in yards, gardens, fields or planted areas.
• Do not make an open fire on someone else’s land without permission — not even a small one. Use the marked campfire places, and never when a forest fire warning is in force.
• Do not cut or damage living trees, take moss, lichen or fallen wood.
• Do not disturb people, animals or nesting birds. Keep dogs on a lead from 1 March to 19 August.
• Do not leave any rubbish. Take everything back with you.
• Fishing with a lure, net or trap requires a permit. So does hunting.

The rule behind all of this is simple: you may pass through, but you may not harm and you may not disturb.

Berries and mushrooms — when and what

The forest around the cabins is ordinary Finnish forest: pine, spruce, birch, blueberry shrub and moss. In late summer it produces food, and you are free to take it.

Blueberries stain your fingers and are eaten as they are. Lingonberries are sharp and better cooked. A litre of blueberries takes about half an hour once you find a good patch, and children usually find one first.

A word of caution about mushrooms. Some Finnish mushrooms are poisonous and a few are deadly. Only pick what you can identify with certainty. Chanterelles are a good place to start because they are hard to confuse with anything harmful. If you are not sure, leave it. We are happy to look at your basket and tell you what you have found.

Bring a bucket or a basket rather than a plastic bag, and wear boots. The forest floor is uneven and often damp.

Where to walk near the cabins

You can walk straight into the forest from the cabin. If you want marked trails and a destination, there are three good ones within driving distance.

Isojärvi National Park, Kuhmoinen

Founded in 1982, 22 km². Steep ridges, gorge valleys and a large clear lake. Old logging cabins along the trails tell the story of the forest workers who lived here in the 1940s, and beavers have visibly reshaped the shoreline.

• Trails from about 3 km to a 20 km ring. Majavapolku (Beaver Trail) is 3.8 km and the easiest; Heretty nature trail is about 3 km; Savottapolku is 10 km.
• Main parking and information point at Heretty, Kylämäntie 1335, Kuhmoinen.
• Campfire places and a café at Heretty in season.
• The terrain is genuinely rocky and root-covered, with real height differences. Wear proper shoes. It is not a stroller route.

Helvetinjärvi National Park, Ruovesi

Founded in 1982, about 50 km². Narrow gorge lakes between cliffs that rise 40 metres or more straight out of the water. The best known sight is Helvetinkolu, ”the Hell’s Gorge” — a crack in the rock about 40 metres long and two metres wide, formed when the bedrock shifted.

• The most popular route is the 4 km ”Helvetistä itään” nature trail from Kankimäki, Helvetinkoluntie 775, Ruovesi. Parking, toilets, water point and a restaurant at the trailhead.
• From Haukanhieta in the western part it is about 5.5 km one way to Helvetinkolu. Haukanhieta has a sandy beach and a campfire place.
• About 40 km of marked trails in total.
• Note: since 2023 the gorge itself is fenced off for safety and can no longer be climbed. You view it from above.

Ruutanajärvi, Talviainen

A small lake in a kettle hole in pine heath forest, much closer than the national parks. The water is exceptionally clear — horizontal visibility of five to six metres, which is rare in Finland and makes it popular for snorkelling. You enter the water from a large flat rock, and there is a small campfire place on the shore.

This is a local place rather than a maintained attraction: no services, no marked trail, no ticket. Ask us for directions.

National park information from Metsähallitus. Check current trail conditions at luontoon.fi before you go.

Practical things worth knowing

You need a car. There is no realistic public transport to the cabins or to the national parks.

Mosquitoes. July and August evenings. Bring repellent, or buy it at any Finnish shop.

Ticks exist in this region. Check yourself after walking in tall grass.

Tap water is drinking water everywhere in Finland, and it is good. Do not buy bottled water.

Light. In June and July it barely gets dark at all. In September the evenings draw in quickly.

Fire warnings. In dry summers an open fire is forbidden even at marked campfire places. The warning is announced nationally; ask us if you are unsure.

Emergency number is 112 anywhere in Finland.

Questions we are often asked

Can I really pick berries on land I do not own?
Yes. Wild berries and mushrooms are free to pick for everyone, on private land as well, as long as you stay away from yards and gardens.

Do I need a permit or a licence to walk in the forest?
No. Walking, skiing and cycling on natural land are free.

Can I make a campfire?
Only at a marked campfire place, or with the landowner’s permission, and never during a forest fire warning. At the cabins you may use the fire pit and the grill.

Can I fish?
Angling with a simple rod and line is free. Lure fishing requires the national fisheries management fee if you are between 18 and 64. It is bought online in minutes.

Are the forests dangerous? Are there bears?
Bears exist in Finland but are shy and very rarely seen in this region. The realistic risks are getting lost, wet feet and mosquitoes. Take a phone and tell someone where you are going.

When is the best time for berries and mushrooms?
Late July to early September. That is also when our cabins are at their best.

See our cabins and villas compared, or read about the family and the house — the same family has lived on this hill since 1697.