Guidelines for a savvy hiker

Please keep in mind that there are certain restrictions concerning hiking in protected nature areas and on nature trails:

• The making of campfires is not included the rights of public access, even on land owned by the city. Lighting an open fire is only allowed at the city’s official campfire sites, which are visible on the hiking map.
• It is not allowed to bicycle on designated nature trails. Thus the safety of all hikers is ensured, and the ground and structures of the nature trails do not get overly worn out.
• It is forbidden to drive any motor vehicle in all protected areas. For instance in Iso Haapasaari, all the forests owned by the city belong to a protected area.
• Riding a bicycle in protected areas is only allowed on existing, established trails, and without creating any new trails.
• Please bicycle even on established trails with moderation; significant widening of the trails and wear of the terrain has been observed as a result of increased terrain biking.

In the Haukanniemi nature conservation area, bicycling is only allowed on trails marked on the map which are in line with the Protection Decree. On the other trails in Haukanniemi only walking is allowed.

Check from a map (the brown zones) if the destination for your hike is in a protected area.

The campfire sites by nature trails do not generally have a wood supply. Please therefore take your own wood with you if you intend to make a campfire. During a forest fire warning, the making of fires is forbidden at all campfire sites. There are lean-tos with fire wood supplies by the Kangasvuori and Laajavuori nature trails.

The principle of zero-waste hiking is to be followed on the nature trails in Jyväskylä. Bring your rubbish from your hike home with you to sort.

It is forbidden to place even small structures into the forests owned by the city without the permission of the land owner. For instance placing target boards in the forest for recreational shooting purposes is not allowed.

Recreational groups may apply for permission from the land owner via the Hannikainen Service Point for recreational activity within the areas owned by the city and for the placement of structures in these areas. Permits are not granted for protected areas.

Keep dogs on a leash within the city’s grid plan area, within the protected areas and on nature trails.

Zero-waste hiking in Jyväskylä     

The City of Jyväskylä upholds the principle of zero-waste hiking within its nature destinations. The idea is that a good hiker does not leave any trace after them in the nature!

Why can’t I find rubbish bins at camping sites?

You cannot find any rubbish bins, because there aren’t any. The general rule is that what you are ably to carry into the forest, you ought to also be able to carry out of there! In other words, take your rubbish away with you. A good hiker even picks up a sweet wrapping left by a previous hiker and puts it into their own rubbish bag.

Minimise your waste quantity beforehand

Use reusable dishes. Pack your food already at home into reusable or space-saving packaging.

Other instructions for handling rubbish and waste while hiking

• You can burn clean paper and cardboard at a campfire site or the fireplace of a wilderness hut. Other waste, such as packaging containing aluminium foil or plastic, cannot be burned in a campfire, as these may create non-biodegradable waste and toxic gases.
• During forest fire warnings, rubbish may only be burned in wilderness hut fireplaces or other fireplaces with a flue, but not at campfire sites.
• Do not leave burnable waste for others, for instance in the firewood shed.
• Bring hazardous waste and general mixed waste back along with you.
• Biodegradable waste does not belong in the general mixed waste bin, as it easily starts smelling. Additionally, animals might spread other rubbish around while looking for appealing biodegradable waste in the bin.
• Hazardous waste, such as batteries, belongs in the hazardous waste collection, not the general mixed waste bin.
• Always clean up your own rubbish, and if necessary also the rubbish of others.
• A respectful smoker gathers their cigarette butts into a container and later empties the container into a rubbish bin.

Source: Nationalparks.fi-website, maintained by the Metsähallitus.