Finland maintains over forty national parks administered by Metsähallitus, the state enterprise responsible for managing public natural areas. The parks collectively cover millions of hectares and are distributed across the country's highly varied terrain, offering access to Arctic tundra, old-growth boreal forest, wetlands, and coastal archipelagos.
Urho Kekkonen National Park
Located in Lapland near the town of Saariselkä, Urho Kekkonen is among Finland's largest national parks. The park encompasses open fells, river valleys, and dense pine forests, and serves as habitat for reindeer, wolverines, and brown bears. A network of marked trails and wilderness huts makes it accessible during both summer and winter months, when cross-country skiing becomes the primary mode of travel.
Nuuksio National Park
Situated northwest of Helsinki, Nuuksio offers forested terrain and dozens of lakes within easy reach of the capital. The park is frequently used by day visitors and is recognized as a habitat for the Siberian flying squirrel, a protected species in Finland. Its accessibility by public transport makes it one of the most visited parks in the country.
Koli National Park
Koli, in the North Karelia region, is known for its ridge landscapes overlooking Lake Pielinen. The area holds cultural significance in Finnish history and is associated with the National Romantic artistic movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Hiking routes traverse the hills throughout the year, and the park remains open in winter for snowshoeing and skiing.
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
Stretching across the fells of northern Lapland, Pallas-Yllästunturi is one of Finland's most visited parks. It connects the Ylläs and Pallas fell areas through a long-distance trail and offers some of the most extensive fell hiking terrain in the country. The Northern Lights are frequently visible from the park during the polar night season.
Open Questions
As visitor numbers to Finnish national parks grow, land managers face ongoing questions about balancing conservation priorities with increased infrastructure demands, particularly in Lapland's more fragile Arctic ecosystems.
Sources: Metsähallitus (metsa.fi), Visit Finland (visitfinland.com), Finnish Ministry of the Environment
This article was compiled with the support of advanced research technology, based on multiple verified sources, and reviewed by our editorial team.
