Patvinsuo National Park
A peaceful hiking destination and a wilderness area. Patvinsuo National Park is an internationally important mire conservation and research area, with old-growth forests and lakes with sandy shores. The area is best suited for one to two-day hikes or day trips. The emblem animal of Patvinsuo National Park, the Bear, tends to avoid people and is rarely seen, whereas beavers and their dams can be seen along almost all the park’s streams. Swans, cranes, geese, black grouse and other fowl, and birds of prey live in the park. Patvinsuo National Park has around 80 kilometres of marked, easy trails. More ambitious hikers can extend their hike on the Karelian Circuit trails. Patvinsuo a perfect place to observe the Finnish natural wilderness. Bird-watching towers and platforms can be found at Teretinniemi and Surkansuo.
The main information point is Suomu Nature Information Hut, which is open from May to September. See opening hours: www.nationalparks.fi. Suomuntie 54, 81650 Hattuvaara, tel. +358 20 639 5654.