Enjoy Snowshoeing in Nuuksio National Park, Right Next to Helsinki

From the front yard of the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia, you can step straight into the wilds of Nuuksio. With the snow now plentiful and winter wonderfully beautiful, it’s the perfect time to slip on a pair of snowshoes. A three-kilometre snowshoeing trail has been marked in the nearby nature around Haltia. It largely follows its own paths, separate from other routes, and culminates at the Maahisenkierros viewpoint.

Haltia’s equipment rental shop offers snowshoes as well as, for example, child carrier backpacks, making it easy for the whole family to head out together. It is advisable to reserve equipment online in advance to ensure that everything your group needs is available when you arrive at Haltia.

The snowshoe trail begins directly in front of Haltia, on the opposite side of the road. The route is marked in the terrain with orange ribbons, and due to the hilly landscape, the circuit is moderately demanding. However, it is also suitable for beginners, and at a relaxed pace it can be completed in one to two hours. Naturally, this depends on how tempted you are to venture off into the untouched snow along the way! The loop is best walked in a counterclockwise direction.

Along the way, take time to savour the peaceful atmosphere of the old-growth forest in winter. The route passes through forest inhabited by the Siberian flying squirrel, winds between gnarled pines growing on rocky outcrops, offers a touch of the tranquillity of Lakeasuo bog, and follows trails made by deer. A wonderful resting place is the viewing platform, which opens views over Nuuksio’s Lake Pitkäjärvi and the surrounding forests. There is no public campfire site along the route itself, but you may light a fire before or after your excursion at the public lean-to shelter in Haltia’s event field.

If you are a beginner or perhaps trying snowshoeing for the very first time, or if your group includes younger or older participants, this is an excellent route choice. Should the loop begin to feel too long midway, you can shorten the return by following the public trails back to Haltia at several points. On the other hand, if three kilometres feels too short, a group with good map-reading skills and an understanding of their own limits can venture onto their own paths. Alternatively, you may ask Haltia’s customer service about longer snowshoeing route options available in Nuuksio.

Photos: Maarit Karppinen and Kikka Rahkonen

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