How to Hike Without Disturbing Nature

Before arriving at a national park, it’s worth getting enthusiastic about nature’s wellbeing, encourages wilderness guide Minna Jakosuo. National parks are protected areas, but Minna’s tips are good to keep in mind everywhere in nature, not just in national parks!

Stay on the trails. The more carefully you stick to the marked route, the less the surrounding nature is trampled. Try to avoid bypasses and shortcuts. The official trails in national parks are carefully designed so that using them does not endanger rare species.

Stop and think before taking a photo. Could taking the photo endanger or disturb the plant or animal you’re photographing? Would taking the picture involve trampling plants or approaching an animal? Refrain from taking a photo if doing so would cause harm to nature.

Restrained behavior benefits nature. Making a lot of noise can disturb nearby nesting animals such as birds.

Give trees their peace as well. Breaking branches or peeling bark damages the tree. It is not permitted in national parks, nor anywhere else without the landowner’s permission.

Go ahead and pick mushrooms and berries, but do not pick plants in protected areas. You may not pick any plants in a national park. So, do not pick flowers or collect wild herbs, for example. Plants must be allowed to go to seed.

Choose a moderate-length leash for your pet and always keep it on a leash. That way, you can easily monitor its activities so it won’t dig or tear up the environment or find an animal’s nest or offspring. For instance, a bird’s nest or a mother bird with chicks may be hiding on the ground, sometimes close to the trail. More on this below!

Play it safe. If there is an information board at the start of the route, read it before setting off. If something seems unclear when planning your trip, confirm it at a nature center. If you’re already out in the field and are unsure whether something is allowed, don’t do it.

Start thinking about nature’s wellbeing already when preparing for your outing. Renting equipment is a good choice. When you buy something, aim to purchase multipurpose, durable items that can be repaired if necessary. Take care of your gear so that you don’t need to buy new items so often. Avoid buying unnecessary stuff.

Keep Your Pet on a Leash – But Why?

It’s wonderful to head out into nature together with a beloved pet. For example, dogs—and even some cats—visibly enjoy their time outdoors! Because national parks are nature conservation areas, pets must always be kept on a leash within them. Marjo Kämäräinen from Metsähallitus, who hikes with her dog, explains why this is crucial regardless of the pet’s size or how gentle it may be.

Nature conceals more treasures than we often notice. For example, grouse, many waders, and ducks nest on the ground, as do mammals. There might be a brood of black grouse, a baby hare, or an incubating wood sandpiper unprotected on the ground.

– A wild animal cannot tell whether a pet is friendly or not; it always assumes the worst and flees. Even a dog passing by might cause a mother animal to abandon her nest or offspring, Kämäräinen says.

A dog’s behavior in nature can differ from how it behaves at home. A fleeing wild animal may spark the dog’s chase instinct, even if it doesn’t usually have a strong prey drive. This can also put the dog itself in danger in the wild.

– The trails in national parks are safe for both humans and pets. Off the trails, though, conditions can be different: there may be ravines, for example. A dog that takes off on a chase could end up kilometers away, Kämäräinen notes.

To ensure a smooth and pleasant trip together, it’s wise to keep your pet on a leash that allows you to control it and keep an eye on what it’s doing. In many types of terrain, a moderately short leash is easier to manage than a long rope or retractable leash, which makes the outing more relaxing for the owner as well. This way, both your pet and wild animals stay safe, and other hikers will be thankful.

– Some people are afraid of dogs, so encountering one on a hike can be very difficult for them. It shows respect for others to acknowledge this and bring your dog close when passing others.

If you want your dog to run freely in the woods, consider choosing the nearest dog forest – Finland already has many of these, and more are being established all the time!

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