In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Nuuksio National Park (Nuuksion kansallispuisto) covers 53 square kilometres of forest about 35 kilometres northwest of Helsinki, in Espoo. It has granite ravines, forest lakes and pine woods, and is home to the Siberian flying squirrel. Take an HSL commuter train to Espoo Centre, then bus 245 (one Zone ABC ticket). Get off at the Haltia stop for the timber-built Finnish Nature Centre Haltia, or continue to Haukkalammentie for the marked circular trails (2.4 km to 7.2 km) and campfire sites for grilling sausages. Or book a tour: a 6-hour guided hike with a campfire lunchad from €125 covers 7.5 km of Nuuksio’s lakes and viewpoints.
⚠️ Allow 2 kilometres on foot from the bus to Haukkalampi. Bus 245 stops at the Haukkalammentie junction, and a paved and gravel road through the woods leads two kilometres to the Haukkalampi visitor hut and trailheads. Check the return bus timetable in the HSL app before you set off.
Getting to Nuuksio by public transport
The journey without a car has two stages on HSL tickets, then a walk:
| Stage | Mode | Line | Departure | Destination | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Commuter Train | Lines U, E, or X | Helsinki Central Station | Espoo Centre (Espoon keskus) | 25 minutes |
| Stage 2 | HSL Bus | Line 245 or 245A | Espoo Station (Platform 32) | Haukkalammentie or Haltia | 25 minutes |
| Stage 3 | Walk | Footpath / road | Haukkalammentie bus stop | Haukkalampi trailhead | 20 minutes (2 km) |
Ticket requirements
- Tariff Zone: Central Helsinki is Zone A; Espoo station is Zone B; Nuuksio National Park and Haltia are in Zone C.
- Fare: Buy a Zone ABC single ticket in the HSL app before boarding at Central Station. It is valid for 110 minutes, enough for the train and the connecting bus.
- Return: Buy another Zone ABC ticket in the app when you board the bus back to Espoo.
- Day passes: A 24-hour or 72-hour Zone ABC day pass covers the whole round trip.
Guided hikes in Nuuksio
Hike with a campfire lunch
From €125 · 4.9 stars from 265 reviews · 6 hours
Helsinki: Nuuksio National Park hike with campfire lunchad is a 7.5-km hike through forest with lakes, viewpoints and campfire snacks.
Afternoon walk with a campfire sausage
From €99 · 4.9 stars from 21 reviews · 4 hours · small group
From Helsinki: Enchanting Afternoon in Nuuksio National Parkad is a walk with a certified guide, with a sausage to grill over the campfire and stories about local nature and culture.
Winter snowshoe hike
From €145 · no reviews yet · 5½ hours · hotel pick-up
Nuuksio National Park Snowshoe Hike with Lunch & Pick-upad is a guided winter snowshoe hike with hotel pick-up from Helsinki and an open-fire lunch.
Finnish Nature Centre Haltia
Located at Nuuksiontie 84 along the eastern shore of Lake Nuuksion Pitkäjärvi, Haltia (Suomen luontokeskus Haltia) is Finland’s national gateway to all 41 of the country’s national parks.
Finnish Nature Centre Haltia. Photo: Htm, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
- The building: Rainer Mahlamäki designed it and it opened in 2013, built entirely of solid cross-laminated timber (CLT). Its curved form is said to echo the duck that laid the world-egg in the Kalevala.
- Exhibitions: Interactive exhibits cover Finland’s wilderness, from the southern archipelago to the fells of Lapland. The exhibition ticket is €7 for adults (haltia.com, valid 19 October 2026 to 27 January 2027).
- Gear rental: Trekking poles, snowshoes in winter, fatbikes and child-carrier backpacks.
- Easy walks from Haltia:
- Maahisenkierros (2 km): A step-free boardwalk to a viewing platform above Lake Nuuksion Pitkäjärvi, suitable for prams and wheelchairs.
- Päivättärenpolku (1.4 km): A gentle forest loop past native trees and mosses.
- Trail to Haukkalampi (4.6 km): A marked trail linking Haltia to the Haukkalampi trail network.
The Haukkalampi hiking trails
Haukkalampi (“Hawk Pond”), at Haukkalammentie 32, is the main trail hub, with the park information lodge, trail maps, dry toilets and drinking water taps.
Duckboards on the Haukankierros trail. Photo: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
1. Punarinnankierros (Red Robin Trail)
- Distance: 2.4 km circular loop | Marking: Red diamond blazes | Difficulty: Easy
- Terrain: Gentle forest footpaths and flat boardwalks traversing peat bogs.
- Highlights: Follows the shores of Haukkalampi and Mustalampi through pine forest. It suits families and beginners and takes about an hour.
2. Haukankierros (Hawk Trail)
- Distance: 4.0 km circular loop | Marking: Blue diamond blazes | Difficulty: Moderate
- Terrain: Rocky climbs, uneven granite surfaces, and steep wooden staircases navigating valley gorges.
- Highlights: Climbs to granite cliffs above the gorge of the Myllypuro brook and the dark water of Lake Mustalampi. Wear sturdy footwear. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours.
3. Korpinkierros (Raven Trail)
- Distance: 7.2 km circular loop | Marking: Yellow diamond blazes | Difficulty: Challenging
- Terrain: Undulating backcountry wilderness paths, exposed tree roots, and rocky ridges.
- Highlights: Nuuksio’s half-day trek, through the western part of the park past forest lakes including Kolmperä and Holma-Saarijärvi. Allow 3 to 4 hours.
Campfire culture and Everyman’s Right (Jokaisenoikeus)
Everyman’s Right (Jokaisenoikeus) gives everyone free access to forests and waterways regardless of who owns the land.
Forest lake, Nuuksio. Photo: Karel Frydrýšek, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Campfire regulations
Roasting sausages (makkara) and brewing coffee over birch embers is part of a day in Nuuksio:
- Designated fire pits only: Light fires only at the maintained campfire sites (nuotiopaikka) with stone hearths and metal grates, such as those at Mustalampi and Haukkalampi.
- Free firewood: Metsähallitus keeps log sheds beside the main fire pits with birch logs, an axe and a chopping block. Use the wood sparingly.
- Forest fire warnings (metsäpalovaroitus): In dry spells the Finnish Meteorological Institute issues alerts. While one is in effect, all open fires are illegal, even in the stone hearths; enclosed gas stoves are still allowed.
- Take your rubbish home (roskaton retkeily): There are no bins on the trails; carry out all waste and packaging.
Berries and mushrooms
Everyman’s Right lets you pick wild berries and mushrooms:
- Bilberries (mustikka): Ripe from mid-July through August.
- Lingonberries (puolukka): Abundant on sunny pine ridges in September.
- Chanterelles and boletes: Plentiful in late summer and autumn after warm rain. Pick only what you can identify with certainty.
Practical packing and preparation tips
- Footwear: Granite and spruce roots are slick when damp. Wear trail shoes or boots with deep treads.
- Water: There is a tap outside the Haukkalampi rental building. Boil or filter lake and brook water, and carry at least a litre per person.
- Insect repellent: Mosquitoes (hyttyset) are common in sheltered bog hollows in June and July. Bring spray and long trousers.
- Offline map: Mobile coverage is reliable across most of the park, but download an offline map in Google Maps in case it drops.
What to explore next
- Other day trips: Day trips from Helsinki, Porvoo and Tallinn.
- After the hike: a wood-fired sauna, in the Helsinki public saunas guide.
- Fitting it in: the 3 days in Helsinki itinerary.
Common questions
How do you get to Nuuksio National Park from central Helsinki?
Take an HSL commuter train (lines U, E or X) from Helsinki Central Station to Espoo Centre (Espoon keskus, 25 minutes). From platform 32 outside Espoo station, take bus 245 or 245A towards Nuuksionpää and Kattila. Get off at Haukkalammentie for the Haukkalampi trailheads (then a 2 km walk) or at Haltia for the nature centre.
Which HSL public transport ticket do you need for Nuuksio?
A Zone ABC single ticket, valid for 110 minutes on commuter trains and buses. Nuuksio and Haltia are in Zone C, and the park's far western edge is in Zone D, which needs an ABCD ticket.
Are campfires permitted in Nuuksio National Park?
Only at the designated campfire sites (nuotiopaikka) with stone hearths and metal grates. Fires on bare rock or outside marked hearths are illegal, and all open fires are banned when the Finnish Meteorological Institute issues a forest fire warning (metsäpalovaroitus).
How long are the main hiking loops in Nuuksio?
Three circular routes start at Haukkalampi: the easy Punarinnankierros (Red Robin Trail, 2.4 km), the moderate Haukankierros (Hawk Trail, 4 km, with granite cliff views) and the challenging Korpinkierros (Raven Trail, 7.2 km, past remote lakes).
Can you swim in the lakes inside Nuuksio National Park?
Yes. Everyman's Right (Jokaisenoikeus) allows swimming in the forest lakes for free. Mustalampi and Haukkalampi are popular spots; the water stays cold and deep.
