A Walk in Nuuksio National Park in Finland

Nuuksio National Park is one of the closest national parks to Helsinki and is fully reachable by public transport. I signed up for a guided hike and we met at Helsinki Central Station for an early morning train.

We transferred into a bus which took us right into the park. The bus stop we got off put us thirty seconds from the start of our trail.

Nuuksio National Park

Nuuksio National Park

Nuuksio Park map

In the summer, you can take the train from Helsinki Central Station to Espoo and catch the 245 bus which has many stops in Nuuksio. More info on getting there: https://www.nationalparks.fi/en-US/nuuksionp/directions

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Helsinki Area Public Transport App

The guide for this walk was a local biologist. Throughout the walk he was able to point out interesting things both large and small around us.

We passed a camping area that had stacks of firewood already cut for future visitors. Our guide discussed the culture of camping in Finland and that it was popular with many.

When we took a break midway through the walk, we settled at a little rest site within the park with rocks overlooking a small lake, picnic tables, a covered area, and a path to the water. Schoolchildren were also using the space and seemed that they may be celebrating the end of the school year.

Finland is called the land of one thousand lakes and there are over 80 little lakes and ponds just inside Nuuksio National Park. If I were to revisit Finland, I would be sure to find time to stay overnight lakeside in one of their national parks.

The walk was fairly easy and followed a path through forest, and hilly landscapes. There were plenty of lake viewing opportunities. The path was well laid out and seemed like a good trek for someone to follow on their own if they weren’t interested in joined a group.

I learned about multiple new berries I had never heard of, including cloudberries. It inspired be to buy some jars of different kinds of locals jellies as souvenirs later in my stay in Helsinki.

Overall, I’m glad I got to experience one of Finland’s national parks while I was there but it only makes me want to go back and try another one.