Nuuksio in winter: this is how it works

Is Nuuksio open in winter?

Yes. The national park is open and free of charge year-round, but the trails are not maintained in winter.

Finnish national parks do not have an entry fee, and Nuuksio is no exception, even in winter. The trails, lean-to shelters and campfire sites are available for use, and you can make a fire at designated campfire sites in winter as well. According to Luontoon.fi, however, the trails are not maintained in winter: snow is not ploughed, and the paths are not gritted. In practice, the snow gets packed down to a walkable condition on the busiest routes, i.e. around Haukkalampi and on the connecting trail between Haltia and Haukkalampi. On more remote trails, the snow may remain untouched.

This means that the same Haukankierros trail, which in summer is a normal walk, can be significantly more demanding in winter due to icy rocks and deep snow. If you want to experience the routes before winter, the route guide introduces them by length and difficulty. For a winter hike, it is best to choose a shorter route than you would in summer.

How do you get to Nuuksio from Helsinki in winter?

By train to Espoo centre and by bus 245 to Nuuksionpää; the bus to Kattila only runs in the summer season. Transport is included in the tours.

By public transport, the route is the same as usual: take a commuter train E, L, U or Y to Espoo centre and then bus 245, which stops at Haltia and continues to Nuuksionpää. In the summer season, the bus’s terminus has been Kattila, but in winter the bus turns around at Nuuksionpää. The nearest stop for Haukkalampi is at the Haukkalammentie junction, from which it’s about a 2 km walk to the destination, along the road in winter. Check the timetables in HSL’s Reittiopas before you leave, as winter services may be less frequent than in summer.

By car, it is about 33 kilometres from Helsinki to Haltia. On winter weekends, car parks are usually less crowded than from May to October, but roadside parking is prohibited and monitored. If you do not want to worry about schedules in snowfall, guided hikes offer pickup from Helsinki: the snowshoe hike picks up from hotels in the capital region, and the mushroom cooking hike departs from Museokatu 8 or picks up from your hotel. All routes to the destination are collected in the guide Nuuksio from Helsinki.

Do you need snowshoes in Nuuksio?

On packed main trails, crampons and good winter boots are sufficient; in untouched snow, snowshoes make walking more comfortable.

The answer depends on where you’re going and what the winter conditions are like. On the trails near Haukkalampi, which see a lot of traffic, the snow usually gets packed down enough that you can get by with regular winter boots and crampons. In any case, crampons are useful in winter because Nuuksio’s trails run over a lot of rocky terrain, and the packed snow can become polished and icy.

• Snowshoes are worth it when there’s a lot of snow and you plan to go off the main trails. They let you walk through spruce forests and across bogs without sinking into the snow.
• Crampons or traction cleats are enough for packed trails and low-snow winters. According to the listing, the snowshoe hike will use crampons if there’s not enough snow for snowshoes.
• Ankle-covering shoes are required for the snowshoe hike according to the listing, and they’re not a bad idea for other winter hikes either.

Haltia Nature Centre offers equipment rental; the listing does not specify what equipment is available in winter, so confirm with Haltia before you rely on it.

How short is a day in Nuuksio in winter?

In mid-winter, daylight is short, so start your trip in the morning and plan it so that you are back before dusk.

In southern Finland, winter days are short, and dusk comes earlier in the forest than in open areas. We do not give exact sunrise and sunset times here, as they change from week to week; check the day length for your departure date. The practical rule is simple: leave in the morning, choose a route you know you can walk in daylight, and bring a headlamp, even if you do not expect to need it.

Guided hikes are scheduled with this in mind. According to the listing, the snowshoe hike lasts 5.5 hours, including transport time, and the mushroom soup hike lasts 4.5 hours, with 3 hours and 20 minutes spent on the trail. Both fit into a bright winter day if you set off in the morning. If you’re comparing all Nuuksio hikes, this has been done in the guide best Nuuksio hike.

What does a snowshoe hike in Nuuksio include?

According to the listing, a 5.5-hour private trip including snowshoes, poles and spikes, a campfire lunch, warm berry juice and hotel pickup.

Guide North Oy’s snowshoe hike with lunch and hotel pickup is the winter version of their summer private hike. According to the listing, the hike lasts 5.5 hours and is done as a private group. Included are snowshoes, poles and crampons, warm clothing if needed, a campfire-cooked lunch (sausages, soup, pulla and warm berry juice) and travel insurance. You’ll need your own footwear: the listing requires ankle-covering shoes.

There are two practical points worth knowing in advance. If there is not enough snow for snowshoes, the trip will be done with spikes according to the listing. If conditions prevent the trip entirely, the listing promises a full refund. According to the listing, the trip is not suitable for under 6s or over 75s, and you should read the listed health restrictions in the listing. As with other GetYourGuide trips, cancellation is free 24 hours before departure.

Nuuksio in winter for your own group: snowshoes, poles and spikes ready, soup by the campfire and warm berry juice, and a car picks you up from the hotel.

Snowshoe hike in Nuuksio with lunch and hotel pickup · 5.5 hours · free cancellation

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Is a mushroom soup hike suitable for winter?

Yes. According to the listing, glögi is offered instead of blackcurrant juice in winter, and on snowy conditions you will walk with snowshoes.

Backpacker Helsinki Tour’s hiking trip with mushroom soup runs year-round, and in winter, according to the listing, it changes in two ways: the hot drink is glögi instead of summer’s blackcurrant juice, and in snowy conditions, the hike uses snowshoes. The homemade mushroom soup, gingerbread biscuits and salmiakki remain the same. The hike lasts 4.5 hours, with about 35 minutes each way by car and 3 hours and 20 minutes spent on the trail. The group has a maximum of 8 people, and guiding is available in English, Finnish, French and Spanish.

Departure is from Museokatu 8 or hotel pickup. The listing asks for comfortable shoes; in winter this means warm, waterproof winter shoes. This is a good choice if you want a winter Nuuksio without your own car and like the idea of hot soup at a lean-to shelter in the frost.

Can you make a fire in Nuuksio in winter?

Yes, at marked campfire sites and lean-to shelters. They are free to use, and firewood is usually available on site.

According to Luontoon.fi, Nuuksio’s open campfire sites and lean-to shelters are free and available year-round. In winter, fires are allowed at marked spots, and that’s when a campfire is most valuable: it warms you up, dries your gloves and makes eating snacks more enjoyable. Still, keep the fire within the designated area, use the local wood sparingly and make sure the fire is fully out before you leave.

On guided trips, the guide takes care of the fire. In addition to the snowshoe trek and the mushroom soup cooking trek, Taiga Times' light afternoon trek also runs in winter: according to the listing, it includes winter boots and winter gear during snowy months, and the core of the trek is sausage grilling by a campfire on the shore of a pond. The route is 3 kilometres of even terrain, which is well suited for winter. Tips tailored for families with children can be found in the guide Nuuksio with children.

How should you dress for Nuuksio in winter?

Layer up: a moisture-wicking base layer, a warm mid-layer, a wind- and waterproof outer layer, warm waterproof shoes and spare clothes.

The most common mistake on a winter hike is dressing too warmly for walking and too lightly for breaks. Layering solves this: a thin technical or woollen base layer, a fleece or woollen shirt as a mid-layer and a wind- and waterproof jacket on top. As the walk warms you up, remove layers; put them back on when sitting by the fire. Pack an extra warm layer, dry socks and spare gloves in your backpack.

• Feet: warm, waterproof winter boots that cover the ankle. The snowshoe trek requires this in its listing.
• Head and hands: a beanie and gloves, preferably two pairs, as one pair tends to get wet when handling snow.
• Drink and snack: a thermos with a hot drink, even if the trek includes refreshments, and a small snack.
• Light: a headlamp, as winter days end early.

Haltia Nature Centre (Nuuksiontie 84) is open during the winter season, i.e. 1.10. - 30.4., from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm. It’s a great place to warm up, use the toilet and check the map before or after hitting the trail.

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