What does Haltiala offer?
The Haltiala area has several outdoor trails, most of which serve as ski trails during the winter season. You can find more information about the ski trails on the Paloheinä outdoor activities page. The Haltiala forest area has two marked trails, the Korpipolku nature trail and the marked Siimespolku route. There are no lights, ski tracks or winter maintenance on the marked forest trails.
Korpipolku, nature trail (1.2 km)
Korpipolku runs through the heart of the Haltiala forest from the edge of the primeval forest area to Kuninkaantammentie. Information boards along the way describe the forest nature and its restoration. The Korpipolku trail is marked on the terrain by blue diamond-shaped symbols. Part of the route runs along duckboards.
Siimespolku, marked route (2.4 km)
Siimespolku is a marked ring trail in the Haltiala nature reserve. The ring trail is fairly easy. The one-way connecting route, marked with a dotted line on the map, runs partly on top of the rock and is more difficult.
Haltiala route (4.6 km)
You can follow the Haltiala route and the checkpoints along the route via phone positioning. The route is not marked on the terrain.
Trails in the Haltiala primeval forest
Moving in the Haltiala primeval forest is only allowed on the trails and duckboards. There are a few information boards in the primeval forest.
Trails in the Haltiala primeval forest
Kuninkaantammentie hiking trail (2.4 km)
The Kuninkaantammentie hiking trail connects the Niskala arboretum with the Pitkäkoski hiking lodge. The trail has no information boards.
Kuninkaantammentie hiking trail, location on map (Link leads to external service)
Paloheinä hiking lodge
There are changing rooms in the hiking lodge and lockers in the lobby.
Kahvila Palomaja(Link leads to external service)
Pitkäkoski hiking lodge
The café of the Pitkäkoski hiking lodge is run by an entrepreneur.
Pitkäkoski lodge and opening hours (Facebook)
Wanha Pehtoori
Haltiala farm is also home to restaurant Wanha Pehtoori.
Wanha Pehtoori, location on map
Wanha Pehtoori (wanhapehtoori.org)
Cooking shelters and fire places
There are no cooking shelters in Haltiala. There is a barbecue on Haltiala farm. The barbecue area is available between 7 am and 8 pm. The user must bring their own wood or charcoal. The barbecue cannot be reserved. Making a fire outside the designated places is forbidden.
Toilets
There are toilets in the Paloheinä hiking lodge and Wanha Pehtoori. There is a portable dry toilet near the Niskala arboretum and the Pitkäkoski hiking lodge.
Picking flowers and peas
Peas and flowers are sown in the fields near Haltiala farm, and visitors can pick them free of charge in July and August. The exact locations are marked on the farm’s information boards. The exact picking time varies depending on the ripening of the peas and the flowering of the flowers. The number of peas and flowers per visitor is limited to ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy them.
Fishing
The river Vantaanjoki, which flows in the Haltiala area, is a popular water for fishing. Moving along the riverside nature reserves (Pitkäkoski hillside herb-rich forests, Vantaanjoki riverbank and Ruutinkoski herb-rich forests) is only allowed along the designated routes. The fishing rights included in the fisheries management fee do not cover rapids and currents in waters with migratory fish stocks. Angling and ice fishing are always prohibited on rapids and currents.
Ruutinkoski: Fishing on the shore is allowed in the designated places. Pitkäkoski: Fishing is prohibited in the Pitkäkoski nature reserve that is owned by Helsinki.
Fishing areas and restrictions in Helsinki on the map(Link leads to external service)
Haltiala farm
Haltiala farm is home to cows, sheep, chickens and pigs. The cows are outside all year round. The farm organises various events throughout the year.
Niskala arboretum
Niskala arboretum is a historically and scientifically valuable attraction and educational site with exotic tree species. The arboretum has its own guided tour, a tree species library, a special tree path and picnic tables. Niskala arboretum was granted nature reserve status in 1983.
Niskala arboretum (vihreatsylit.fi) (Link leads to external service)
Restoration of the herb-rich forest
The restoration of the grove in the northern part of Haltiala forest started in 2006. During 2021–2022, 10 dams were built in the Haltiala protected forest to prevent the flow of water in the old drainage ditches. As the water level rises, the forest is slowly restored to its natural state as a damp and lush herb-rich forest. You can see the dams along the paths that start from the Paloheinä lodge.
Nature reserves
There are several nature reserves in Haltiala. In order to protect nature, the use of the areas has been restricted through statutory protection orders. Read more about the restrictions in the Rules and recommendations section.
Nature reserves, location on map (Link leads to external service)
Description of nature in Haltiala
Niskala arboretum (vihreatsylit.fi) (Link leads to external service)
Species observations in Haltiala
The iNaturalist application allows you to easily record your species observations on your phone. The artificial intelligence and other application users can help you to identify the species. The confirmed observations are recorded at the Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility (FinBIF), where they serve researchers, authorities and nature enthusiasts.
Species observations in Haltiala (iNaturalist.laji.fi) (Link leads to external service)
Species observations in Haltiala (laji.fi/en) (Link leads to external service)
Rules and regulations for nature reserves
There are several nature reserves in Haltiala. Nature reserves, location on map (Link leads to external service)
Please observe the following rules in the nature reserves of Haltiala
- Do not let dogs, cats or other pets roam free.
- No fire making, barbecuing or camping.
- Do not damage the plants, fungi or lichens.
- No motorised vehicles.
- Do not disturb wildlife or damage nests.
- Do not move outside the marked trails or cycle at all in the Haltiala primeval forest, Pitkäkoski hillside herb-rich forests, Vantaanjoki riverbank, Niskala arboretum or Ruutinkoski herb-rich forest.
- You can only cycle on the marked trails in Haltiala forest.
- You are allowed to pick mushrooms and berries in Haltiala forest.
See all protection regulations for nature reserves
- Conservation decision on Haltiala forest (pdf, inaccessible) (Link leads to external service)
- Conservation decision on Haltiala primeval forest (pdf, inaccessible) (Link leads to external service)
- Conservation decision on Pitkäkoski hillside herb-rich forests (pdf, inaccessible) (Link leads to external service)
- Conservation decision on Vantaanjoki riverbank (pdf, inaccessible) (Link leads to external service)
- Conservation decision on Niskala arboretum (pdf, inaccessible) (Link leads to external service)
- Conservation decision on Ruutinkoski herb-rich forest nature reserve (pdf, inaccessible) (Link leads to external service)
General rules
In all outdoor areas, observe Everyman’s Rights and rules and move responsibly in nature:
You can move on the wide hiking trails of the Haltiala area by bicycle and pram. Kuninkaantammentie is a wide and easy route from Pitkäkoski lodge to Haltiala farm. In winter, the hiking trails serve as ski trails that can be found on the Paloheinä webpage.
Siimespolku is an easy gravel route in the Haltiala protected forest. The cliff area on the route can be bypassed by joining the ring trail on the southern side of Haltiala forest.
Korpipolku trail, runs along the duckboards part of the way. The trails in the primeval forest of Haltiala are partly covered with duckboards. In the primeval forest, it is forbidden to move outside the marked trails.
Cycling is forbidden in the nature reserves along the river Vantaanjoki (Pitkäkoski hillside herb-rich forests, Vantaanjoki riverbank and Ruutinkoski herb-rich forest). The area has narrow paths and stairs.
Trail routes in the forest are not maintained in the winter, and there is no lighting.
Accessibility information for Haltiala’s nature services is still incomplete. Links to accessibility information will be available here when the analysis is completed.
Haltiala’s services on the map
Haltiala has a nature trail and a marked forest route, the Pitkäkoski and Paloheinä hiking lodges and Haltiala farm.
