Experience the Enchantment of Eastern Nature

Comfortable Accommodation

Spectacular Scenery

Hiking Center in Petkeljärvi National Park

Warmly welcome to visit Finland's easternmost and smallest National Park

On the last weekend of August, we celebrate our National Park's birthdays. Read more here https://petkeljarvi.fi/palvelut/ajankohtaista

Petkeljärvi Hiking Center is the gem of Ilomantsi, where sturdy pines, steep ridges, and Karelian hospitality meet in Finland's oldest and smallest National Park. The company's mission is simple: to make sure that a traveler lost in the wilderness gets coffee, a tired hiker gets a soft bed, and those seeking the peace of nature hear just the right call of the loon.
What does Petkeljärvi Hiking Center include?
  • Sleep in nature's embrace: Campsite, hostel rooms, a family room, and the historic Park Ranger's Cabin. Furry friends are also welcome in some of the rooms.
  • Trail snacks and sauna: The summer restaurant and café keep hunger at bay, and at the end of the day, a Wood-heated lakeside sauna washes away the city dust from your shoulders.
  • Equipment for adventure: Rental kayaks, canoes, rowing boats, and fatbikes for those who think merely walking is too slow or too easy
  • From forest to workshop: When winter quiets the trails, the company transforms under the name Petkelpaatti and restores even church boats – in Karjala, hands are always kept in tar.
Petkeljärvi Hiking Center exists so that everyone can find their way into the forest, enjoy a good bun, and remember that many of the good things in life are almost free.
For the whole family

Spacious Family Room, Pets allowed.

1 day 100 - 150€ without linen, 1-8 persons

Park Ranger's Cabin

From 240€ / 2 days, 1 - 6 persons
For hikers For the whole family Environmentally friendly choice

Accommodation room, no pets

40 - 80€ without bed linen, 1-4 persons

Articles

28.04.2026

Möhkö Theatre presents

Memory of the Bog - A fictional short film is a glimpse into a teacher's daily life and the significance of the bog
18.04.2026

Ilomantsin Sääkset / Ospreys of Ilomantsi

The first osprey visited the Ilomantsi camera nest on Thursday, April 16. But whether it's Manu, the long-term...
08.04.2026

Hiking Center Opens May 8, 2026

Petkeljärvi National Park's Hiking Center Opens for the New Summer Season
29.03.2026

Petkeljärvi National Park 70 Years

National Parks from the Second Wave of Establishment Celebrate Their 70th Anniversary in 2026
29.03.2026

In the Wonderland of Ilomantsi - On the Cusp of Spring

Spring has arrived in Ilomantsi and nature is awakening! Come and see how the Koitajoki river winds and the...

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Customer Experiences

Clean and Excellent Service. Thank you

Hannu T.
07.09.2026

Great weekend at Petkeljärvellä with friends.

Tuomas M.
29.07.2026

A friendly reception and they were flexible with our later arrival. The sauna was available every evening, and the kitchen had everything needed. Dogs are warmly welcomed.

Kaisa L.
26.07.2026

The accommodation room offered excellent value for money; the room was larger and of better quality than in the pictures. The kitchen, equipped with a refrigerator where we could store snacks and also cook, provided us with added value. The barbecue area was really good, and we could enjoy dinner at the outdoor tables in a beautiful setting. The lakeside sauna was wonderful; we visited the sauna on both evenings of our stay. The Staff was really friendly and helpful. We sincerely hope that the hiking center's operations continue so that we can visit in the future as well!
In addition, wonderful hiking trails were accessible very close by. Highly recommended for Petkeljärvi National Park's hiking center!

Anu H.
09.07.2026

A nice, small, clean, beautiful, and peaceful destination. Really lovely.

Päivi T.
08.07.2026

The room was exactly as we had read. The surroundings were relaxing, and to our surprise, the water at the end of the boat dock was very shallow. It was easy to be and move around with a child.

Vera
14.06.2026

The accommodation met expectations. Well-thought-out systems, for example, there was a shoe tray outside the room for dirty hiking boots, and waste sorting was well-organized. Friendly staff!

Stina
05.06.2026

Friendly service. A nice small caravan area and a clean and functional service building. The lakeside sauna is absolutely excellent and reasonably priced for guests.

Hannu P.
02.06.2026

The accommodation was exactly as described and we had a great time. We were almost the only guests, so the common areas were not crowded.
The reception and service were very friendly and knowledgeable.
The local trails were beautiful and easy to walk.
We left feeling good and would definitely recommend it.
Daughter 30 years old and mother 67 years old.

Tytär 30 v. ja äiti 67 v.
29.05.2026

No complaints. Everything went well, the room and common areas were clean. Looking ahead to next summer, it would be worthwhile to check the mosquito nets in the rooms; ours had a few holes through which the nasty buzzers could get in.

Sini
20.05.2026

Friendly and flexible service.
Thank you!

Juhani
19.05.2026

A Campsite in a wonderful location. We were traveling by motorhome, so we don't have information on the quality of the accommodation. Great hiking trails for both short and long hikes can be found nearby.

Jarmo
28.09.2025

An excellent place to relax in nature. Great running trails from which you can choose a suitable one, and an absolutely wonderful lakeside sauna. The service, on the other hand, is top-notch! The staff are very cheerful and friendly. You feel welcome immediately. The food is the best. I recommend it!

Ali
08.09.2025

Just the right amount of everything in a great place. The rental lakeside sauna is incredibly good! It's large enough that the steam spreads evenly. Note: Cell phone connections may be spotty here, but I consider that a good thing too.
I'd rather come here than to, for example, Tenerife.

Loomis
04.08.2025

An unparalleled camp school destination. Memorable experiences, versatile activities, excellent facilities, and stunning national park landscapes.

Unna

Petkeljärvi National Park and hiking routes

Are you a peace-seeking hiker who comes to nature to find balance in your life? Do you hike the trails for the freedom each step of the journey brings? Or are you a long-distance trekker with pre-planned stages from lean-to to lean-to, wanting to test yourself?

Perhaps you are the one who brings your children to explore the secrets of the forest and wants to stay within a safe distance, so it would be easy to return for a snack and perhaps a nap with the youngest adventurers if needed.

What kind of adventurer are you?

Be freely yourself, Discover your inner adventurer, your wilderness survivor, or simply be who you already know you are.

Remember, however, to respect nature and other hikers. This way we preserve what we have now, also for the future.

Petkeljärvi National Park, signposts

Discover your inner adventurer

Photo Gallery