Leivonmäki National Park
Park Finnish national park with forests, marshes, and trails
Central Finland’s Leivonmäki National Park contains lakes, forested eskers and marked trails; people visit for day hikes, canoeing, summer berry-picking and simple park cabins.
Leivonmäki National Park is a protected area in Central Finland established to conserve typical boreal forest, bog and small-lake landscapes. The park is popular for hiking and nature observation.
Trails of varying length pass through mixed pine forest, eskers and small lakes and provide opportunities for birdwatching and short multi-day hikes. The park contains marked routes and simple visitor shelters typical of Finnish national parks.
The area was designated as a national park in the early 21st century to protect representative forest and mire habitats and to provide outdoor recreation close to regional population centres.
Situated in Central Finland, the park lies within a rural landscape of lakes and forests and is reached from local towns and regional roads in the surrounding municipalities.
- Landscape and protection: The park covers a compact area of largely forested ridges, small lakes and peatlands established to protect typical Central Finnish boreal landscapes and biodiversity.
- Visitor facilities: Marked trails and basic visitor facilities including lean-tos make the park suitable for day hikes and seasonal birdwatching trips.
Tips for Visiting Leivonmäki National Park #
- Plan visits between late May and early September when trails are most likely to be dry and day-length is long; outside this window some forest roads and trails can be muddy or snowbound.
- Use the official nationalparks.fi (Metsähallitus) page for Leivonmäki to check trail maps, marker information and any temporary closures before you go - the site lists main car parks and marked routes.
- Focus on the park's marked circular nature trails and lakeshores rather than trying to bushwhack; the established routes pass the most interesting habitats and viewpoints and reduce impact on sensitive mires.
- If you want solitude, visit on weekday mornings rather than weekend afternoons when local families use the park's main picnic and swimming spots.
Best Time to Visit Leivonmäki National Park #
Summer is the most convenient time for visiting for hiking and daylight; choose autumn for quieter trails and good colours.
Weather & Climate near Leivonmäki National Park #
Leivonmäki National Park's climate is classified as Subarctic - Subarctic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -12°C to 21°C. Moderate rainfall (625 mm/year).
January
January is freezing with highs of -5°C and lows of -11°C. Moderate rainfall (42 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is the coldest month with highs of -5°C and lows of -12°C. Moderate rainfall (30 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is freezing with highs of 0°C and lows of -8°C. Moderate rainfall (36 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (35 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cold with highs of 15°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (35 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (79 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. The wettest month with 85 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is freezing with highs of 0°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is freezing with highs of -3°C and lows of -9°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
