Ruoveden municipality considers taking over maintenance of Siikaneva hiking area

The future of the popular Siikaneva hiking trails in Pirkanmaa may depend on whether Ruoveden municipality can afford to maintain them, as Finland’s state-owned forest agency Metsähallitus seeks to transfer responsibility for the area, reports Yle.

Municipal officials began negotiations with Metsähallitus on Tuesday over a potential use agreement that would shift maintenance duties to the local government while keeping ownership with the state. Ruoveden’s municipal manager, Toni Leppänen, described the talks as preliminary, emphasizing that no final decision has been made.

“Now we can assess whether we have the resources for this,” Leppänen said, adding that while initial signals are positive, the financial burden remains uncertain.

Metsähallitus announced last week that it would close Siikaneva’s boardwalk trails due to safety concerns over deteriorating wooden walkways, citing budget constraints. The agency is currently in similar negotiations with seven other hiking destinations across Finland, though it has not disclosed their locations.

Siikaneva, Pirkanmaa’s largest contiguous peatland and a key conservation area, attracts an estimated 13,000 visitors annually. Its nearly four kilometers of boardwalks—critical for navigating the wet terrain—require replacement roughly every decade, according to Metsähallitus communications chief Tiina Hakkarainen.

Leppänen criticized the state’s approach, arguing that public funds built the infrastructure only for maintenance costs to later fall on municipalities or private operators. “First, the state pays for construction, and then when the money runs out, they say, ‘You can maintain it if you want,’” he said.

Other municipalities have already taken on similar responsibilities. The town of Lieksa recently agreed to maintain Änäkäinen, a hiking area in North Karelia, including its lean-to shelters, campfire sites, and parking facilities.