Local community outraged as state forest agency abruptly closes popular hiking trails

The Finnish state forest agency Metsähallitus has suddenly closed the popular Siikaneva hiking trails in Ruovesi, western Finland, citing safety concerns over deteriorating wooden walkways, Yle reports. The decision, driven by budget cuts, has sparked anger among local officials and tourism operators who say they were not consulted.

Metsähallitus announced the closure in a letter to local nature tourism businesses, stating that the trails’ wooden duckboards had deteriorated to a dangerous condition over winter. The agency estimates repairs would cost €200,000—funds it lacks due to mandatory state productivity savings.

“It was a total shock,” said Petri Ristiniemi, a local nature tourism entrepreneur who frequently guides visitors to Siikaneva. “I’d like to say some harsh words, but the feeling is just terrible.” The trails, spanning about 10 km across bogs and forested islands, attract roughly 13,000 visitors annually.

Ruovesi municipality criticized Metsähallitus for failing to discuss the closure in advance, calling the news “staggering” in a public statement. The agency has proposed transferring maintenance responsibility to the municipality—a suggestion local officials deem unfair.

Metsähallitus communications chief Tiina Hakkarainen acknowledged the lack of prior consultation but defended the abrupt decision, stating that recent field inspections revealed the duckboards had become a genuine safety hazard. “As the trail maintainer, we’re liable if someone gets hurt,” she said.

The agency confirmed it will not repair or replace the structures, prioritizing other sites where upgrades are more feasible. Hakkarainen estimated full renewal of Siikaneva’s duckboards would cost €170,000–210,000—too high for a “relatively quiet” nature destination compared to busier national parks like Seitseminen or Helvetinjärvi.

Ristiniemi, whose company Haukkamaa Adventures had planned to host a group of tourists from Tokyo this summer, called the closure devastating. “They can put up signs, but you can’t ban people from the bog,” he said. “As a guide, though, I can’t risk taking clients there anymore.”

Metsähallitus said it will explore transferring maintenance duties to Ruovesi or other stakeholders under a new usage-rights agreement model, but no solutions have been reached.