Syöte Visitor Centre

Syöte Visitor Centre is your gateway to Syöte National Park!

Opening Hours in 2010

18.6.-24.10. Mon-Sun 10am-5pm
25.10.-31.12. Tue-Sun 10am-4pm

At other times by appointment.

Closed: 1.1., 24.12., 25.12.

Entrance

There is no entrance fee. Groups should make reservations in advance. We charge for group theme tours.

Contact Information

Address: Syöte Visitor Centre, Erätie 1, 93280 Syöte, Finland
Tel. int. +358 205 64 6550
Fax: +358 205 64 6551
E-mail: syote(at)metsa.fi

The Visitor Centre is managed by Metsähallitus.

Directions

Please note! Due to road constructions there are changes in traffic arrangemants.
At the moment there are two alternative routes to Syöte Visitor Centre: from Syötekyläntie turn to Isosyötteentie, from there right to Romekievarintie, right to Syötetie and left to Pärjänkievarintie OR from Syötekyläntie turn to Pärjänjoentie (a gravel road) and from there to Pärjänkievarintie. By the Pärjänkievarintie there is a sign to Visitor Centre.

By Car

• When coming from Oulu: When having passed Pudasjärvi keep on driving straight about 30 km until coming to a crossing with the sign to the National Park. Follow the sign to the left (road nr. 858) and continue for about 25 km to Iso Syöte. Then, you will see another sign (luontokeskus, nature centre) to the left. From here it´s only a couple of kilometers to the Syöte Visitor Centre.
• When coming from Kuusamo: When arriving at Taivalkoski turn right to direction Posio, road 863, and continue for 19 km. Follow the sign and turn left again onto the road 862. From there it is 18 km to Iso-Syöte. Then, follow the sign "luontokeskus / nature centre".

By Public Transportation

The closest railway station is in Oulu (150 km). Train timetables (www.vr.fi).
• The closest
airports (www.finnair.com) are in Kuusamo (102 km) and Oulu (165 km).
• There is a bus connection both from Kuusamo and from Oulu to Pudasjärvi. At Pudasjärvi you have the connection to Syöte
• A coach from Pudajärvi to Syöte on schooldays. It stops at the Visitor Centre if requested.
Coach timetables (www.matkahuolto.fi).
• During the ski-season there is a special coach (www.skibus.fi) operating between Oulu and Syöte.

Services

• Information on Metsähallitus products and services.
• Information on
the Syöte National Park, on the beautiful nature and hiking possibilities in the Syöte Hiking Area.
• Reservations and keys the wilderness cabins Ahmatupa and Isoniemi.
Wild North (www.wildnorth.net) snowmobile and fishing permits.
• We sell maps, publications, sleeve badges, canoeing route guides, playing cards with nature themes, pins, t-shirts and sweatshirts.
New! Child carrier back pack for rent, fee 1 € / h.
• With tour operators in the Syöte area Metsähallitus has made a special co-operation agreement following the rules of sustainable nature tourism.

Events

We arrange a variety of exhibitions and other events.

Permanent Exhibition

Our Tales from the Backwoods exhibition tells about Syöte National Park’s nature and history.

Auditorium and AV Presentations

• The auditorium seats 60 people.
• Presentations in English:
  A change for the better (15 min)
  Back to Nature - Restoration of forests and mires (15 min)
  Forest (19 min, also available in German))
  Large carnivores in the border region (18 min, also available in Russian)
  Life in a Forest Cabin - an introductory to the National Park and its history (8 min, also available in German)
  Life in Old Growth Forest (11 min, also available in Russian)
  Mire Forest Wilderness - Europe's largest remaining aapa mire wilderness areas below the Artic Circle (20 min)
  Preserving heritage landscape (15 min)
  Syöte National Park - Forest Wilderness (11 min)
  The Grey Seal (15 min)
  • The Incredible Baltic Sea (9 min)

Presentations are free of charge.

Syöte Visitor Centre Cafe-Restaurant

• Same opening hours as the Visitor Centre. Other times by special arrangement.
• 45 seats indoors and about the same outdoors on the terrace.
• A lunch buffet Mon - Sun from 11 am to 3 pm. Beside lunch times meals from the menu.
• Catering to Visitor Centre, cottages and outdoors on request.
• More information about Syöte Visitor Centre Cafe-Restaurant: Piian Särvin, tel. +358 400 597 949.

The Nature Trails

Ansapolku Trail (”The Trappers' Trail”) 3.7 km, is a nature trail, which begins at the Visitor Centre. It has displays on the area’s game animals and old trapping devices. Replicas of old traps and animals carved out of wood can be seen along the trail. Duckboards have been laid out along the entire trail. Annintupa Wilderness Hut at the River Pärjänjoki is a good resting spot. A campfire site and dry toilet can be found there. There are tables with explanations about animals, nature and the traps along the trail. They are only in Finnish, but you can get a map with English texts at the Nature Centre.

Salojen Siivekkäät ("Wingbeats in the Wilderness), 0,5 km, is a circular trail. It starts at the Visitor Centre and leads through the old growth forest of the area. The nature trail reveals the lives of non-migratory birds, and their relationship to their environment and its other inhabitants. The trail is open all year round. During summertime it is possible to follow it with a pram or wheelchair (with an assistant) can be used. Along the trail, there is a lean-to shelter with a campfire site. There are tables with explanations (also in English) along the trail.

Services for the Disabled

• The Visitor Centre is accessible by wheelchair. The building has a toilet for the disabled.
Salojen Siivekkäät ("Wingbeats in the Wilderness") is accessible by weelchair.
Kellarilampi Nature Trail (900m) is accessible by wheelchair. By the trail there is a lean-to shelter and a dry toilet for the disabled.
• The beginning of the Huipun polku (Fell Top) Trail is accessible by wheelchair.

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