The backwoods and other wilderness-like areas of Hiidenportti National Park were in the past distant hunting lands. The discoveries made in the Hiidenportti area - hunting pits, bits of household items and splinters of quartz - reveal that the Porttijoki River Valley has served as a passage and hunting area ever since prehistoric era.

With the spreading settlements, there was a spread of slash-and-burn farming, which provided new land for cultivation. The principle was, that the trees were felled and burned, and the seeds planted in soil fertilised with ash. The slash-and-burn farming wasted forests but also diversified our nature. The former slash-and-burn clearings can still be seen in Kovasinvaara’s birch forests.

From the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century tar burning was an important source of livelihood in the Kainuu region. In Hiidenportti tar was burnt for example at Palolampi, where several remnants of tar pits can still be seen.

Tar burning and slash-and-burn farming were no longer profitable in the beginning of the 20th century because timber was more valuable. To accommodate the loggers and the loggers’ bosses, two separate cabins were built along the Porttijoki River. These cabin no longer exist, but their remnants can be found in the terrain. The Porttijoki River was partly cleared in the beginning of the 20th century so that it could be used for log floating. For this reason, the river is not totally in its natural state. Dam structures are still standing on the shores of ponds at Kitulanlampi and downstream from Pitkä-Portti.

To feed their cattle, the residents of nearby houses still mowed hay from the National Parks mires in the 20th century. The hay was stacked and transported to farms when winter came. The pits left by these stacks can still be found at Mustalamminsuo Mire and Urposuonniitty Fen Meadow.

Far from any settlements, the Hiidenportti area has also offered hiding places. The remote backwoods have provided sheltered hides for example for a couple of war deserters who could not cope with the cruelties of war.

Restaurants and cafés