The clear-water lakes and pristine marshes of the Melkuttim invite you to take a breather in the midst of unique nature. Trails lead to landscapes where the traces of the Ice Age are still visible. The Tammela Highlands area is of national importance both for its biodiversity and its representative ridge and furrow nature.
Easy-to-navigate ridges and lakes with very clear water for southern Finland invite you to hike in a landscape shaped by the Ice Age. The Melkuttimie area is also an excellent day trip destination for the youngest members of the family. There are good swimming opportunities at almost every lake in the area. Near the shallow natural beach at the eastern end of Iso-Melkuttime you can enjoy campfires and lava life. However, there is no formal, supervised swimming beach in the Melkuttima area.
The entire Melkuttimie area is included in the Natura 2000 programme and in the coastal and ridge protection programmes. The beaches have been preserved from development, except for a few cottages, and the gravels of the ridges have not been touched at all. Forestry was still practised in the area in the late 1990s, but Metsähallitus has started restoration work to improve the natural state and increase forest biodiversity. Several endangered or rare plant and animal species have been found in the Salpausselkä ridge area. The undeveloped beaches, pristine gravel ridges and restoration work carried out by Metsähallitus support the biodiversity of the area and the conservation of endangered species.
For hikers, the Melkuttimi area provides a beautiful environment that is easy to walk around. The trails run through ridge forests, along the banks of ponds and through sheltered bogs. At the eastern and western end of the Big Melkuttime, the camps, fireplaces and dry toilets provide an excellent setting for overnight stays.
Weather and conditions
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Visitor's checklist
- Always keep pets on a leashDog waste should be cleaned away from the paths.
- Make campfires only in designated sitesDuring a wildfire warning, making fires is prohibited.
- The use of hobo stoves and disposable grills is prohibited
- Remember to bring a trash bagThere are no waste bins in the area. Bring a trash bag and take the trash with you.
- Moving and camping is allowed on everyone's rightCamping near the lean-to-shelters
- Drinking water is worth taking alongThere is no well in the area