National Parks in Satakunta

The Satakunta region contains two national parks: Selkämeren Kansallispuisto (Bothnian Sea National Park), a large marine park, and Puurijärven ja Isosuon kansallispuisto, known for its extensive wetlands and birdlife. Two other parks, Lauhanvuori and Kauhaneva-Pohjankangas, are located on the border of Satakunta and Southern Ostrobothnia.

The primary activities are hiking, cycling, and mountain biking. Selkämeren Kansallispuisto offers trails for all three sports, while Puurijärven ja Isosuon kansallispuisto primarily features routes for road and touring cycling. Birdwatching is also a major activity in both parks.

Selkämeren Kansallispuisto is one of Finland's largest marine protected areas, with over 90% of its area being water. It is known for its vast archipelago of forested islands and barren outer islets, shingle beaches, and unique coastal features shaped by post-glacial rebound. The park offers a network of over 100 routes for hiking, mountain biking, and cycling.

This park is characterized by its extensive peat bogs, wetlands, and the shallow Lake Puurijärvi. The terrain is predominantly flat, making it suitable for road and touring cycling. While hiking is possible on duckboards through the mires, the main aggregated routes on komoot are for cycling.

This collection includes over 130 routes across the national parks in Satakunta. The majority of these are in Selkämeren Kansallispuisto, which contains more than 100 routes for various activities. Puurijärven ja Isosuon kansallispuisto offers more than 20 cycling routes.

Yes, hiking trails are available, primarily in Selkämeren Kansallispuisto, which has over 30 designated hiking routes. These trails explore the park's islands and coastal landscapes. In Puurijärven ja Isosuon, hiking is focused on boardwalks that cross the fragile bog ecosystems.

Both road cycling and touring bicycle routes are available. Puurijärven ja Isosuon kansallispuisto is well-suited for cycling due to its flat terrain and network of roads around the wetlands. Selkämeren Kansallispuisto also offers dozens of routes for both road cycling and touring, often along the coastline.

Yes, mountain biking is a popular activity in Selkämeren Kansallispuisto. The park contains over 20 routes designated for mountain biking and gravel biking, traversing the varied coastal terrain.

The landscape is a diverse marine archipelago. It includes barren outer islets exposed to the sea, larger forested islands with coniferous forests, and extensive shingle beaches. The constant post-glacial land uplift means the landscape is continuously changing.

This park is dominated by one of Finland's most bird-rich lakes, Lake Puurijärvi, and the vast Isosuo mire, an open bog landscape. The terrain is flat and features extensive wetlands, reed beds, and the Kokemäenjoki river. Many paths through the wettest areas are constructed on duckboards.

The snow-free season, from late spring to autumn, is the primary time for hiking and cycling. The wetlands of Puurijärvi and Isosuo are particularly notable for birdwatching during the spring and autumn migrations. In winter, some areas may be suitable for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, depending on conditions.