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Desire for Adventure May Lead to Forbidden Paths 
- Metsähallitus Advises Snowmobile Riders to Stay on Designated Trails

Published 7 Feb 2012

In the winter, snowmobile tracks offer easy access to many places. At times, snowmobile riders are tempted to find new challenges and veer off the designated trails. However, Metsähallitus strongly advises snowmobile riders to stay on the maintained tracks. Venturing out into a protected area may cause great damage.

Snowmobile riders are increasingly keen to find new challenges for their hobby. A particular interest is riding in deep snow and on slopes. According to the Finnish off-road traffic act, however, diverting off of a designated track always requires permission from the landowner. An adventurous snowmobile rider may also disturb and cause damage to the environment in a protected area. Finding your own routes may therefore lead to a violation of the off-road traffic act and a nature violation.

Snow usually protects the flora from snowmobile damage. The golden eagle, however, nests during the snowmobiling season, and just one careless ride may sabotage this nesting. If you realise you have ventured close to an eagle’s nesting tree, you must leave the area without delay.

You can ride snowmobiles on general snowmobile routes and on the snowmobile tracks maintained by the municipalities and by Metsähallitus. You may also ride snowmobiles on the ice, but this winter the ice cover on the waters has been dangerously thin in several places. A permit with a fee is required to ride snowmobiles on the snowmobile tracks maintained by Metsähallitus. The permits may also be purchased by mobile phone.

Read more:
Snowmobiling -brochure, map (pdf, 2 Mb)
Snowmobiling -brochure, information (pdf, 330 kb)

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Source: http://www.metsa.fi