Open vs bookable huts · Hetta Huskies

Finland's wilderness hut network is probably one of the best in the world. State-supported and kept immaculate through regular maintenance and considerate hikers, it regularly astounds British clients with the pride and care the Finns take in this great resource - inspiring visitors to treat the huts with the same respect.

Reservable huts - bunks, cookware, stove, mattresses, blankets, firewood; book ahead for a key
Rental huts/cabins - locked and reserved as a whole; rental cabins suit week-long group stays
Open wilderness huts - free, unlocked, one or two nights, fewer facilities; last to arrive has overnight priority
Day trip huts - daytime resting only (usually no sleeping bunks)
Turf huts & Lapp pole tents - very basic; partly-underground turf roofs / benches around a fireplace
Paid tours/groups must use reservable or rentable huts, not open huts, for overnight stays (permission from Metsähallitus)

General Notes

The most common and well-known type of free, open huts are open wilderness huts which are meant for one-night stays, usually located in the northern and eastern parts of Finland in roadless backwoods. Other open huts include day trip huts, open turf huts and Lapp pole tents, which are intended as places to stop and rest in daytime rather than overnight locations.

Nature tourism enterprises may use wilderness huts and service structures as resting places when arranging group tours, but this requires permission from Metsähallitus. Staying overnight in open wilderness huts is forbidden if on a paid tour or hike - in these cases, groups should stay in reservable or rentable wilderness huts, hotels or lodges.

Reservable Wilderness Huts

Reservable huts are meant for hikers, skiers and paddlers. They may be detached or semi-attached cabins, sometimes with the open hut next door. All require a fee paid in advance in exchange for a key, so you are sure of your bed and can carry less - they come with bunks, a table, benches, cookware, a stove and sometimes a gas cooker, usually with mattresses, blankets, pillows, firewood, an axe and a saw. You generally need only carry a sleeping bag liner and your food. We encourage our guides to use these on personal journeys, since the cost is marginal and the fee helps sustain this amazing service.

Smoking and pets are not allowed in most of these huts. Before leaving, sign the guestbook, leave chopped firewood for the next visitors, tidy up, empty the water container, take out the ashes and close all doors and windows properly.

Rental Huts and Rental Cabins

Rental huts are meant for hikers, skiers, canoeists or row boaters to use in nature reserves or wilderness areas. They are locked and a fee is charged for staying overnight; the entire hut may be used by the individual or party who reserved it. Locked rental cabins are suitable for hikers who like to stay with their own group, maybe for a week or so, and come in many sizes and standards. More information can be found on the Wild North website (wildnorth.net).

Open Huts, Day Trip Huts, Turf Huts and Lapp Pole Tents

Open wilderness huts are simple unlocked buildings suitable to stop and rest, or stay in for one or two nights without reservation - generally with fewer facilities than reservable huts. The last to arrive at a hut has the primary right to stay there overnight. Day trip huts are near tourist centres or on well-worn trails and are only meant as resting places, not overnight stays. Turf huts are small partly-underground buildings with a turf roof and very basic facilities. Lapp pole tents are stopping places for passing hikers, usually with only benches around a central fireplace but with firewood, an axe and a saw available.