Off-road traffic permits in state-owned areas
Off-road traffic always requires the landowner’s permission. On state-owned land, the permit is granted by Metsähallitus. Off-road traffic means operating motor-powered vehicles in terrain. Terrain refers to land areas that are not roads intended for motor vehicles or official snowmobile routes.
Off-road traffic permits during the snow-covered season
Permits for snowmobile use during the snow-covered season include trail permits, off-road traffic permits outside trails, and permits for tourism business activities.
Trail permits
A trail permit allows snowmobiling on snowmobile trails marked and opened by Metsähallitus across Finland. Trail permits can be purchased directly from the Eraluvat.fi service without processing an application. A trail permit for your home municipality is free of charge.
- Maps and information on trail openings can be found on the Snowmobile routes and tracks page (eraluvat.fi)
- Trail permits can be purchased in the Eraluvat.fi service
Off-road traffic permits outside trails
An off-road traffic permit for areas outside trails may be granted case by case on the basis of an application. The most common grounds include access or maintenance driving to a privately owned or rented property, fishing, fisheries management and service driving related to events. An off-road traffic permit for your home municipality is free of charge.
Safaris and sleigh transport
If you operate as a safari entrepreneur or arrange sleigh transport on state-owned land managed by Metsähallitus, you must agree in advance with Metsähallitus on the activity and the snowmobile trails used.
For safari activities, the company needs Metsähallitus’ consent to use the agreed trail and an off-road traffic permit for each safari. The permit is obtained by submitting a safari notification in the Eräluvat.fi service.
For sleigh transport, the company needs Metsähallitus’ consent to use the agreed trail and an off-road traffic permit for the snowmobile driver.
Off-road traffic permits during the snow-free season
Off-road traffic during the snow-free season is generally prohibited due to the wear and damage it causes to sensitive nature, as tracks may remain visible for years or even decades. A permit for off-road traffic in summer may be granted on the basis of an application for special reasons. Grounds may include hunting and game management, access to a property or a gold claim, and necessary driving by local practitioners of traditional livelihoods.
Off-road traffic in protected areas
Off-road traffic permits are generally not granted for protected areas. Exceptions include activities by authorities, reindeer husbandry in the north, and maintenance of roads, waterways and various lines and routes.
Maintenance driving and other essential traffic is aimed to be restricted to wintertime in order to avoid damage to terrain. ATV use related to reindeer husbandry is also allowed in summer. In hunting areas, for example, retrieving a felled game animal by snowmobile or ATV may be permitted. Maintenance transport related to tourism and traditional livelihoods may also be permitted to a limited extent.
Recreational snowmobiling is not allowed in protected areas. An exception is northernmost Lapland, where snowmobile trails may, due to the extensive size of wilderness areas, be routed through protected areas.