Hossa Visitor Centre, Suomussalmi Finland

Hossa Visitor Centre provides the latest tips and instructions on hiking in the Hossa National Park. You can learn the national park and its services independently or guided.

The history of Hossa area began thousands of years ago: the very first people arrived here 8000 years ago. These ancient people beliefs were reality of which spirits and natural forces were present everywhere.

The most valuable sight of the area – Värikallio Rock Paintings – is presented in the meeting room, Ståhlber’s hall.In the Ståhlberg’s hall you can see Movement across a border -animation (duration 7 minutes). There is also Hossa Time lapse (duration 5 minutes) presenting the best parts of Hossa nature.

There are two large touch screens in the entrance hall of Hossa Visitor Centre presenting the National Park and its services. In the dining hall there is a collective art piece “Puuhippa”.

Reference Library

The visitor centre's reference library boasts a wide variety of nature guide books. The library also has books on the history of Kainuu and on rock paintings.

Children's Play Corner and Activity Yard

Located indoors, in the children's play corner you can try noses and ears of animals.

There is a playground for children in the visitor centre's yard. It has a sandbox and toys, swings, an aerial cableway as well as a jungle gym and two slides.

Nature Trail

At a distance of about 150 metres from the visitor centre is a nature trail (3 km) that circles Huosilampi Pond and climbs along Huosiharju Esker. There are information boards, campfire sites and a large lean-to shelter along the trail. The lean-to shelter has an eating area, a cooking shelter, a toilet for the disabled, a firewood shed, a fireplace and a campfire site. Huosilampi Pond, along which the nature trail runs, is stocked with rainbow trout. You can purchase fishing permits at the visitor centre.

Campfire Sites

There is a fireplace at the visitor centre and on the back terrace. The closest campfire site / lean-to shelter is located along the nature trail, at a distance of about 500 m from the visitor centre. The national park has many campfire sites, lean-to shelters, cooking shelters and open wilderness huts. 

Opening times

All year round. In midwinter Visitor Centre is open only by agreement. See opening hours https://www.nationalparks.fi/en/hossavisitorcentre/visit 

Price:

There is no entrance fee to the visitor centre.

Guided group tours cost 50€/group/hour. The guided group tours must be booked in advance.

Services: café-restaurant, hiring of premises, information, fishing and hunting permits, meeting services, rental cabins, reception for the camping ground, boat and canoe rental, WLAN. Services provided by the cooperating partners are also available. 

For hire: boats, canoes, kayaks as well as hiking and fishing equipment.

For sale: fishing, maps of the area, a canoeing guide, Hossa National Park products, books, postcards and souvenirs.

The café-restaurant has a lunch buffet every day in summer, in other seasons an advance reservation is required. Sales of food and souvenirs.