Nature and hiking
Located in Espoo’s Suvisaaristo district, the 130-hectare Pentala is the highest island in Southern Finland. The island’s nature is particularly diverse, and approximately half of Pentala is a nature conservation area.Lake Pentalanjärvi in the middle of the island has rugged and steep shores. The island has a rich variety of animal life – you may for example glimpse a deer or a great spotted woodpecker in the diverse forest. Several rare plants grow on the naturally beautiful Diksand beach.
Nature trail
The nature trail starts from the Pentala Museum Area and leads to Pentala Lake and Diksand Beach. On the trail you will get to know the archipelago nature of Espoo. The path is marked with yellow signs in the trees. The path is not suitable for wheelchairs or prams. The 2.3-kilometer nature trail has been implemented by the Espoo Environment Center.
Hiking on Pentala island
The Pentala nature conservation area limits the ways the island may be used. You cannot build a fire or spend the night on Pentala Island. However, you are free to use the camping and campfire sites located on the city’s other outdoor recreation islands. Please respect the fragile island environment!
Checklist for hikers
- Dogs should be kept on a leash.
- Remember to dress for the weather when you are in the archipelago.
- Adders and ticks have been spotted on Pentala Island.
- Spending the night, camping, building a fire or smoking are not allowed in the city’s recreation area.
- The majority of the shores are privately owned. The seashore is only accessible from the museum area and the Diksand beach.
- Landing a motor ship at the natural beach of Diksand is prohibited. The beach is a part of the nature conservation area.
- Please keep the archipelago clean! The nature trail is not equipped with rubbish bins.
- Pentala Island has no beaches for swimming, or supervised beaches. However, swimming is possible on the Diksand beach and the northeastern part of Lake Pentalanjärvi. Please be careful, as the rocky shores of Lake Pentalanjärvi are steep and slippery.
- The nature conservation area and paths of Pentala Island are the responsibility of the Environment Department of the City of Espoo.