Baby-Carrying March Hike in Helsinki: Trash-Picking and Signs of Spring in Disputed Stansvik Forest

Have you ever wondered what early spring looks like in Helsinki? In this post I'll share some photos my fiancé and I took on our weekly outdoors adventure.

This time in mid-March as we found ourselves on a beautiful nature trail in Stansvik forest and surrounding historical manor grounds in Helsinki with our almost 1-year-old toddler.

My fiancé Niko and I have pledged to do 52 outdoors adventures this year, which we are super excited about. We have written another blog post about why we decided to start this challenge this year.

We got the idea to visit Stansvik forest and the historical manor grounds this particular weekend, because this nature area is located quite close to us and so it's where we like to go if we want an easy outing with no extra hassle.

This weekend was one of those times again that felt like the whole universe was against us getting outside (parents, you know what I'm talking about!). Stuff was misplaced and we hadn't prepared a go-bag for our toddler the night before (which I recommend anyone with a toddler should do!).

Arriving at the Beginning of the Stansvik Forest Nature Trail

The Stansvik nature trail is located in the new Helsinki neighborhood called Kruunuvuorenranta.

If you're looking for a unique experience, try the ferry from Helsinki city center, which takes to straight to Kruunuvuorenranta in about 15 minutes. The ferry is part of the greater Helsinki public transportation system, HSL, which means riding the ferry is affordable.

Another way to reach Kruunuvuorenranta is by taking the metro to Herttoniemi and an additional bus ride, which takes a total of around 45 minutes. The closest bus stop to Stansvik forest is Haakoninlahdenkatu.

If you decide to arrive by car, there is a separate, free, parking area at the entrance to the Stansvik manor grounds.

Visiting the Disputed Stansvik Forest

Stansvik forest is located in the neighborhood of Kruunuvuorenranta in Helsinki, which is currently developing into a new residential area.

Kruunuvuorenranta used to be an oil harbor, but today there is only two oil tanks left on the seashore reminding us of it's history.

Stansvik forest is a very versatile nature area located around the old oil harbor and new residential buildings.

The nature area is disputed, because there is an ongoing discussion about whether parts of the Stansvik forest should be cut down to make room for residential buildings and services‌.

Some areas of Stansvik forest are also categorized as nature reserves, which means there are some restrictions you need to follow when visiting. The goal of the nature reserves in Finland are to protect biodiversity.

One of these 400-year-old pine trees located in Stansvik forest in Helsinki was sadly broken down by a storm in 2023. Plenty of interesting stuff for the little ones to explore!

Trash picking at the Beaches of Stansvik Forest in Helsinki

Something I love to do, and I know many Finns find quite enjoyable as well, is to go trash picking in the spring-time.

Spring is the best time for trash-picking, because as the snow slowly melts the dry ground starts to unveil itself and all the trash (and dog poop!) that's been lying there all winter.

Because Helsinki is a city located by the sea, there is plenty of trash swooshed up on the beaches. The shoreline of Helsinki is over 130 kilometers long (80.8 miles).

A typical piece of trash to see here are these pieces of string that can be different colors. These are parts of a string that are used to explode rock formations and are used here especially in areas where new buildings are being built.

Experiencing the Stansvik Historical Manor Grounds in Helsinki

The historical Stansvik manor grounds in Helsinki is composed of a main building, built in the early 1800's, a fantastic seaside restaurant, as well as  other surrounding buildings from the same era, which you can actually stay the night in. The area around Stansvik manor is also stroller accessible, which means you can easily walk around and explore the area and all the old buildings.

Conclusion and Stats

• 1 hour and 42 minutes spent in the destination
• 2.8 kilometers (1.7 miles) hiked
• 2 cups of coffee consumed
• 5 out of 52 family outdoor adventures in 2024 completed.