Forest roads are constructed to mainly serve the needs of forestry, but they are also used by berry-pickers, hunters and other people moving about in nature. Especially in Lapland and Eastern Finland, Metsähallitus roads are important thoroughfares for local residents.
Only a small part of forest roads can support year-round traffic. Depending on the location, the proportion of year-round roads is 10–20 percent of the total length of the roads.
For the frost-heave season, roads that cannot bear all traffic are equipped with road signs indicating the type of vehicles allowed. Bridges that cannot carry heavy equipment are also marked with the appropriate weight limit signs. Generally, Metsähallitus does not prevent access to its roads using gates.