TOP 10 hiking trails

Viru Bog, one of the most accessible bogs in Estonia, passes through the forest and bog landscapes characteristic of Lahemaa National Park. The trail is 3.5 km and the lap is 6 km long. The study trail introduces the bog's flora, former sand dunes, eskers, and heath forest. There is a boardwalk with an observation tower in the middle of it. The trail is marked and there are signposts. Good to know: the boardwalk leading to the observation tower (1,400 meters) is accessible to wheelchair users and families with strollers. The entrance to the first viewing platform was also designed with accessibility in mind. To preserve the flora and soil, only walk on the boardwalk. Not suitable for cyclists.  

The 4-kilometre trail runs along the soil and boardwalks through different forest types, over canals and springs. A 10-metre observation tower is located on the side of the pine forest, where it is also possible to take a rest. The trail is passable in every season without getting one’s feet wet. The 2-kilometre long trail for children and differently abled people runs mainly on paved roads and is passable in full (along with platforms) with a pram and a wheelchair. Information stands introducing the nature in the bog have been mounted on both parts of the trail. Do not put up a tent or make a fire here. Take your garbage with you. If you want to pick berries and mushrooms, do so away from the bridges and trails, so that the next person on the trail could also see what the bog has to offer.

Mukri bog that formed around 9,000 or 10,000 years ago was once a lake. It is thought to be one of Estonia's oldest bogs. Did you know...? *Mukri bog has a 14-metre viewing tower. *A boardwalk leads the way through the bog. *Lake Mukri covers 2.2 ha and is full of little islands. *If you're not afraid of inky black water, the bog is perfect for swimming. *You can pick berries in the bog. *Mukri bog is one of the few wetland areas in Estonia you can cross without getting your feet wet. *If the boardwalk seems too pedestrian, you can always try bog-shoeing.

Cabins for hikers, an observation tower and a boardwalk attract many nature lovers to the Meenikunno bog. It is a beautiful recreation area. While walking down the boardwalk, you can see the most common bog plants: leather leaf, bog rosemary, crowberry, Marsh Labrador tea, and tussock cottongrass; at the edge of the bog, dwarf birches can also be found. There are also a number of different species of peat moss of various colours. The bravest hikers can try drinking bog water (it has an interesting taste!) from the overgrown ditch near the edge of the bog. Good to know: The boardwalk is pram and wheelchair accessible.

This bog is one of the largest bogs in Kõrvemaa: about 1,000 hectares. The picturesque high bog with many bog pools is made unique thanks to the fact that the bog is located at two different heights. In spring and autumn, thousands of waterfowl stop in the bog pools. Lake Kakerdaja lies in the middle of the bog. The 2.6 ha Hiiesaare marsh island with a species-rich stand, which was probably an ancient place of shelter and sacrifice, is located three-quarters of a kilometre east of Lake Kakerdaja. 4 kilometres of the nature trail is covered with a boardwalk. In 2020, reflectors were installed on the Kalajärve part of Kakerdaja trail (3.4 km). We recommend bringing a flashlight.

The first part of the trail is a dirt road that runs along the high-voltage power line. The track then reaches the Marimetsa Brook and leads to the rest area along the banks of the brook. From there, a boardwalk will take you to Marimetsa Bog. There is a viewing tower at the end of the trail (7.6 metres high). In Marimetsa Bog, you will see a fen, a transition bog, a raised bog, and a number of different birds and plants. The length of the trail is 9 kilometres of which 2 × 2 kilometres is a boardwalk. You should plan 4–5 hours for the hike. The trail is wet at places – make sure to bring your rubber boots.  There is a dry toilet on the track, benches for resting, and an information board with a map and a scheme of the trail.

Oidrema-Tuhu bog is one of the biggest in the west of Estonia. Being only 10 kilometres from the sea, it is young from the point of view of its development. The eastern part is called Tuhu fen; the western part is called Tuudi marsh. After the war, attempts were made to drain the fen, but luckily most of it remained unaffected by human activity. Good to know: The hiking trail consists of 900 metres of boardwalk, the time required is about an hour. It is recommended to wear rubber boots.

The 5-kilometre long Hüpassaare hiking trail winds through stunning forest to the Kuresoo bog. The trail starts at a camping site, where it is also possible to grill. The boardwalk passes through a landscape of unique, oval-shaped bog pools to a viewing platform where you can rest your legs and admire the tranquility of the bog. The boardwalk then takes you to a bog island, where you can observe the resident crows flying back and forth, and onto a meadow covered with a scattering of trees. At the end of the trail, you will find the Mart Saar Museum.

Väätsa hiking trail, which is 3 km long, is located in the Väätsa Nature Reserve in Järva County. The purpose of the nature reserve is the protection of bogs, mires, and bog forests. The start of the hiking trail is marked with an information board. On Väätsa hiking trail, you can see a section of the ancient Paide-Tallinn winter road, which is well-preserved on the 1.2 km bog section. The average thickness of peat on the winter road is more than 3 m. During the period of the manor, the bog pools in the middle of the bog were connected with ditches that are visible to this day to dampen the meadows in the upper course of Lokuta River. The area between the bog pools with a modified water regime is covered by a unique 100-year-old bog pine grove.

The bird observation tower on the Linnutee hiking trail is located in Kärevere Nature Reserve, which is one of the most visited places among bird enthusiasts. There are over 200 bird species here! The six-meter observation tower is perfect for admiring birds, their migration, and nesting, as well as the spring floods, and the diverse rivers, meadows, and forests. The purpose of this area is to protect rare species of birds, animals, and plants, as well as their habitats, forest and meadow communities, and inland water bodies. The local protected species include the black stork, the lesser spotted eagle, the white-tailed eagle, several bat species, the asp, the European bullhead, and others.