Hinni canyon

The Pikksaare hiking trail begins at the swimming and camping area by Lake Pangodi. While walking along the hiking trail, you can enjoy peace and idyllic views of the lake and the surrounding nature and make a short detour to the War of Independence Memorial. The directional signs placed along the trail will help make the hike smoother. The hiking trail passes the Pangodi campfire site, where you can take a short break, as there is a shelter, a barbecue area, a nice swimming spot, and opportunities for camping. Come and spend a nice day in nature with your family or friends!

Murrumetsa Hiking Trail starts from the Pühajärve Manor Park and runs through Murrumetsa forest back to the park. It takes about 1-1.5 hours to pass the 3.5 km track. There are information boards next to the track that give information about the flora and fauna of our forests and cultivated landscapes. The track passes the ancient Pühajärv War Oak (circumference 6.98 m and height 22 m) and the commemorative stone to mark the Pühajärv War of 1841, which can be found among the oaks of Murrumets Forest. There are also rest areas and fire sites by the trail.

You'll need several people to measure the circumference of the ancient, nearly 400-year-old oak tree towering nearby Lake Pühajärv in Otepää! The trunk of this ancient tree has a circumference of 6.6 meters. It is called the War Oak because it has witnessed many historical events. Apparently, peasants of the Pühajärv Manor refused to work for the manor in autumn 1841 and the rebels were punished near the oak. The Pühajärve War was one of the first peasant uprisings against the landlords in Estonia, and in memory of it, an oak tree was planted nearby, where a memorial stone was erected on the 130th anniversary of the uprising. A beautiful park with walking tracks surrounds the tree today, and although the ancient tree is no longer in its full glory, it stands here to its full dignity, recalling times gone by.

Drive along the Võru-Valga highway from Saru to Kuutsi-Tiitsa-Karisöödi-Ura-Naha (about 14 km). The trail is about 4.8 km long and it takes a couple of hours to walk it through. The trail starts under the oak-tree with a perimeter of about 4 metres in Naha farm and runs very close to the state border, so make sure you take your ID with you. Interesting to know: you cannot put your foot down on the southernmost point, as the geographically correct southernmost point of Estonia is situated about 5 steps away from the marked spot, just in the middle of the Peetri River.

The Valgesoo watchtower is located in the Valgesoo bog, which represents one of the 21 places worth discovering in South Estonia and is recommended for all nature enthusiasts.With its eye-catching design, the watchtower overlooks the Valgesoo bog, the pristine-looking primeval forest, and the Baron's pine forest (Parunimännik) and the study trail that runs through it. The 29.7 m high metal watchtower has three intermediate platforms, the last of which is 23.8 m high, with a wind screen and seat benches in the centre. The State Forest Management Centre's campfire site and camping area for up to five tents are nearby.

The two Taevaskoda outcrops on the banks of the ancient valley of the Ahja River are one of the most frequently visited sites in southern Estonia. The sandstone outcrops and the ancient river form the most beautiful part of the Ahja River Landscape Reserve. Legends speak of caves, secret passageways and of demons and a mermaid with a golden comb. A walk from the Saesaare dam to the Small Taevaskoda outcrop, the Emaläte spring, the Neitsikoobas cave and the Large Taevaskoda outcrop, which rises 22.5 metres above the river, is worth undertaking in every season. The beautiful and exciting natural setting attracts hikers – it is a place that every Estonian visits at least once in their life!

Families with children are particularly welcome in the Lake Pühajärv Park as there are many opportunities to feed ducks and other birds when walking on the lakeshore. There is an exercise track by the northern part of the park. This is also the place where you will find the beach with a beach house, cafés, arbours and boat hire.The park used to be a part of the Pühajärv Manor Park and it was designed as a walking forest with paths already in the 19th century. The park is mainly a naturally grown forest.

The 3-kilometre-long Sangaste forest park trail is located in Kiidjärve-Kooraste Recreation Area and starts from the forest park behind the Sangaste Castle.The trail introduces the forest park, founded by Count Friedrich Magnus Berg, where nearly a few hundred different species of trees and shrubs are represented. The trail has signs, stairs, bridges, and information boards that introduce the forest park and the various species of trees. There's also a campfire site on the trail with a fire pit, benches, a toilet, and a wood shed, which can also be used as a shelter.Interesting fact: Estonia's tallest, a 42-metre-tall Douglas tree grows in the park. It's possible to visit the Sangaste Castle during opening hours.