Winter Trails in Emajõe-Suursoo Wetlands

Winter Trails in Emajõe-Suursoo Wetlands offers an extraordinary journey through time

The unique network of historic winter trails which hides in Emajõe-Suursoo leads to an extraordinary journey through time. In ancient times, seasonal winter trails formed in frozen marshes connected isolated communities and shortened distances. Today, these unique preserved routes are mostly used by wild animals and rarely by humans.

The cultural-historical importance of the trails is celebrated with various events from January 21 to February 10, 2024 at the Winter Trails in Emajõe-Suursoo Wetlands, born in cooperation between three municipalities bordering Emajõe-Suursoo.

A winter trail – what is it? Today, the winter trail is just a strange line running across the marsh on the map, where one cannot easily get, because the ground is moist and unknown and there is nothing to be done there.

But in the old days there were winter trails that led across lakes, swamps and bogs, used for shortcuts between farms, to visit friends or to get to the market faster and easier.

The festival travels week by week from one special point of the Emajõe-Suursoo Wetlands to another, like a horse-drawn wagon across the frozen marsh. At the end of January, ice trucks race on Lake Peipsi and the crisp winter air becons at the full moon dinner in Varnja. At the beginning of February, cultural-historical and literary bog trips take place in the mysterious end of the world in Ahunapalu. The festival ends with a magical night concert and a documentary film program in the Emajõe-Suursoo Keskus.

Choose for yourself whether you will hike the old winter trail with skis, sleds or snowshoes. Renew former customs at an exhibition set up in the forest, audio tours, documentaries and lectures.

Come with us to the winter trails of Emajõe-Suursoo!

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