Selli-Sillaotsa study trail

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 hiking trail runs along a gravel road in a forest and introduces the life of ants. There are information boards next to the gravel road, as well as signposts near the ant colonies. The trail can also be explored in a vehicle. The 3.6 km trail starts at the information board at the roadside.The hiking trail is located in Padakõrve Nature Reserve. Its most important values include one of the largest populations of Scottish wood ants, diverse forest communities, and a multifaceted landscape. The purpose of the protected area is to protect the Scottish wood ants, as well as other protected species and their habitats, the forest communities, and the Kärgandi kame field.

Kisejärve hiking trail is 6 km long and runs along former horse roads and swamp borders (rubber boots are recommended). The hiking trails takes you past several lakes, valuable nature and bog communities and you can also see the results of the activities of beavers.

The Kaljupealse campfire site is located on the banks of the Võhandu River, in a beautiful pine forest. The riverside and high banks offer a beautiful view of the Võhandu River and sand outcrops. The campfire site has a roofed table and benches, a roofed grill, and firewood. The place is ideal for campers, fishing enthusiasts, and as a resting point for guests coming here with boats.Along the high sandy shores, through a beautiful pine forest, there is an unmarked hiking trail where you can enjoy beautiful views of nature or pick berries and mushrooms.

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.

In Tartu County, near the Elva railway station, the Väike Väerada trail is one of the area's most popular hiking paths. It is special because of the wooden sculptures inspired by Estonian fairy tales and created by local artists. Small but mighty, Väerada has a healing effect on both the mind and body. The nature trail offers experiences for hikers of all ages and is suitable for exploration year-round. The attractive sculptures not only adorn the trail but also guide the correct path. The forest trail includes several resting spots and exciting attractions for children, making the journey even more enjoyable. The hiking trail ends at the Tartumaa Health Sports Center, where you can continue adventuring on other forest trails, play disc golf, or enjoy playground fun with children under the beautiful pines. Come take a walk in nature, discover fairy-tale sculptures, and let Elva Väerada offer you peace and experience in every season.

Pühajärv, with its picturesque winding shoreline and four islands, is the largest lake in Otepää Nature Park. At the northern tip of Pühajärv, there is a beach area with a beach house, ball courts, a children's playground, recreation areas, a café, and a boat harbor. At the southern tip is the Kooliranna recreation area, and from there begins the Väike Emajõgi, which meanders through Valgamaa. Pühajärve Park is the starting point for the Murrumetsa hiking trail, and around the lake runs the 12 km long Pühajärve hiking trail, which passes by the lake's most famous spring, the Armuallikas. In winter, when weather conditions are suitable, an ice trail is created on the lake for hiking, and a winter swimming area is open at Pühajärve Beach.Pühajärv has provided plenty of inspiration for writers and artists. For example, Fridebert Tuglas and Eino Leino have vacationed here. Information about Konrad Mägi's Pühajärv paintings can be found on an info board by the lakeshore near the GMP Pühajärve restaurant. In 1991, the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, visited Otepää and blessed the lake, an event commemorated by a wooden sculpture on the shore of Pühajärve Park.

The total length of Taagepera hiking trail is 5.4 km. The trail begins and ends at the Taagepera campfire site and partly runs along the shores of the Õhne River. The trail can also be completed in smaller circles – 1.6 km and 4.0 km long. There are wooden signposts and information boards at the hiking trail, capfire site is suitable also for camping.The main sights of the hiking trail include the Taagepera Castle with the Castle Park, Taagepera Church and the Cemetery, the graveyard of barons, the Musukivi rock, the sacrificial stone, the underground cemetery, and the Õhne River.A truly inspiring hike full of history, architecture, and ancient nature!