Murrumetsa Hiking Trail

The 100-km-long downriver marathon runs on the Võhandu River in Võru and Põlva counties and is open all year round on ice-free days.The marathon starts from Võru town, on Lake Tamula and ends in Võõpsu village, Põlva County. The Võhandu River is surrounded by steep forest banks and numerous upright sandstone outcrops. There are several springs and spring caves in the rock walls and valleys. The Võhandu River provides a great rowing experience.Every year, on the third weekend of April, the world’s largest paddle marathon, the Võhandu Marathon, takes place on the Võhandu River, with 1,200 boats and more than 2,500 participants.

The total length of the hiking trail in the primeval valley of the Piusa River is 15 km from the ruins of the Vastseliina Episcopal Castle to Lindora or vice versa. You can take the trail on foot, but parts of it are also passable either by bike or car. The highlights of the reserve are the tall Devonian sandstone outcrops – the tallest of them is the wall of Härma Mäemine or the Keldre Wall (total height 43 m, length 150 m). There are two camping sites – under the Make Wall on the first third of the trail and under the Härma Lower Wall towards the end of the trail.The object is not lighted, which is why we recommend to visit it during the day.

Tellingumäe's 25-meter-high observation tower offers a beautiful view of the winding Mustjõgi gorges and the hilly landscape typical of South Estonia. Latvia can be seen in the distance, as nearby the Mustjõe River joins the Koiva (Gauja) River on the Estonian-Latvian border. Tellingumäe observation tower is a great place to observe nature and birds. Several rare bird species can be found here. The tower has an RMK campfire site and marked cycling and hiking trails of different lengths, like the Estonian-Latvian joint cultural heritage trail and the Koiva Cycling Trail.

Vällamäe 3,3 km long hiking trail offers a unique elevation change in Estonia. Vällamägi is Estonia's second highest hill, covered with ancient forest and steep slopes, with an elevation of 303.9 m above sea level. However, considering the 84 meters measured from the base to the peak, Vällamägi is the highest in relative height in Estonia. The slopes of the hill are very steep in places (incline of 35-40 degrees). Since 1992, Vällamäe forests have been designated as a spruce gene pool reserve. As you move along the trail, steep ascents and descents alternate, offering both a physical challenge and breathtaking views of the ancient forest shelters. The climb to the peak may momentarily make you feel like you've arrived in the mountains, not Haanja. The charm of Vällamäe lies in its primordial silence and touch of nature – you won't find crowded hiking trails here. Each season adds its own character to the trail: in spring, the air is filled with birdsong, in summer you may find berries in the forest, in autumn colorful leaves and an abundance of mushrooms delight the eyes, and in winter the slopes are covered with a dense layer of snow in silence.

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.

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!

The Baltic Forest Trail is a hiking trail over 2,000 km long running through the Baltic States, of which 720 km are available for hiking in Estonia. The trail is divided into 50 one-day sections, each approximately 20 km long and marked with signposts. The trail sections have different difficulty levels so everyone can choose the most suitable one for themselves! The hiking trail passes through forested areas and two national parks, Lahemaa and Alustaguse National Parks. Along the way, you can observe trees of different species and places connected to historical events or legends. The trail is well-suited for bird and animal watching. The Baltic Forest Trail is part of the international European long-distance trail E11.

The study trail is well-suited for getting acquainted with the development and vegetation of bogs and for observing pine cultures. A 1.8 km long circular study trail revolves around the Valgesoo bog. On the she study trail you can explore the bog vegetation, old pine plantation ("Baron's pine forest"), and a forest edge rich of Scottish wood ants. The whole trail is accessible by a wheelchair or stroller. To facilitate movement on the track, there is a track map and colour markings on the trees. There is an observation tower and a campfire site at the start of the study trail.Valgesoo bog is one of the 21 places worth discovering in Southern Estonia, which is suggested to be visited for those who are interested in nature.