Hiking in Estonia

Estonia, A local's perspective

by Stiina Kristal

Estonia is one of the most forested countries in the world, and despite not having any mountains we pride ourselves on the many lakes, bogs, islands and the coastline.

We are especially proud of our bogs, which offer hikers the opportunity to experience the unique flora and fauna found in these hard-to-survive environments. In the summer you can traverse the bogs along boardwalks, but if you wish to step off the established paths, you can use special bogshoes (essentially snowshoes) all year round. Thanks to the vast forested areas Estonia also boasts amazing fauna; it is not rare to meet a moose or wild boar while on trail and some are even lucky enough to see a bear. For the extremely fortunate there are wolves and lynx.

All these varied environments are best visited on foot, making Estonia ideal for travellers who prefer easier hiking. Thanks to the public trail system and camping facilities it is easy to find a suitable route for any level. Wild camping in Estonia is allowed on any land, both public and private, as long as it is not fenced off or marked with the sign “Eramaa”. As a hiker you should respect the “Leave no Trace” principles and be respectful to the nature, other hikers and public campsites. It is also allowed to pick berries, mushrooms and wild fruit while on trail – this is very common during the autumn season, so do not be surprised if you see people walking around in the forest with baskets.

RMK is the organisation responsible for the management of state forests in Estonia. It has established several long-distance hiking trails, called RMK Hiking Routes. It also establishes and maintains free public campsites and picnic spots, of which there are several hundred dotted across my small country – some of them only accessible on foot. Many of these spots have open shelters, picnic tables, a dry toilet, trash cans and a firepit with firewood. Bigger campsites are also maintained during winter, so winter hiking is certainly something to try. https:// www.loodusegakoos.ee/where-to-go/hiking-route.

One of the most popular RMK long- distance trails is the Oandu-Ikla Matkatee, which covers a distance of 370 km and takes about 20 days to complete. The trail passes through several national parks, with forests, lakes and bogs, and offers hikers the opportunity to experience the varied nature, small villages and the most scenic nature trails up close. It is well-marked and maintained, with a multitude of RMK campsites along the way – it is very easy to plan daily routes from campsite to campsite. Another popular RMK long-distance trail is the Peraküla-Ähijärve Matkatee, which covers a distance of 812 km and takes between 35 and 40 days. This trail also starts from the Baltic Sea but then heads East, passing by Estonia’s biggest lake and traversing the less-trodden South-Eastern tip of the country. Here there is solitude among small lakes surrounded by pine forests, but one should certainly pay attention to the Seto culture around Värska, where the local dialect is still strong and evident. Visit the Piusa caves and Vana Jüri soap shop to get a feeling for what makes this place special.

The best way to navigate the myriad RMK long-distance trails, short nature trails, watchtowers, public campsites, visitor centres and even geocaching spots is the RMK App, which is also available in English. https://www.rmk.ee/organisation/rmk-mobile-app.

Baltic Forest Trail

The Baltic Forest Trail is a 1200km hiking trail that passes through Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and takes about 60 days to complete. The Estonian section covers a distance of 720 km and is well-marked, with several public campsites along the way. https://baltictrails.eu/en/forest

The Coastal Trail

The Coastal Trail is a long-distance hiking trail that runs along the coast of Estonia all the way to the tip of Lithuania. The Estonian section covers 622km and passes several seaside towns, beaches, lighthouses and pine forests. While you are always near water on this trail, sometimes getting drinking water can be slightly harder than on other trails, but by careful planning and map reading it is an easy task for any experienced hiker. https://baltictrails.eu/en/coastal

Conclusion

Hiking in Estonia is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the bigger cities and tourist hotspots. With its well-established hiking trails, navigation apps and route materials, hiking here demands little planning ahead and can be enjoyed all year round. While the terrain can be relatively easy, it is also important to slow down, go skinny- dipping, pick berries and talk to the locals living in quaint little villages.

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