The best way to explore the nature of Lahemaa is to find enough time and comfortable hiking equipment and take on the discovery of the local hiking and study trails. The hiking trails in Lahemaa have varying difficulty levels and are diverse – there are hour-long bog trails, a 45 km Oandu-Ikla hiking trail, and even a rocky kilometer to the northernmost point of mainland Estonia, Purekkari Peninsula. The forests of the Käsmu peninsula invite you to explore on foot or by bike. Lahemaa is also crossed by the long-distance hiking trail E11, which is called the Forest Hiking Trail in the Baltic States and starts in the city of Scheveningen in the Netherlands and ends in Tallinn.
We also recommend bringing a guide with you on the hiking trails in Lahemaa, whom you can find here.
When going into nature, always make sure that the burden you bring with you is limited to your presence. Sort packaging and used napkins according to waste management rules. Keep the hiking trails in Lahemaa clean!
Lahemaa National Park study trails:
Altja loodus- ja kultuurilooline rada | 4,2 km
Koprarada | 1 km
Käsmu loodus- ja kultuurilooline rada | 4,2 km
Majakivi-Pikanõmme õpperada | 7 km
Oandu loodusmetsarada | 4,7 km
Oandu pärandkultuurirada | 3,4 km
Oandu taimetarga rada | 1 km
Ojaäärse metsarada | 3,5 km
Sagadi-Oandu metsajuttude rada | 5,6 km
Tsitre Puude rada | 1km
Viru raba õpperada | 3,5 km
Hara lahe rannalooduse rada
Mohni õppe- ja matkarada
Mähu otsa ja Purekkari neeme linnuvaatlusrajad
Pähkneeme luitemänniku ja mereranna rada
Võsu koduloorada
Lahemaa National Park hiking trails:
Käsmu jalgrattarada | 11,6 km
Käsmu matkarada | 15 km
Oandu-Võsu matkarada | 9,5 km
Observation towers:
Majakivi-Pikanõmme õpperada
Viru raba
Bird watch towers:
Vihasoo linnuvaatlustorn
Viinistu linnuvaatlustornid
The diverse 18-basket disc golf park, which is quite challenging, is located on the Tamsalu health trails. There are mandos, complex ob-areas, open drives longer than 150 metres, and narrow 70-metre forest trails.
You can rent discs from the Tamsalu Sports Centre (three hours costs 2 euros). The park is open 24 hours and if you have your own discs, you can play for free.
Come and test the park!
Oandu plant trail is like a natural botanical garden. You will be surprised to find out how many different plants can be found on a 1 km area! In the autumn, it is like an open-air mushroom exhibition there (up to 60 species of mushrooms can be seen there in some years).
However, if you are not interested in mushrooms, it is still lovely and safe to go for a walk there. There is an ice cellar and beds with flowers, vegetables, and herbs from the manor era. In addition to signposts introducing the local plant communities and plants, there are five information boards on the shores of Oandu artificial lake, which introduce the animals living in Lahemaa.
A 30-minute drive from Tallinn on the north coast is one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in Kolga Bay – Valkla beach. The beach with fine light sand is a great bathing beach that stands out from big beaches with its peace and cleanliness.
The beach has a toilet and parking lot as well as changing rooms. In summer, it is possible to rent a kayak and go to the nearby Pedassaare island – an uninhabited island 1 km away, where there are campfire sites and a sauna house. Paddleboards with safety equipment are also available for rent on the beach.
Valkla beach also has a beach restaurant Valkla rand and a Recreation Centre with caravan park and saunas.
Järvi Pikkjärv, located in the Põhja-Kõrvemaa Nature Reserve, is a 5.2 ha natural lake surrounded by a mixed pine-spruce forest. The shore at the northeastern end of the lake is sandy and suitable for swimming. Depending on the season, blueberries, lingonberries and mushrooms can be found in the surrounding forest.
The camping area is located in the forest under the spruce trees in the northeastern corner of the lake. The 27 km-long Järvi-Aegviidu hiking trail also starts from the Järvi Pikkjärv camping area. The area has several campfire sites with grills and covered shelters with benches and tables.
Come and enjoy your vacation in the middle of nature!
There are rocky beach parts and some narrow trails and places where you have to cross the water. After the beach part, the trail heads into the forest. Then, you will ride on a road and pass through the colourful and beautiful village of Kaberneeme. There will be a break at the top of the peninsula, after which you will head back through the village to the coastal forest, which offers interesting views of the beach.