Estonian bog trails
Boardwalks through the quietest places in Estonia
About a fifth of Estonia is wetland, and some of it is surprisingly easy to reach: a car park, a wooden boardwalk and, twenty minutes later, open bog in every direction. These are the trails we keep going back to.
Trails
Viru bog
The classic first bog: a straight boardwalk, pools the colour of tea and a tower over the whole plain.
Riisa bog
Soomaa's easy loop, with a tower and, in spring, water right up to the boards.
Kakerdaja bog
A quieter bog with a lake at its heart and a tower facing west for the evening light.
Männikjärve bog
Short enough for small children, with a tower and a textbook view of a raised bog.
Nigula bog
Islands of forest in an open bog, close to the Latvian border.
Before you go
Stay on the boards. Bog moss looks solid but is mostly water, and the pools can be several metres deep. Take water and a layer even in summer: the open bog is windy and there is no shade. Trails are free to use, and most have a small car park and a simple toilet near the start.
Dogs are usually welcome on a lead, but check the rules for strict reserves.