Riisa bog

Soomaa means “land of bogs”, and Riisa is the gentlest introduction to it. The loop starts in wet forest and climbs almost imperceptibly onto the raised bog.

In spring Soomaa floods so widely that locals call it the fifth season. Parts of the surrounding roads can close, so check the park's announcements before driving out in April.

In late summer the bog is dotted with cranberry flowers and the white tufts of cotton grass; by September the cranberries themselves appear between the mosses.

Mosquitoes in Soomaa are serious from June to August. Long sleeves help more than any spray.