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Let's go together to Soomaa National Park with a local guide to go foraging in the forest and learn about various edible and non-edible mushrooms.
Using the collected mushrooms, we will prepare a delicious, authentic mushroom dish that highlights the seasonal flavors of the forest. For Estonians, mushroom picking is a cherished tradition – it's about moving in nature, finding peace, and gathering mushrooms for the winter.
During the hike, we will also learn about different ways to preserve mushrooms, such as drying, salting, fermenting, and pickling, and share practical tips on how to best use the forest harvest at home.
The mushroom hike season starts in July and lasts until October. Mushroom hikes are well-suited for families with children and do not require previous experience, just an interest in nature and forest mushrooms.
See you on the mushroom hike in Soomaa!
Tõramaa wooded meadow trail gives a great overview of the best preserved wooded meadow in Soomaa. There's a campfire and camping site on the other side of the meadow, by River Halliste, where you can also swim. The roundtrip hike is five kilometres. The best time to visit the wooded meadow is in June and July, when the rare Siberian Iris blossoms.
The Lemmjõgi forest is an old floodplain forest. These types of forests are rare in Estonia and have disappeared from Europe. The trail begins at the Kildu-Tõramaa road near the Kuusekäära Farm, goes along the floodplain meadow by River Raudna, then continues on the shore through the floodplain forest to the place Rivers Raudna and Lemmjõgi meet and fascinating oaks grow. The trail heads back along the shore of River Lemmjõgi.
The Meiekose study trail winds along the banks of the Raudna and Tõramaa Rivers before reaching the meadows at the mouth of the Tõramaa River, which forms part of the heritage landscape of Soomaa National Park.
At the Tõramaa end of the trail at the mouth of the Tõramaa River is an ancient village where you can see the huts, saunas and other aspects of the daily lives of Stone Age people.
The 2.8-kilometre trail also boasts other sights: a wide variety of plants, some beautiful oxbows, gnarled oak trees and old farms. There are a number of rest points along the trail where you can make fires and camp. The Meiekose hiking trail ends approximately 2 km from its starting point on the Riisa-Tõramaa road.
The Beaver Trail Study Trail in Soomaa National Park is one of Estonia's best short nature trails, as it allows you to see signs of beaver activity and get acquainted with Soomaa's forest communities.
The trail leads through a dark spruce forest, light fern birch forest, and wet marshy forest, where you can see beaver dams, lodges, and felled trees. Along the trail, there are information boards explaining both the beavers' lifestyle and local natural objects. The trail is about 1.8 km long and starts right from the Soomaa Visitor Center. The trail is wheelchair- and stroller-accessible — a total of 660 meters back and forth. At the beginning of the trail, there is an accessible toilet.
During the spring flood, part of the boardwalk may be submerged. This provides a rare opportunity to see Soomaa's fifth season flood, which is among the most famous natural phenomena in the national park.
The trail is suitable for families, nature enthusiasts, and photographers. In the morning or evening twilight, with a bit of luck, you might even spot a beaver itself.
Come and learn more about beavers at the Soomaa Visitor Center!
Every Estonian loves cranberries. A local nature guide will introduce the wonderful bogs with numerous bog pools, soft hollows, and secret streams.
We will give each participant snowshoes, which will make moving in the bogs easier.
Fun fact: Estonians use cranberries to make juice and as a cure for diseases. The first cultivated cranberries were grown in Estonia, one of the varieties is named ‘Kuresoo’ (Crane Bog).
A cranberry hike in the Soomaa bogs awaits!
