Keeri-Karijärve Nature Reserve is the

youngest of the protection areas of Tartu County. The

reserve was created to protect the floodplains of the Elva

River, two big and several smaller lakes, and biodiverse

old forests situated in the northern region of the Elva

valley in the former bay of the Primeval Võrtsjärv. The

forests and wetlands in the nature reserve serve as a

habitat for many bird species. The area is an important

habitat of the greater spotted eagle; in addition, white-

tailed eagle, fish eagle, lesser-spotted eagle and many

other internationally protected bird species come here

for the nesting period. Up to twenty corncrake couples

nest on the floodplains. The Elva River and the lakes serve

as the central part of the protection area. These bodies–

of water are important in terms of species protection.

Some examples of protected fish species are asp, loach

and European weatherfish. As you hike along the path,

you may observe the everyday activities of beavers and

notice the places where the wild boars have eaten. There

is a marked hiking trail in the southern part of the nature

reserve, and a hut at Lake Karijärv for spending the night.

If you go to the nature reserve by boat on the Elva River,

you'll find a wharf and a nearby , a simple and openlaavu

wilderness hut. Ask the administrator of the nature

reserve about movement restrictions by e-mail at

emajoe-suursoo.looduskeskus@rmk.ee.

The biggest concentration of hiking trails in Tartu Countyis around the town of Elva. A non-profit associationnamed the Vapramäe-Vellavere-Vitipalu Foundationorganises resting facilities, learning and sports possi-

bilities in the Landscape Protection Areas ofElva-Vitipalu, Vapramäe and Vellavere.

The is specialElva-Vitipalu Landscape Protection Area

for its dissected relief, the Elva River with its pure water

and several tributaries, restored alluvial meadows and

the well-lighted oligo-mesotrophic boreal forests full of

berries. You can choose between hiking trails with

different levels of difficulty. You can walk along a 14.4-

kilometre hiking trail, which is the longest in Tartu

County, or take the hiking trail of Lake Viti with many

steep ups and downs; for the children, there is an

adventure path with a playground and a witch's cottage.

www.vvvs.ee

Hiking trail of the Elva River prehistoric valley

Hiking trail of Lake Viti

Adventure trail

Biking trail

The Vapramäe Landscape Protection Area is the oldest

protected recreation area in the county. The area is

popular for its good location, diverse landscape and

forest, and a rich cultural heritage. The hiking trails in the

forest and along the Elva River get visitors throughout the

year. In you will findVapramäe Nature House

information about Elva recreation area and hiking trails.

www.vapramaja.ee/vapramagi/english/

+372 525 4172

Vapramäe nature trail

Vapramäe biking trail and hiking trail

The varying landscape in the Vellavere

region is perfect for biking, but hiking is

great as well. The objects of cultural heritage from

different periods have been equipped with information

boards, which make moving along the village roads more

interesting.

Vellavere biking trail

Trail for healthy lifestyle

With its resting and camping sites and information

boards, has become a central waterway forthe Elva River

boaters and the linking element for the local protection

areas. The waterway from Hellenurme to Tartu (by the

Emajõgi River) is 66 kilometres long and takes at least

three days to cover. Naturally, you can always choose

shorter distances as well.

The Elva River waterway

The versatile landscape of Tartu County is rich in natural

gems. Protected areas, special conservation areas and

protected natural objects constitute a significant portion

(17%) of the total area of Tartu County. The Alam-Pedja

Nature Reserve and Peipsiveere Nature Reserve, the two

nature reserves in Tartu County, are wetlands of inter-

national importance, or the so-called . TheRamsar sites

Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, Emajõgi River Delta Special

Protection Area, Piirissaare Landscape Protection Area

and Kärevere Nature Reserve are known as European

Important Bird Areas. In addition to the aforementioned

areas, there are many smaller protection areas in Tartu

County, each with a specific protection goal, regime and

value.

Protection areas are fascinating, but you must be aware of

several restrictions as you plan your visit. We suggest that

you familiarise yourself with the existing rules before

visiting a particular protection area. There are also general

national rules for moving about in nature. All rules and

requirements can be found on the webpage of the State

Forest Management Centre (RMK) at .

The Alam-Pedja Nature Reservewas created to protect bogs, alluvial forests andfloodplains. This protection area, one of the largest inEstonia, covers the northern part of the Võrtsjärv Basin.After the last ice age and the glacial recession, this was thelocation of the prehistoric Võrtsjärv; nowadays, the area ispaludified. The bogland is dissected by more than tenlarger rivers and a plethora of brooks. The Pedja,Põltsamaa and Emajõgi Rivers are the most famous. Inaddition, there are over fifty oxbow lakes in thefloodplains that have become unique ecosystems with arich variety of fish. During high water, the rivers overflowthe streambeds and may flood nearly one-third of theprotection area.

The area is almost uninhabited, which makes it attractiveto human-fearing bird species and offers good hidingplaces to large game. This mosaic of old forests and bogsis a home for wolves, white-tailed eagles, golden eagles,Ural owls, pygmy owls, grouse and black storks. Variousbirds may be seen on the large flooded meadows,especially during spring and autumn migration.

www.loodusegakoos.ee/where-to-go/nature-

reserves/alam-pedja-nature-reserv

On the you can get to know theSelli-Sillaotsa study trailbog and wildlife habitats of the nature reserve. The trailpasses through heathy pine forests with high trees andover bog islands with marshy pine forests. Boardwalkshave been built in the wet mesotropic mires and woodedbogs in order to protect plants. We advise moving aboutin small groups of no more than 30 people to refrain fromdisturbing the tranquillity of the natural surroundings.Take the Laeva-Palupõhja road to get to the starting pointof the study trail.

www.loodusegakoos.ee/where-to-go/nature-reserves/alam-pedja-nature-reserv/selli-sillaotsa-study-trail-4-dot-7-km

On the southern border of the Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve,you'll find another study trail: the Ilmatsalu-Käreverebirdwatching path. On the hiking trail there is a birdobservation tower and several sites for campfires. The trailconnects the fishponds of Ilmatsalu rich in birds with thefloodplains on the bank of the Emajõgi. More than 200bird species have been sighted in the area.

www.loodusegakoos.ee/where-to-go/recreation-

areas/tartu-jogeva-recreation-area/ilmatsalu-

karevere-linnutee-hiking-trail-5-km/

The Palupõhja Nature School

( )www.palupohja.ee/en is the local

centre of natural and environmental

education and outdoor learning.

Kärevere Nature ReserveThe Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve con-

tinues to the east as the Kärevere Nature

Reserve created for the pro-tection of the floodplains of

the Emajõgi River, the old forests and the rich biota in the

area. The flooded meadows are situated right next to the

Tallinn-Tartu highway, which makes it easy to access the

meadows and observe nature. A hiking trail along the

banks of the Emajõgi River starts at the Tallinn-Tartu

highway near the Kärevere bridge. This is the 14-kilometre

Luharada Trail with resting places and wharves. The

entrance to the hiking trail near the Kärevere bridge is the

only place in Estonia where you are allowed to observe the

display of great snipe, classed as rare in Europe. The

meadow becomes a resting place for thousands of

migrating birds during springtime. In summers, the

multitude of hatchers attracts many raptorial birds.

Various animals – deer, elk and fox – can be seen on the

riverbank. Signs of beaver activity are noticeable

everywhere, though the animals themselves are shy.

www.loodusegakoos.ee/en

The Peipsiveere Nature Reserve,

formely known as

Emajõe-Suursoo Nature ReserveThe main value of the area is the biodiversity of wetland

habitats and the large wetland delta of the Emajõgi River.

Peipsiveere (Emajõe-Suursoo) Nature Reserve has been

under national conservation since 1981, when 30 new

wetland protection areas were established in Estonia. The

main purpose of the nature reserve is the conservation,

protection and study of the wetland delta of the Emajõgi

River and its endangered and rare plant and animal

communities and species. In 1997, the nature reserve was

included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International

Importance and since 2004 it has been a Natura 2000 area

of Bird and Habitat Sites.

www.loodusegakoos.ee/where-to-go/nature-

reserves/peipsiveere-nature-reserv

Nature Reserves

and Hiking Trails

in Tartu County

Nature Reserves

and Hiking Trails

in Tartu County

Halfway from Tartu to Otepää you reach the scenic

Pangodi Landscape Protection Area. The local

nature draws attention with its variable kame field, whichhas influenced the land use, and the lakes with dissectedcoastline rich in fish. The protection area belongs to theNatura network of protected areas. Two hiking trails havebeen created that allow you to discover natural objects ofinterest and enjoy beautiful scenery: the Pikksaare trailbegins in the western beach and the Palumägede hikingtrail in the eastern beach of Lake Pangodi.

Pikksaare hiking trailhttp://loodusegakoos.ee/where-

to-go/recreation-areas/tartu-

jogeva-recreation-area/pikksaare-

hiking-trail-1-km/

Palumägede hiking trailhttp://loodusegakoos.ee/where-to-go/recreation-areas/tartu-jogeva-recreation-area/palumagede-hiking-trail-1-km/

Tamme Outcrop Landscape Protection AreaThe Tamme outcrop is a red sandstone exposure of theDevonian period, especially important because it containsfossils of fish that inhabited the sea 380 million years ago.The information boards on the hiking trail along thebottom of the outcrop provide information aboutsandstone and the peculiarities of its formation as well asthe avifauna and coastal flora of Lake Võrtsjärv.

www.vortsjarv.ee

As you leave the Kavastu village, you may head north and goalong the Koosa road to the Alatskivi LandscapeProtection Area created to protect the heritage of thecultivated landscape region. This nearly five-kilometre hikingtrail allows you to enjoy the nature in the Alatskivi prehistoricvalley, see a site of an ancient Estonian settlement and themagnificent renovated main building of Alatskivi castle.

www.loodusegakoos.ee/where-to-go/recreation-areas/tartu-jogeva-recreation-area/alatskivi-hiking-trail-4-dot-5-km

The near Alatskivi is a protec-Padakõrve Nature Reserve

tion area for wood ants. With more than 2000 impressive

mounds, this is the largest known population of Formica

aquilonia in Europe. As you observe the mounds, you cannot

leave the path passing through the protection area. But even

just the sight of this chain of mounds along the path is

unforgettable. There are several information boards telling

more about the way of life of ants.

www.loodusegakoos.ee/en

The Järvselja Nature Reserveallowing visitors to experience virgin forests is situated in the

south-eastern part of Tartu County. The 3.5 kilometre study

trail introduces the oldest forest protection area in Estonia.

Since 1924, this forest has been protected and given the

chance to grow without any human intervention. This way it

has become a real virgin forest. Several typical keystone

habitat bird species, such as the grey-headed woodpecker,

pygmy owl, black grouse and wood grouse, may be seen.

There are also protected natural objects in Järvselja. The mag-

nificent Kuningamänd (the King's Pine) is over 360 years old

and worth visiting, and there are many more old aweinspi-

ring trees. The tallest firs in Järvselja measure up to more than

40 metres, thus holding the record among Estonian trees.

www.jarvselja.ee

ENG

www.visittartu.com

Nature Reservesand Hiking Trailsin Tartu County

Nature Reservesand Hiking Trailsin Tartu County

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The most important rules for moving in nature:

On state land and outside the protection areas where

movement is prohibited, you are allowed to go

everywhere.

In accordance with the freedom to roam, you are

allowed to be on privately owned land from sunrise to

sunset. A private landowner may prohibit all movement

on their land, but the land must be clearly fenced and

marked accordingly.

Public roads can be accessed by anyone. Cars are not

allowed on private roads, but you can walk there in

daytime.

Keep a distance of at least 200 m from private yards.

Moving on shores of bodies of water for public use is

allowed only on shore paths (4-10m).

Camping and building a campfire are only allowed in

places prepared and marked accordingly.

If there are no trash containers, you have to take your

trash back with you.

Dogs must not be allowed to run free – they have to be

kept on a leash at all times.

Everyone can fish in a public body of water without a

fishing licence using a simple hand line and abiding by

restrictions (for example regarding time and place).

www.kalastusinfo.ee

3,5km

14,4km

More information about the hiking trails and other activities

managed by the Vapramäe-Vellavere-Vitipalu Foundation

may be found on their webpage at .http://www.vvvs.ee

Elva is a quiet town with forest parks. In the local pine forest,

you'll find a short hiking trail called the Small Trail of Nature

Energy with several wooden sculptures inspired by Estonian

folk tales. The trail begins in the heart of Elva – just beside the

old railway station.

www.jarvselja.ee

Nowadays, the nicely renovated railway station houses the

Elva Hiking Centre where you can find information about

Elva, its nearest surroundings and the whole of Tartu County

in general.

www.matkakeskus.elva.ee

+372 733 0132, Pargi Str. 2 Elva, Tartu County

Biking trailsThe landscape of Tartu County is also suitable for biking

trips. Several routes ) and(EuroVelo www.eurovelo.comhund-reds of kilometres of the cross-border biking routeTour de LatEst created in Northern Latvia and Southern

Estonia ( ) are located in Tartu County.www.tourdelatest.eu

About half of the popular 140-kilometre biking trail around

Lake Võrtsjärv ( ) is inwww.vortsjarv.ee/tourism/mapsTartu County.

A regional biking trail passes along the kame field of .SelgisOn the 30-kilometre trail with signposts there is Kärgandicamping site allowing campfires and the Kukemetsa hut

(http://loodusegakoos.ee/where-to-go/recreation-areas/tartu-jogeva-recreation-area/selgise-cycling-trail-30-km).

Biking routes have also been marked in the Elva-VitipaluLandscape Protection Area Vellavere(23.5 km route),(8 km and 13 km routes) ( ) and nearwww.vvvs.ee Ilmatsalu(8 km route) (http://loodusegakoos.ee/where-to-go/r e c r e a t i o n - a r e a s / t a r t u - j o g e v a - r e c r e a t i o n -area/ilmatsalu-cycling-trail-7-dot-5-km). You should beaware, though, that most of the local biking routes inEstonia direct the biker to smaller gravel roads with lesstraffic and are therefore safer.

Picnic spot

Boardwalk

Swimming site

Text: Annereet Paatsi Layout: Triinu Sarv Print: PaarPhotos: Tartu County public photostock. 2015

Tartu Visitor Centre

/Raekoja 1A Town Hall, Tartu ESTONIAPh/fax +372 744 2111info@visittartu.comwww.visittartu.comCampfire site

no camping allowed

Camping site23,5km

Length

Shed

Lookout tower

Information board Wheelchair accessibleNo fire allowed

1km

600m

1km

1,5km

23,5km

2,3km

3,5km

6,5km

13km

66km

2km

3km

2,5km

3,5km

4,7km

4,5km

3,6km

14km

www.rmk.ee

Nature Reservesand Hiking Trails in Tartu CountyNature Reservesand Hiking Trails in Tartu County

Tourist information centre; tourist information

Hiking trail; lookout tower

Museum; manor house

Church; orthodox church

Protection area visitor centre; park

Erratic boulder; sacred stone

Hotel; accommodation

Restaurant; catering

Tenting site; camp fire site

Boat hire; fishing

Symbols, which are not

in the exact location

Protected area

Võrtsjärve cycling

route (140 km)

Selgise cycling

route (30 km)Castle ruins; monument

Natural features; archaeological place of interest

Filling station; beach

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