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
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
Nature Reservesand Hiking Trailsin Tartu County
Nature Reservesand Hiking Trailsin Tartu County
1 3
5
7
6
8
4
2
9
11
12
13
10
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 [email protected] 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
Horseback riding7
6
542
1
3
8
9
1413
10
11
12
Recommended
