Things to do in Polva County, Polva County: The Best Nature & Parks

Cabins for hikers, an observation point and a boarded path attract many nature lovers to Meenikunno bog. This is a beautiful recreation area. While walking down the boarded path you can see common bog plants: leather leaf, bog rosemary, black crowberry, marsh Labrador tea and Tussock cottongrass, on the edge of the bog dwarf birches can also be found. There is also a number of different species of peat moss of various colours. The bravest ones can try bog water with an interesting taste from the overgrown ditch on the edge of the bog.

The nature trail starting in Tilleorg valley runs along the floodplain for 4.5 km, passes coniferous forests and reaches Merioone spring. The landscape reserve situated in the headwaters of the Ahja River on the stretch between Tille and the Moksi windmill was established in 1957. The purpose of the reserve is to preserve the landscape’s integrity of the forest growing on the banks of the Ahja River, in its primeval valley, nearby valleys, hills and on the brinks of the valley – it is a real handicraft hall of nature. Interesting to know: People believed that Merioone spring reached the sea; this idea is also behind its name.

Taevaskoja nature trail is 3 km long and goes along both banks of the Ahja River. The trail starts in the Saesaare parking lot of the State Forest Management Centre which is situated near Saesaare small town on the road between Taevaskoda and Kiidjarve. The entire trail runs in the landscape reserve of the Ahja River. There are 10 observation points on the trail with boards providing information in English, Russian and Estonian. At the beginning of the trail there is also a board displaying maps of the trail and recreation area, and direction signs. At the level of difficulty it ranks in the middle.Interesting to know:The folk call high sandstone outcrops Heaven’s Hall (Taevaskoda).

This is a circular trail and provides information about the activities of the Northern Camp (Petseri Northern Camp, established in 1926, was a camp of the Defence Forces of the Republic of Estonia). The trail can be accessed at the log houses of Luige and Varska.

Nohipalu Black Lake is located 0,5 km to the south of the White Lake and is larger and a complete opposite to its neighbour. The banks of this forest lake are low, boggy and, especially in the south, difficult to move along. Its waters are acidic, reddish-brown, extremely opaque (transparency is only 0,4 m), and rich in organic elements. Hikers can rest on the banks near a fire or make a picnic in a specially equipped roofed place.

Nohipalu White Lake is located on a forest-covered sandur in the north-east of the Haanja Upland.The banks are mostly sandy and not much bogged. The lake is surrounded by a coniferous forest dominated by pine trees. According to the existing data, the White Lake is the most oligotrophic (poor in nutrients) and transparent lake in Estonia. Holidaymakers like to enjoy themselves near a cozy fire on its banks.

Kiidjarve ants’ path (1.5 km long) passes through a forest with the area of 20 hectares and it includes approximately 200 ant hills. The visitors can also enjoy a large fir forest with record high fir trees and also a wide selection fir trees planted during an Estonian-wide campaign. The sample area is also called with a folk name the Ants’ Kingdom of Kiidjarve. The path is depicted on a large board and guided by smaller information boards along the path.

The nature trail is equipped with direction signs and 12 trail points with information boards. The trail focuses on forest-related issues and provides information about different types of forests. It can be passed on foot, by bike and in winter with snow by skiing as well.

The modern times have not influenced the Postal Road passage from Liiva to Puskaru in the former Voru-Tartu road and so the narrow road winds around the hills and valleys and passes historical sights today, too. Along the Postal Road the travellers can find beautiful landscapes, peaceful nature trails, Lake Palojarve with its clear water and vivid historical sights. Data about the route that connected Tartu with Vastseliina and Russia, date back to the Swedish times. According to folk tales, both the horses of the Swedish King as well as Peter the Great galloped along this route. The Estonian Road Museum is located along the Postal Road in Varbuse.

Erastvere forest district provides for nature-lovers a 5.5 km long forest study trail starting at the Forest Museum. The trail runs through the bog Sitalise while passing the place called Thunder Prayer near the Puhajoe River.