A Day at Lahemaa National Park

Text Stewart Johnson

Photo Toomas Tuul / Visit Estonia

Lahemaa National Park is Estonia’s best-known national park. Located along the northeast coast, Lahemaa has hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails and boardwalks to explore. Several lookout towers give visitors a chance to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the park.

With any luck, you could also have a close encounter with a local. Hopefully not too close though, as “locals” include bears, eagles, moose (elk), lynxes, boars, and the occasional human. That’s right: Lahemaa is the perfect place to enjoy nature, usually without anyone else around!

Early spring is the perfect time to visit. The boardwalks keep you above the melting snow, and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can look for the many “nature spots” of interest that Lahemaa has to offer, such as a literal field of boulders (Käsmu), the beaver trail, and bird and wildlife tours.

Getting to Lahemaa is only half the fun. On the way there—or on the way back—make sure to visit the Jägala Waterfall, just off the highway. The waterfall, one of Estonia’s Seven Natural Wonders, is usually bursting with water during the early spring thaw, and during the winter it is a veritable ice castle. Local accommodation possibilities are also available that offer wonderful saunas and fine dining.

For more information visit Baltic Guide’s list of other exciting activities in Lahemaa National Park.

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Estonian Nature Jägala Lahemaa national park nature tour Sauna waterfall wildlife