Estonia’s Long-Distance Hiking Trails
Discover Estonia’s Nature Step by Step
Estonia is a nature lover’s paradise – compact, peaceful, and rich in unspoiled landscapes. With over 2,300 islands and islets, Suur Munamägi as the Baltic’s highest peak (318 m), the northernmost tip at Purekkari Cape, Võhandu River stretching 162 km, Rõuge Suurjärv as the deepest lake (38 m), and around 2,000 glacial erratic boulders, Estonia offers a natural diversity rarely found elsewhere in Europe.
Whether you choose a long-distance hiking trail or an easily accessible health track, Estonia’s nature is always close – and real. Managed by RMK (the State Forest Management Centre), the country’s trail network includes over 3,300 km of marked trails, 93 observation towers, 95 nature study trails, 738 campfire sites, 61 designated camping areas, 27 forest huts, and 20 rental cabins – all free to access or low-cost.
Estonia’s long-distance trails (including parts of European routes E9 and E11) lead through national parks, forests, bogs, coastlines, and cultural landscapes. Over 120 health trails across the country offer year-round options for walking, running, skiing, or snowshoeing.
While Estonia is well-marked and easy to explore independently, we recommend starting your first hike with a local guide. A guide helps you interpret the quiet details of the landscape – from bog ecosystems and ancient hill forts to animal tracks and local myths – turning your walk into a deeper connection with this land.
📆 Estonia’s Hiking Infrastructure
Long distance hiking trails:
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Peraküla–Aegviidu–Ähijärve Trail – 812 km
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Penijõe–Kauksi Trail – 614 km
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Oandu–Ikla Trail – 370 km
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Heltermaa-Ristna-Sarve (Hiiumaa island) - 234km
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Baltic Coastal Hiking Route (E9) – 620 km in Estonia
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Forest Trail (E11) – 720 km in Estonia
Health and Fitness Trails:
Estonia has over 120 health trails (terviserajad.ee), designed for year-round outdoor movement:
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Summer: walking, running, Nordic walking
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Winter: classic skiing, snowshoe hikes
Most trails are well-marked, often lit, with info boards and easy access.
🥾 Oandu–Aegviidu–Ikla Trail – 370 km
This trail begins in northern Estonia at Oandu in Lahemaa National Park, traverses the dense forests of Kõrvemaa, and continues through Soomaa National Park, one of Europe's most extensive bog landscapes. It then winds through the forests of Pärnumaa, leading to coastal villages and the scenic beaches of the Gulf of Riga.
🥾 Peraküla–Aegviidu–Ähijärve Trail – 820 km
Estonia's longest hiking trail offers a diverse landscape: sandy and pebble beaches in Läänemaa, dense forests in Harjumaa, picturesque grain fields in Järvamaa, impressive wetlands in Endla and Emajõe Suursoo, rolling pine forests in Põlvamaa, and notable landmarks in Võrumaa.
🥾 Penijõe–Kauksi Trail – 614 km
Starting at Penijõe Manor in the heart of Matsalu National Park, this trail passes through the floodplains of the Kasari River and various bogs, skirts ancient hill forts, and reaches Aegviidu via the Paunküla Hills. In Lääne-Virumaa, it follows eskers and crosses the Neeruti Hills, passing former military bases before entering the Tudu bog in Ida-Virumaa. The landscape then transitions to industrial terrains, including the ash hills of Kiviõli and Püssi, the Aidu quarry, and the Kohtla-Nõmme mining park. Along the northern coast, the trail runs atop and below the Ontika limestone cliff, passing the Valaste waterfall, and concludes through the Sinimäed Hills, Kurtna Lakes, Agusalu bog, and Alutaguse forests, ending at Kauksi on the northern shore of Lake Peipus.
🥾 Heltermaa–Ristna–Sarve Trail (Hiiumaa) – 234 km
This trail starts at Heltermaa Harbour, follows village roads to Kärdla, and then continues through the natural coastal areas of the Tahkuna Peninsula, featuring forests, northern dunes, and sandy beaches. It proceeds through the Kaibaldi sands and the bogs and mires of Hiiumaa to the Kõpu Peninsula, home to the Kõpu Lighthouse, Ristna Cape, coastal dunes, and the RMK Visitor Centre.
🌊 Baltic Coastal Hiking Trail (E9) – ~620 km in Estonia
Part of the European long-distance path E9, this trail runs along the Baltic Sea coast from the Lithuanian border to Tallinn. In Estonia, it covers approximately 622 km, passing through sandy beaches, fishing villages, and the wetlands of Matsalu National Park, one of Northern Europe's most significant bird migration areas. The trail continues through the historic town of Haapsalu, the islands of Western Estonia, and the limestone cliffs of Northern Estonia, culminating in Tallinn's Old Town.
🌲 Baltic Forest Trail (E11) – ~720 km in Estonia
As part of the European long-distance path E11, this trail spans approximately 720 km in Estonia. It begins in the Haanja Upland, home to Suur Munamägi, the highest peak in the Baltics, and traverses the Setomaa region, rich in cultural heritage. The trail follows the western shore of Lake Peipus, passes through the Alutaguse National Park, and concludes in Lahemaa National Park, offering a journey through diverse forested landscapes.
🏃♂️ Health Trails in Estonia
Estonia boasts over 120 health trails (Terviserajad.ee) suitable for year-round activities:
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Summer: Walking, running, Nordic walking
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Winter: Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
These trails are well-marked, often illuminated, equipped with information boards, and easily accessible. Major centers with extensive trail networks include Jõulumäe, Kõrvemaa, Mammaste, and Haanja
Contact
If you have any questions or additional requests, please feel free to write to us or let us know, and we can arrange an online meeting.
+372 5105441