Activities

Experience trip to the Ohepalu bog.

The bog trip starts and ends in the yard of Linnumäe Nature House. The duration of the trip is approximately 3 hours. The trip is easy and suitable for both small children and the elderly. It is advisable to inform the trip organizer in advance of any mobility issues or other special needs. Together, we will surely find a solution to even initially difficult problems.

Each bog trip is unique because there is no marked path in nature. Under the guidance of an experienced guide, we traverse a natural bog environment. During the trip, we pass through various stages of bog development, from shrub bog to open bog, until we reach the labyrinth of water lilies in the center of the bog, where the destination of the trip – Lake Suurjärv – begins to appear. The climax of the experience trip at the shores of Lake Ohepalu Suurjärv is usually a significant experience for all hikers, young and old, men and women alike. Now is the time to sit down and enjoy the silence, letting the mystical sounds of the untouched nature fill the mind.

Before the return journey, we will talk about several local legends and stories related to this unique lake in the bog. We will look for remnants of an ancient village along the trembling shoreline, as according to legends, the ancient village of Vaiküla, built on stilts, was located on this vast lake in the middle of the untouched bog, where the inhabitants of ancient Ohepalu sought refuge when enemy forces approached.

On the way back, there is an excellent opportunity to swim in the bog pool. The antiseptic, bacteria-free dark brown bog water is extremely beneficial for the skin, and older people say it can even heal various skin diseases. A mystical swim in the bog pool is an unforgettable experience both in early summer and late autumn, not to mention the soothing touch of the sun-warmed water in midsummer.
For those seeking special experiences, the best time is an early morning experience trip between the untouched bog pools, where you can catch the first rays of the rising sun through the sparkling spider webs covered with dew drops.

The bog landscape is unique and interesting in all seasons. In spring and autumn, a rare and noisy bird market is held on the largest lake in Western Estonia, the 67-hectare Lake Ohepalu Suurjärv, as tens of thousands of migratory birds stop at the lake. Ornithology enthusiasts are traditionally delighted to see thousands of birds landing on Lake Suurjärv every evening. This bird spectacle lasts only a few weeks and ends as unexpectedly as it began, giving way to the summer silence of the bog landscape. Only a few overflying eagles, nesting in the neighboring bog, disturb the primordial silence of the bog.