Viitna: Lakes, Trails and Nature

Viitna offers concrete starting points for planning a stay, with its lakes, protected area and nature trails. If you are looking for a hotel in Viitna, it is worth incorporating the destination’s nature attractions into your daily plans: the “Viitna Nature Study Trail” is 7 km long and leads to all three Viitna lakes; Lake Pikkjärv also has a shorter 2.5 km loop. Other highlights include glacial landforms, distinctive features of individual lakes and a glass-kayak tour. When planning, you can weigh up trail length, lake scenery and other nature experiences.

Protected Area and Glacial Landscape

The Viitna Landscape Protection Area covers 312 ha and is part of the Natura 2000 network. Its landforms were created about 11,000 years ago, as the ice sheets retreated from the Pandivere Upland. The three Viitna lakes were also formed by ice sheets. The terrain and lakes alike reflect the area’s glacial history.

Several rare and endangered plants grow at Lake Pikkjärv, which has four islands. It is also a closed-basin lake, with high sandy banks and soft, nutrient-poor water. This gives the lake a range of natural features to explore from different perspectives: its plant life and islands, as well as the shape of its banks and the character of its water. Nabudi Lake offers a different natural highlight: it covers 0.6 ha, is rich in springs and is surrounded by a quaking bog. The two lakes therefore have distinct natural features: Pikkjärv combines islands, rare plants and sandy banks, while Nabudi Lake is notable for its abundant springs and surrounding quaking bog.

Trail Options by Length and Destination

The “Viitna Nature Study Trail” is 7 km long, leads to all three Viitna lakes and offers views of eskers, forests and the lake landscape. A shorter 2.5 km loop is located at Lake Pikkjärv. When planning your day, you can compare the options by route length and stated destination: the longer trail leads to all three lakes, while the shorter loop is at Lake Pikkjärv. This lets you weigh up both the distance and destination, rather than considering only the number of kilometres.

Getting to the Starting Point

The starting point of the “Viitna Nature Study Trail” is 1 km from the Viitna bus stop. When planning your trip, distinguish this distance from the length of the trail: the kilometre refers to the distance between the bus stop and the starting point; 7 km is the length of the trail. If you are considering public transport for your journey, you can take both figures into account separately.

A Different Perspective on the Lakes

On a glass-kayak tour of the Viitna lakes, visitors can see the lake bed, aquatic plants and fish through the transparent kayak. This adds a view beneath the water’s surface to the landscape perspectives available on land.

The Viitna lakes can also be explored at night, if desired. If you plan to take this option, check availability when booking.

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