Kirikuküla: Suitsu Hiking Trail and Old Thatched-Roof Houses

About 1,000 years ago, Matsalu Bay extended as far as Kirikuküla. This former extent of the bay places today’s landscape in a long-term historical context. Near Penijõe in Kirikuküla, you can see wooded meadows; old thatched-roof farmhouses stand along the road beside the Suitsu River. There are also old and restored boathouses on the river’s right bank. The Suitsu Hiking Trail runs parallel to the flooded meadow of the Suitsu River. A stay here can therefore focus on both nature observation and traditional farm architecture and use of the river.

Views and hiking trail

The Suitsu observation tower is a 21 m-high metal tower with an open upper section. From there, you can see reed beds, coastal meadows and Matsalu Bay. The reed beds visible from the tower include Estonia’s largest, covering about 2,000 hectares. Two distances are easy to distinguish: a 300 m-long paved road leads to the tower, and the Suitsu Hiking Trail is 1.3 km long.

The Suitsu Hiking Trail is in Matsalu Forest and runs parallel to the flooded meadow of the Suitsu River. Visitors may spot roe deer, moose and wild boar along the trail. The observation tower offers views of reed beds, coastal meadows and the bay; on the trail, you can instead focus on the river floodplain and the chance to observe wildlife. The two nature experiences are therefore distinct: a panorama from the tower and a hike where you may see wild animals.

West of the Suitsu observation tower, the forest was once a wooded meadow and has since become overgrown. The history of the landscape is visible on two levels: about 1,000 years ago, Matsalu Bay extended as far as Kirikuküla, while the forest to the west illustrates the changes to a specific area of the landscape. The wooded meadow of Allika in Kirikuküla is also significant, particularly as a habitat. It complements the changes to the forest area with another aspect of nature: the importance of a wooded meadow.

Farmhouses, Tika Farm and boathouses

Old farmhouses with thatched roofs can be seen along the road beside the Suitsu River and elsewhere in Kirikuküla. Tika Farm, in the former village of Äärenurga, is protected as an architectural monument under the Heritage Conservation Act. The roof shape defines the character of the farmhouses, while the protection status of a specific farm is the focus at Tika Farm.

Old and restored boathouses stand on the right bank of the Suitsu River. They were, and still are, used to store the fishing equipment needed. Excursion boats take national park visitors out onto the river from the boathouses. This brings together their continuing storage function and boat trips in one place.

Accommodation

Suitsu Forest Hut is intended as a forest hut for overnight stays. If you would like to include it in your plans, check its availability in advance.

Discover more destinations: Tapa, Rakvere, Sagadi, Kadrina, Vinni, Rakke, Vainupea, Haljala Parish

For the overview of the wider region: Lääne-Viru.