Pillapalu – Bog Trails, Lakes and Nature Experiences

The 8 km Jussi Nature Trail is located in the Põhja-Kõrvemaa Nature Reserve, near Pillapalu küla in Anija Municipality, Harju County. It starts and ends at the Koersilla car park and offers views of six lakes. Other activities offer their own highlights: the Paukjärve Nature Trail is a circular route, the Linajärve bog trail leads to a bog pool, and the SUP route on the Soodla Tour is 3.5 km long.

The Linajärve bog trail leads to Linajärve rabalaugas, a bog pool. Along the way, you get views of the bog landscape and its pools. If you are looking for a landscape with bodies of water and open views, you can compare this trail with the Jussi Nature Trail: views of six lakes are among the experiences described there. The two trails therefore have different focuses—bog landscape and bog pools on one hand, and views of several lakes on the other.

The Paukjärve Nature Trail adds a circular route by Lake Paukjärv and through the nearby hills and valleys. Along the trail, damp, dark deciduous forests give way to bright pine forests. This sequence makes the forest itself a defining part of the outing. The trail can be used on foot or by bicycle; if you are choosing between these two ways of getting around, an alternative is explicitly offered here.

Jussi Heath came into being after repeated fires caused by the activities of the Soviet army. Its history sets it apart from nature trails whose distinctive features are mainly bogs, lakes or forest landscapes. The Uuejärve Nature Trail also has a historical connection: it crosses the Vargamäe vallseljak ridge and passes a former Soviet military camp site. The site is to be understood as a former location; the trail combines this historical connection with a route over the ridge.

The Paukjärve Nature Trail lets you choose between a walk and a cycling route, rather than limiting the options to just one way of getting around. The Soodla Tour describes another kind of activity: its hiking section includes a refuge for waterbirds. The SUP route runs through the reeds of the Soodla in Kõrvemaa and is 3.5 km long. The hiking section and SUP route therefore offer two clearly distinct perspectives on the tour—on foot and on the water.

A 2 km husky sled ride starts along a forest trail at Small Lapland Husky Park in Uuejärve, Pillapalu küla, Anija Municipality, Harju County. When there is not enough suitable snow, four-wheeled carts are used instead of sleds. The experience includes tea and a light snack, either around a campfire or in a warm room. If this activity is a priority when planning your trip, you can take into account the stated route length, the forest trail and the alternative for unsuitable snow conditions.

If you are looking for a hotel in Pillapalu, it helps to decide what you would like to focus on first: bog landscapes, lake views, forest trails, the history of Jussi Heath or an activity such as the husky sled ride or SUP. The options differ in terms of landscape and how you get around; one circular trail is also suitable for cycling, while other experiences have a specified route length. For further comparisons of destinations, you can also explore Vetla and Voose.

How long is the Jussi Nature Trail?

The Jussi Nature Trail is 8 km long. It starts and ends at the Koersilla car park and offers views of six lakes.

Can you use the Paukjärve Nature Trail by bicycle?

Yes. The Paukjärve Nature Trail can be used on foot or by bicycle. It is a circular route by Lake Paukjärv and runs along nearby hills and valleys.

What happens if the snow is unsuitable for the husky sled ride?

Four-wheeled carts are used instead of sleds. The 2 km ride starts along a forest trail at Small Lapland Husky Park.

To the main travel overview: Anija.