Kääriku: Sports, Trails and Water

• The athletics stadium has a competition-standard 400-metre track: six lanes, and eight on the straights.
• The outdoor pool has a diving tower; swimming areas are next to Kekkoneni sauna and Greeni sauna.
• The MoBo route combines moderate physical exertion with navigation and can be completed alone or with friends.
• The Kekkonen hiking trail starts at the stadium and can be used year-round: for hiking, jogging and cycling in summer, and cross-country skiing in winter.
• The Kääriku trail network includes three hiking trails, 5, 2.3 and 4.6 kilometres long.
• Kääriku järv covers 19 hectares and is up to 5.9 metres deep.
• The nearby Harimäe observation tower is 27.5 metres high, has four viewing platforms and was renovated in 2025.

The 400-metre track at Kääriku athletics stadium meets competition standards. There are eight lanes on the straights and six on the other sections. This gives you a clear description of the track if you’re including athletics in your travel plans.

The MoBo route combines exercise with developing navigation skills. The physical exertion is moderate, and you can complete the route alone or with friends. The Kekkonen hiking trail, by contrast, focuses on the seasons and the activities associated with them. It starts at the stadium and can be used year-round: for hiking, jogging and cycling in summer, and cross-country skiing in winter.

The three hiking trails in the Kääriku trail network can first be compared by length. The shortest is 2.3 kilometres long and the longest is 5 kilometres; the 4.6-kilometre trail lies between them. This makes it easy to compare the routes by the distance you want to cover without confusing the three trails.

There is a separate route description for the Pühajärve-Kääriku activity route: after leaving the forest, it runs alongside the Otepää-Kääriku road to Kääriku. This gives you different points of reference: the lengths of the three hiking trails, and the described stretch of road for this activity route.

Kääriku järv covers 19 hectares and is up to 5.9 metres deep. These figures describe different features of the lake: its area and its maximum depth. The outdoor pool has different features: it has a diving tower, and swimming areas are next to Kekkoneni sauna and Greeni sauna. This makes it easy to distinguish the lake and pool by the features listed for each.

The nearby Harimäe observation tower is 27.5 metres high and has four viewing platforms. From there, you can enjoy views of the Otepää Upland, the Valga Lowland and the Karula Upland. The tower was renovated in 2025. With its platforms and the three named landscapes, it adds a dedicated viewpoint to the trails and water activities.

Discover more destinations: Sangaste, Tõrva, Taagepera, Meegaste, Valga.

How long are the three hiking trails in Kääriku?

They are 2.3, 4.6 and 5 kilometres long.

What activities are possible on the Kekkonen hiking trail?

You can hike, jog and cycle there in summer; cross-country skiing is possible in winter. The trail starts at Kääriku stadium.

What views can you see from Harimäe observation tower?

From its four viewing platforms, you can see the Otepää Upland, the Valga Lowland and the Karula Upland.

Go to the main travel overview: Valga.