Photo: Visit Pärnu
The Soomaa National Park protects the bogs, floodplains, forests, habitats of protected species and cultural heritage of the southwestern part of interim Estonia. The largely flat terrain of the national park that differs only in the south is the former bottom of the lake formed from the continental shelf between the glacier and the Sakala Upland. The typical landscape feature of the national park is bog plains, separated by rivers flowing in their natural bed. The local natural phenomenon of Soomaa is floods that are known as the fifth season of Soomaa and can cover 17,500 hectares.
Soomaa is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and hikers. The ancient-looking rivers are popular for canoeing. The study trails and bogs are great for hiking both on foot and in bogshoes. In total, the Soomaa National Park and its vicinity from Kurgja to Viljandi and Pärnu feature over 50 different RMK recreation facilities.
The best known study trails in Soomaa are the Riisa study trail and the Meiekose study trail. The Beaver trail starts just near the Soomaa Visitor Centre. An interactive smart game can be played on the trail, and the boardwalk is partly wheelchair and pram accessible. When visiting Soomaa, we recommend that you also go check out the longest bridge in Pärnu County, in Jõesuu village.