Through Estonia's forests to Pärnu: an unplanned nature trail detour
On a trip to the Estonian coastal city of Pärnu, a traveler accidentally ended up on the wrong nature trail but discovered both the Laiksaare floodplain forest trail and the Rae lake hiking path. Both offer a peaceful nature experience near Pärnu.
A trip to the Estonian coastal city of Pärnu doesn't always go exactly as planned — and sometimes that's where the best discoveries happen. One traveler, hoping to visit a forest lake with a walking trail, mistakenly entered the address of a different trail into her navigation app.
An unexpected trail in Laiksaare
After getting out of the car, it quickly became clear this wasn't the intended spot — instead of a lake, the path led along a small river through fairly dense forest. It later turned out the group had walked the Laiksaare floodplain forest educational trail, located at the edge of a floodplain forest along the Rannametsa river. This two-kilometer trail, marked with information boards, introduces visitors to Estonia's rare floodplain forests and their characteristic plant life, requiring hikers to climb over fallen trees along the way. Two forest cabins and a fire pit are located near the trail, allowing for an overnight stay if needed. The area's name reportedly comes from a time when the farm buildings looked like scattered patches amid the surrounding bogs and forests.
A hike around Lake Rae
Since the travelers had left for Pärnu early and only planned to check into their accommodation in the evening, they had time to visit one more spot: the Lake Rae hiking trail, described as one of Pärnu's hidden gems. This 2.6-kilometer trail (four kilometers round trip) winds along the lakeshore, offering views of calm water and quiet pine forests, along with a chance to spot signs of local wildlife. The trail also features a life-size bear model, which could catch unsuspecting visitors off guard — especially given recent online discussions about bear sightings.
