Karula National Park

Karula National Park (also know as Karula rahvuspark) is a 123 km² park located along a groups of lakes (among them Ähijärve lake), being the smallest National Park in Estonia, by the border with Latvia. Located in both Valga County and Võru County and has an important fauna and flora like the pond bat, the lesser spotted eagle, the black stork, mammals like elk, lynx and polecat or Baltic orchid, mezereon and the daisyleaf grape fern.

How do I arrive to Karula National Park?

 The area has very few inhabitants so it isn't easy to arrive here.

• Car: to reach the National Park you can drive from Valga (aprox. 40 minutes), from Rõuge (aprox. 40 minutes), from Võru (aprox. 50 minutes) or from Tartu (aprox. 1.5 hours). In case you want to reach it from Latvia it can be done from Valmiera (aprox. 1 hour 20 minutes).

 Once in the Park, a good choice to move along it is by car, bike or walking.

History

The area has been quite uninhabited by humans. They used to belong to the municipality of Karula till 2017, when they were divided into Rõuge and Antsla municipalities, being a traditional area where Võro language is spoken. It was established in 1979 as a protected area and in 1993 became a National Park.

What can I visit in Karula National Park?

These are some things to do in this National Park, explained now according to the village where they are or the nearest one:     

• Ähijärve: 34 inhabitants settlement by Ähijärve Lake, considerad sacred since pagan times, in the eastern part of the NP. 
  • Karula National Park Visitor Center (10-18 from May to Aug; 10-16 Wed-Fri from Sep to Apr): visitor center where getting information of the NP, watch a documentary introducing it or enjoy the permanent exhibition.
  • Ähijärve roads and paths Trail (4.2 km): incredible path in the north of the lake that goes through the woods and meadows. Some fauna and flora can be enjoyed like woodpeackers or local varieties of orchids.
  • Peräjärve Forest Trail (4 km): trail located 3 km south from the settlement that goes through different types of forest: fresh boreal forest, dry boreal nemoral forest and swamp forest.
• Mähkli: 33 inhabitants settlement by Mikilä Lake, in the northern part of the National Park, where there's Mäekonnu Observation Tower. In the south of the settlement it can be found Kivi Forest Hut, an old non-heated barn with bunks and a fire ring outside.
  
• Rebasemõisa (Repsberg in German): 63 inhabitants village in the southern part of the National Park.
  
  • Rebasemõisa Observation Tower: wooden tower with spectacular views of the semi-natural landscapes and forests of Karula open from the top of the tower.
  • Rebase Landscape Trail (7 km): beautiful trail that shows the landscape of the region. Another interesting choice is taking Kaili-Pille Trail (12.7 km).
    
• There are cycling trails available: Karula Short Cycling Trail (15 km) and Karula Long Cycling Trail (30.8 km). They both help you to get in touch with the nature of the National Park. 

Ähijärve roads and paths Trail

Rebase Landscape Trail

Landscape at Haanja Nature Park

 Going 40 km west you can find Rõuge (Rõugõ in Võro), a 434 inhabitants village located in a valley called Ööbikuorg, close to the border with Latvia. In the village you can visit St. Maarja Lutheran Church (9-15 Thu-Sun from Jun to Aug; free), a stone church built in 1730 with an impressing painting from 1880 in the altarpiece, Jeesus ristil by Rudolf von zur Mühlen. But Rõuge is also the entrance to Haanja Nature Park, a 169 km² park with seven lakes (among others Suurjärv Lake, the deepest in Estonia), forests, hills (like Linnamägi that hosted a foretress between the 8th and 11th centuries) rivers that make this areas have some of the most beautiful landscapes in Estonia. One of the most interesting places in the park is Suur Munamägi (10-20 from Apr to Oct; 10-15 Sat-Sun from Nov to Mar; 6€/ 4€/ 3€  adults, retiree and students by lift/ adults on foot/ retiree and students on foot), a viewpoint with a tower located over the peak with the same name (318 m), the tallest in the Baltic countries (from it, it can be seen Pskov or Tartu in sunny days). In the border with Latvia you can visit another part of the Nature Park, the Luhasoo Nature Reserve, a fascinating and untouched swampland, the largest integral bog in Estonia. There's a 4.5 km trail that goes over some swamps and a black lake that allows to enjoy the amazing fauna (elks, deers...) and flora (water lilies or venus flytraps) of the park. The Nature Park is an excellent place to hike, go cycling or canoeing.

Where can I eat in Karula National Park?

This National Park has almost no places to eat so it's a good idea bringing food.

Posted in: Estonia,Europe,National Park