Top 7 Nature & Parks in Valga County, Valga County

Climbing to the top of Munamagi Hill is worth the effort – the view covers more than 50 km. The absolute height of Vaike or Otepaa Munamagi Hill is 207.5 m (relative height exceeds 80 m). There is a spring on the north-eastern slope of Vaike Munamagi (in the direction of Otepaa) that has been considered the start of the Vaike Emajogi River for a long time. The boulder on the edge of the first plain is the biggest in the area – 250,000 kg.

The picturesque coastline and five islands of Lake Puhajarv make it the biggest and most beautiful lake in the Otepaa region. There is a beach with a beach house, ball game courts, rest areas, cafés and a pier by the northern tip of Lake Puhajarv.There are many springs in the lake and the Spring of Love is the most famous of these. The Vaike Emajogi River starts from the southern tip of the lake. A 12 km hiking track runs about the lake.Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso blessed the lake in 1991 and this event is commemorated with a wooden sculpture on the lake’s shore by the park.

Otepaa Nature Park is the largest landscape protection area in Estonia (22,430 hectares). It forms the central part of the hilly Otepaa Highlands, of whose 1180 square kilometres it covers 19%. The nature park is located in the northern part of Valga County in Otepaa, Palupera, Puka and Sangaste rural municipalities. Access is available to all of the nature park, but you must respect your surroundings. Further information is available from the nature park centre at Kolga tee 28, which is open from Monday to Thursday from 08:00 to 17:00 and on Fridays from 08:00 to 14:30.

Harimagi is one of the largest mesas of the Otepaa Highlands (211.3 m above sea level). You can climb a 24 m viewing platform here to enjoy the views that reach Otepaa hills and a cross the Vaike Emajogi River to the Karula Highlands. Those who are not brave enough to climb to the top can stay on lower levels.Interesting facts:The hill has also been called Leenard and Leonhard Hill.Internationally renowned astronomer and geodesist Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struwe (1793-1864) surveyed the area in 1816-1819.

Families with children are particularly welcome in the Lake Puhajarv Park as there are many opportunities to feed ducks and other birds when walking on the lakeshore. There is an exercise track by the northern part of the park. This is also the place where you will find the beach with a beach house, cafés, arbours and boat hire.The park used to be a part of the Puhajarv Manor Park and it was designed as a walking forest with paths already in the 19th century. The park is mainly a naturally grown forest.

The Helme caves, in the manor park of the same name, are unrivalled in Estonia. Situated to the north of the castle ruins, the caves have white Burtniek layer sandstone walls standing 3 m high. Unfortunately, some of the better known caves have already collapsed. The cave system once comprised seven interlinked chambers, the biggest of which was known as the Church of Moses. The caves are peppered with springs, and over the years have been further dug out and used as shelters.Did you know...?*In the olden days the Helme caves were also known locally as the gateway to Hell