Kõrvemaa

Kõrvemaa is the big forest east of Tallinn: long eskers covered in pine, raised bogs with boardwalks across them, and dozens of small clear lakes between. Much of it is protected, RMK keeps free campsites all through it, and the railway runs straight through it at Aegviidu. Two of our hikes start or end at that station.

The protected area

The Kõrvemaa landscape protection area covers 20,318 hectares of land and 205 hectares of lakes across Harju, Järva and Lääne-Viru counties. Its core around Aegviidu and Nelijärve was first protected in 1957; it was enlarged and renamed Kõrvemaa in 1971. The highest point is Valgehobuse hill, 106.9 m. North of Aegviidu, the Järvi lakes and Jussi lie in the separate Põhja-Kõrvemaa nature reserve.

Getting there

• Train: Elron trains from Tallinn to Aegviidu take 42–56 minutes depending on the service (timetable from 28 September 2026). The trails leave from the station.
• Visitor centre: RMK's Aegviidu visitor centre is at Jaama 7, about 100 m from the platform, with maps and advice. It is open Wednesday to Sunday 9–17 from mid-May to mid-September, and Wednesday to Friday 9–16 the rest of the year.

Trails

The Oandu–Aegviidu–Ikla trail, RMK's 370 km long-distance route from Lahemaa to the Latvian border, passes through Aegviidu, so you can walk north or south from the train. Around it, RMK keeps these marked trails in the Aegviidu-Kõrvemaa recreation area:

What we have walked

• Järvi – Aegviidu, August 2026: two days south on the Järvi-Aegviidu trail from the Järvi lakes past Paukjärv and Jussi to the station, with a hammock camp by a lake.
• Aegviidu – Napu, October 2026: two days south from the station on the Oandu–Ikla trail, a night at Noku and the bog at dawn. This one is the film.
• Kakerdaja bog: the bog and its boardwalk on their own, with parking for a day visit.

Staying overnight

RMK campfire sites and campsites are free and shared, and you cannot book them: bring a tent in case the shelters are taken. Most have a covered fire pit, a woodshed and a dry toilet; the water comes from the lakes, so treat it. Fire is allowed only in the fire pits and only when the fire risk allows it (ilmateenistus.ee). Quiet hours are 23:00–6:00, and dogs stay on a lead. RMK's guidelines have the rest.