The best hiking routes in Ida-Viru County

Ida-Viru County presents a landscape of stark contrasts, shaped by both heavy industry and ancient nature. Walkers will not find high peaks or deep valleys here; instead, the terrain is defined by flat coastal plains, vast peat bogs, and artificial hills left behind by oil shale mining. The region divides itself between the wild, quiet wetlands in the south and the dramatic, industrialised coastline in the north.

Underfoot, the walking surfaces vary from soft peat and wooden boardwalks in the southern bogs to hard clay, gravel, and sandy beaches along the Gulf of Finland. In the northern section, the Baltic Klint forms a sheer limestone cliff where trails run along the forested edge, occasionally revealing views of the sea. Further inland, the landscape is marked by ash hills and quarry lakes, where the soil is often stony and grey, showing how industrial excavation has reshaped the natural contours of the land.

Choosing where to walk depends on whether you prefer industrial history or quiet nature. The southern boglands offer long, flat routes through stunted pines and dark pools, which are particularly striking in October when the mosses turn deep orange. In contrast, walking near the coastal settlements brings you past abandoned Soviet-era buildings and active industrial sites, offering a concrete look at Estonia's twentieth-century history alongside the regenerating forests.