Viru Bog with kids and dogs: the boardwalk, the lookout tower and bog pools in Lahemaa

Viru Bog (Viru raba) is a large peat bog in Lahemaa National Park with a wooden boardwalk running across it. The RMK trail is 3.5 km one way or 5.5 km as a loop, and the lookout tower is 1.3 km from the car park. With the kids and the dogs we walked about 7 km in two hours.

The day before, we had seen the Käsmu boulders, the Altja swing and the Oandu beaver trail. The whole route is in our post Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia by campervan with kids.

Narrow planks across a real bog

From Lepispea campsite it was only 23 km to Viru Bog. The trail starts at the car park. Helenka rode in the child carrier.

The boardwalk is narrow here, in places just two planks laid across a real bog. The dogs trotted bravely along the boards with us. Stunted pines grow all around, with dark pools glinting between them.

The lookout tower over the bog

From the wooden lookout tower you can see the whole bog: green and yellow moss, pines and dozens of small lakes, with forest on the horizon. We all climbed to the top together.

The water in the bog pools is dark but very clean. By the boardwalk there is a designated swimming spot in one of them.

Vanamõisa instead of Tallinn

From Viru Bog we drove 70 km to Vanamõisa Caravan Park outside Tallinn. It makes a good base for visiting the capital, because there is a railway station right next to it. We arrived at 15:30 and decided to skip Tallinn. Instead of sightseeing we relaxed and flew a kite. The washrooms are new and of a very high standard.

The next day we headed south to Pärnu and Kabli.

Practical info

Checked in November 2026.

• To reach the car park, take the Tallinn - Narva road (E20). At the 52 km mark, turn left at the sign "Võsu 22, Loksa 15"; the car park is on the right.
• The car park has 91 spaces for cars and 5 for coaches. There is a toilet at the start of the trail.
• The trail is 3.5 km one way. You can also return by a different path along the dunes beside the bog, which makes a 5.5 km loop.
• The first 1.3 km, up to the tower, is suitable for pushchairs. After the tower the boardwalk gets narrower.
• Up to 25 people may be on the tower at once. Do not climb it during a thunderstorm.
• The bog is highly flammable, so stay on the boardwalk. Cycling on the boardwalk is not allowed.
• The RMK trail description mentions no fees, and it says nothing about dogs. When we were there in 2026, our dogs came with us.