Instructions for visitors

Restrictions stemming from the Nature Conservation Act, the protection rules of the national park (in Estonian), everyman’s right and other legislation apply in Lahemaa National Park. Read more about the zones of the national park in the protection procedures section.

General

  • Try not to leave any traces in the nature.
  • Ask the permission of the owner when being on a marked/fenced private land. Field, plantations and apiaries are not meant for hiking.
  • Use bicycles on roads and paths, use and park motor vehicles (including terrain vehicles and snowmobiles) only on prescribed roads and parking lots.
  • All publicly used water bodies have shore or bank paths, the width of which in navigable water bodies is 10 m, other water bodies 4 m from the border of the water body. If the shore or bank path is flooded, a strip of two metres from the waterline is considered as the shore or bank path.
  • You may always pick wild berries, mushrooms and other natural products which are not protected, given that you allowed to be in the picking spot. On a private land, if it is fenced and marked, you need a permission of the possessor of the land to pick natural products.
  • Set up a tent and make a fire only in locations intended and marked for such purposes; if you leave the campfire site, put the fire out. Setting up a tent and making a fire in a yard are only allowed upon the permission of the owner. If the forests have been declared flammable, making an open fire is always prohibited, also on a fire base.
  • Keep your dog on a leash when being in the nature.
  • Read more about moving in the nature from the General Part of the Environmental Code Act and protection rules of the corresponding protected area.
  • If you see damages caused to nature or to civil engineering works meant for visitation, please report it to the by calling state helpline 1247.
  • Emergency phone number is 112.

Where and when is the presence prohibited?

  • All year in the Esku and Remnispea nature reserves without a permission of the Environmental Board, the manager of the protected area.
  • In the Loosaarte, Saartneeme, Ulkkari and Älvi conservation zones from 1 April until 15 July.
  • In the Reiemäe conservation zone from 15 March until 31 August.
  • In the Koolimäe, Metsaveere and Rüütli conservation zones from 15 February until 31 July.
  • In the Laviku, Loobu, Põhjakalda and Suursoo conservation zones from 1 February until 30 June.
  • In the conservation zone of Hara swamp from 1 February until 31 August.

On the waters of the national park, it is allowed to:

  • navigate a vessel without engine on the rivers and on Lake Käsmu;
  • navigate a vessel without internal combustion engine on the lakes, except Lake Käsmu;
  • navigate a vessel in the Hauaneeme conservation zone and a vessel without engine in the Ulkkari conservation zone;
  • navigate a vessel in the limited management zone of the sea.

Driving a jet ski is prohibited in the Hauaneeme and Ulkkari conservation zones and in the water area between Vergi and Vainupea; in the Koolimäe Bay south of the line between the tip of the Lobineeme and Pedassaare capes, closer than 250 m to the border of the Saartneeme conservation zone, in Eru Bay and south of the line between the tip of the Palganeeme cape.

All year, fishing is prohibited on the following rivers:

  • the Koolimäe, Vainupea and Kolga Rivers in entire length and the Mustoja River – from the barrage of the reservoir of Vihula manor to the estuary;
  • the Altja River – from Oandu barrage to the estuary;
  • the Võsu River – from Laviku barrage to the estuary;
  • the Loobu River – from Joaveski barrage to the estuary;
  • the Valgejõgi River – from the bridge of Tallinn-Narva highway to the estuary;
  • the Pudisoo River – from the bridge of Tallinn-Narva highway to the estuary;
  • the Loo River – from Loo barrage to the estuary.

Fishing 100 m downstream of the barrages of all rivers as well as on fish ladders and upstream closer than 50 m of these is prohibited.

Fishing with bottom line, underwater fishing gear and trimmer in the Loobu River from the source to the Joaveski barrage and in the Valgejõgi River from the source to the Kotka barrage is prohibited.

NB! Fishing in the Valgejõgi River – from Kotka barrage to the estuary is allowed only if you have a salmon fishing card.

In the sea, fishing is prohibited all year closer than 1,000 m to the estuaries of the Loobu and Valgejõgi Rivers. Fishing is prohibited in the sea closer than 500 m to the estuaries of the Mustoja, Loo, Altja, Võsu and Pudisoo Rivers from 15 August until 31 December. Fishing is prohibited from ice-free water in the Koolimäe Bay in an area which is closer than 500 m to the estuary of the Koolimäe Creek from 15 March until 15 May. Fishing is prohibited in the sea closer than 500 m to the estuary of the Lodja Creek from 1 March until 31 May.

Organisation of public events

Organising a public event in the conservation zone in locations intended and marked for such purposes (study trails, etc.) upon the consent of the Environmental Board requires the consent of the Environmental Board if there are 50 or more participants. Organising public events in other locations requires the consent of the Environmental Board if there are ten or more participants.

Organising a public event in the limited management zone in locations intended and marked for such purposes (study trails, camping areas, etc.) upon the consent of the Environmental Board does not require a consent from the Environmental Board. Organising public events in other locations requires the consent of the Environmental Board if there are 50 or more participants.