Vihi: Forest Trails, Moorland and Navesti Experiences

Vihi combines protected nature with trails and activities that reveal different sides of the area. A goshawk habitat, the history of the Sakala Road hiking trail and experiences on the Navesti offer several possible focal points for your trip. Vanaõue, whose address is in the village of Vihi, offers hiking, canoe trips and other activities. When planning, you can decide whether to focus on historic trails, landscape and water, or a varied programme.

Protected Nature and Landscape

The village is home to the permanently protected “Vihi kanakulli püsielupaik” habitat area (KLO3001976). It covers 11.25 hectares and is designated as a habitat for the goshawk. This specific conservation focus also makes Vihi interesting for travellers who see nature not merely as a backdrop, but as a valuable habitat.

For active holidays, the Navesti Nature Reserve shapes a landscape where bog communities and sand dunes meet. Near Vanaõue, the Sakala Road hiking trail passes through a pine forest shaped by sand dunes. You can also encounter forest and bog landscapes on the guided hikes offered by Vanaõue along forest trails and through the bog. These offer different landscape experiences: the pine forest along the trail and the bog landscape as the destination of guided tours.

Hiking Trails with a History

The Sakala Road hiking trail follows forest paths that C. R. Jakobson used on his journey from Kurgja via Vanaõue to Viljandi to deliver the newspaper “Sakala.” This gives the hike a historical connection: the trail links a particular landscape with a past task and a named route. To help you find the starting point, after the turn towards Vändra, the trail is reached by travelling a further 16.8 kilometres along the Imavere–Viljandi road and crossing the bridge over the Navesti.

A longer hike from Vanaõue covers 12.7 kilometres and leads to the Carl Robert Jakobson Farm Museum in Kurgja. If you include this route in your travel plans, you can use its stated length and destination as a guide. Its historical connection differs from that of the Sakala Road hiking trail: here, the farm museum is the destination of the longer hike, while the other trail focuses on Jakobson’s journey to deliver the newspaper.

Vanaõue’s own history also gives the place a sense of time. A water-powered mill once operated there. After a fire in the early 1980s, only the stone walls of the main building remained. The mill and the fire tell of the site’s former use and a later change to the property.

The Navesti and Outdoor Activities

Vanaõue organises canoe trips on the Navesti. The river has fast-flowing sections as well as calmer stretches that pass riverside farms and extensive meadows. The Vanaõue–Kootsi route takes 1.5 to 2 hours. The package includes a three-seat canoe, paddles, life jackets, an introduction and transport back to the starting point at Vanaõue. Operational details may change, so check the information before your trip.

Other activities offer a range of experiences. Vanaõue runs three-kilometre archery events on the Sakala Road hiking trail, combining a walk with shots at 3D targets shaped like a wild boar, a fox and a hare. An archery event can also take place at a venue without a hike. These are organised events; check the booking details if you are interested. Paintball takes place at Vanaõue in the forest or on a purpose-built field. Equipment includes a marker, clothing, mask and gloves; operational details may change here too.

Plan Your Trip Around Your Interests

The specific details can help you fit different activities into your travel plans: the longer hike is 12.7 kilometres, while the canoe trip takes 1.5 to 2 hours. These are different measures, but both give you a guide for choosing the focus of your stay. If you are especially interested in the trail’s history, the Sakala Road hiking trail is the main attraction; for paddling, the river sections and the landscape experience take centre stage.

Fishing is another experience offered at Vanaõue: guests can catch trout and have the chefs grill or bake the fish on site, or salt it for later consumption at home. This offer is described for 2026; check its availability before travelling. When looking for a holiday apartment in Vihi, you can start by considering which of the activities described will shape your trip.

Discover more destinations:

Discover more destinations: Kõpu, Paistu, Valma, Suislepa, Vaibla, Mõisaküla, Pinska, Viljandi

For the broader travel overview: Viljandi.