Nature Destinations: Things to Do in Early Autumn

Short trips 

As I see it, the key to making the most of your time is getting a good head start and staying active. As much as you can be tempted to laze around on your weekends, it’s much better to pull yourself together and go on a short trip, especially since the Leningrad Oblast offers a multitude of great options for that. 

For relaxed one-day trips, the perfect choice would be going to one of the local eco-paths; my personal recommendation would be to go to one of those near the Gulf of Finland while the weather’s still mild and to enjoy them without having to worry about the forecast. 

For longer trips, a good idea is to visit one of the smaller towns around St. Petersburg and discover the natural spots in and around them. In this regard, Gatchina might be the perfect lazy option, since there are many cool natural spots inside the town, and you can always call it quits and get to St. Petersburg in a mere hour. Another great destination, especially if you’re good with planning and feel more adventurous, is Sortavala. Despite (or maybe thanks to) the long distance from St. Petersburg, this Karelian town is just perfect for enjoying nature: there are several camping spots right inside the town and many great routes just outside of it.

Foraging

Although this might sound strange in modern day and time, foraging can also be a cool autumn activity – and an even greater way to make fond memories. Just imagine sipping hot tea with herbs in winter, and remembering the day you gathered them, or making a stew from the mushrooms you’ve picked yourself! Since this year has been very rich with both mushrooms and berries, finding them should be very easy even if you don’t have any experience – just make sure to prepare well for your trip and double-check that whatever you’ve gathered is edible.

As for the spots to go mushroom picking, my personal advice would be going north of the city to places like Petyayarvi or Orekhovo, which are easily accessible by train and quite popular with other foragers in case you get lost.

Birdwatching

This one is something that I’m yet to do myself – and I’m actually very excited to try. Especially since autumn is the time birds start to migrate south, and the biggest migration path in Europe goes right through the Leningrad Oblast. From my hiking experience, there’s a lot of cool species of birds to watch here – so, if you’ve ever thought of trying birdwatching, consider getting binoculars – and we’ll make sure to write an article on the topic in the near future.

Camping & water sports

These two pastimes have long become my favorite, and early autumn is just the best time to enjoy them – especially if you were to combine the two. Nothing beats a day of rowing or paddleboarding if it ends with not a tiring trip home, but a hearty meal at a campfire and a night’s sleep out in the wild. Even waking up to the sounds of nature can be truly revitalizing. Sure thing, you can do this in any season – but in early autumn, you get the best balance between the day’s warmth and the night’s cold, making such trips the most memorable. 

While there are many cool destinations where you can go for such an experience, there are two that really stand out. One is the Vuoksi river, which is conveniently close to St. Petersburg (an hour and a half on a train) and has boat rental places in the vicinity of the nearby train stations – vast, cold, and clean, it is great for novices and experienced campers alike. The other one is Ladoga Skerries – a lengthy strand of small islands along the northwestern coast of the Ladoga lake. While this one is further to the north and calls for more experience and planning, it’s one of the most picturesque places in the vicinity of  St. Petersburg and a true natural gem.

Visiting parks & suburbs

Although this one isn’t entirely about nature, I just have to include it in this list. If you’re in St. Petersburg in autumn, visiting St. Petersburg’s parks and historic suburbs is a total must-do – and, quite conveniently, the easiest way to enjoy the local nature. Beautiful and easily accessible from (or even within) St. Petersburg, they make a perfect option if you don’t have the time for a lengthy trip – and are totally worth it!

Before you start planning your trips, be sure to read our handy guides to transportation and using suburban trains in St. Petersburg, and the general overview of nature destinations in the Leningrad Oblast. Good luck on your travels!