The Curonian spit.

Section 66. Juodkrantė – Klaipėda.

Juodkrantė – Klaipėda Klaipėda — Lithuania’s gate to the sea

Having left the Juodkrantė beachside walkway, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route crosses the Curonian Spit in a southeast–northwest direction leading along single-track forest trails that wind through the steep, pine-covered dunes until it eventually comes back out onto the coast of the Baltic Sea. For the next 9 km, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route follows the coastline along sandy beaches. The steep foredune on the eastern side protects the inland from the moving sand. After Alksnynė village (not seen from the beach), the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route turns eastward, crossing a hillock covered in Pinus mugo pines and a World War II German army base, eventually approaching the coast of the Curonian Lagoon. Then the trail winds across the ridges of pine-covered dunes, providing regular views of Klaipėda Port. The route between the New and Old Ferry Port first follows a single-track path, and later a beachside walkway. Having crossed the Curonian Lagoon from the Old Ferry Port, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route arrives in the center of Klaipėda where it follows Danės Street to the Birža Bridge. The section until Smiltynė leads through the Curonian Spit National Park.

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