Mežtaka - Tukums un Ķemeru NP

Tukums and Ķemeru National park

Ķemeru Nacionālais parks – viens no daudzveidīgākajiem Latvijas mitrājiem

Jaunmoku pils – Tukums – Jāņukrogs – Bigauņciems: 56 km, 3 vai 4 dienas

Ķemeru Nacionālais parks veidots galvenokārt mitrāju – seklās Rīgas līča piekrastes, aizaugošo piejūras ezeru, plašo purvu masīvu, mitro mežu un palieņu pļavu - kā nozīmīgu daudzu augu (konstatētas 25 % no Latvijas Sarkanā grāmatā ierakstītajām augu sugām) un dzīvnieku, īpaši ligzdojošo un migrējošo putnu dzīves vietu aizsardzībai. Parka teritorijā atrodas viens no lielākajiem Latvijas purviem – Lielais Ķemeru tīrelis, kā arī citi – Zaļais purvs, Raganu purvs, gar kuriem izlīkumo Mežtaka. Lielie purvu masīvi ir nozīmīga sērūdeņu un ārstniecībā izmantojamo dūņu veidošanās vieta, kas savulaik bija Ķemeru kūrorta izveides pamats. Mežtaka, šķērsojot vēsturisko Ķemeru kūrortu, Bigauņciemā jūras malā satiek Jūrtaku (E9) un tālāk kopā virzās uz Rīgu.

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EasySection 97. Jaunmokas – Tukums.

To Tukums for the beauty!

In the vicinity of Jaunmoku palace, spectators are delighted by the beautiful landscapes of the Vanema hills of Austrumkursa Upland. The Forest Trail slopes down to the Bēru watermill and then, further up to Vecmokas, in a length of three kilometres rises by about 50 m, revealing beautiful landscapes to the wide Slocene valley in the south. After the alley of Vecmoku Manor, the Forest Trail crosses the Tukums–Lazdas road (V1442), turns around a cluster of farmsteads and then along straight forest path goes southeast along Sekļa lake. The lake can be accessed via small paths. In the vicinity of Recreation complex “Sveikuli”, the route continues along beautiful forest paths and joins the Tukums–Kesterciems–Kolka road (P131) near the Ozoliņi cemetery, where the town of Tukums begins. Along Raudas, Kurzeme Forest and Melnezera streets, the Forest Trail reaches the Sun hill (Saules kalns).


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EasySection 98. Tukums – Jāņukrogs.

Through the best mushroom forests in the area

Along Melnezera street, the Forest Trail leaves Tukums. Up to Milzkalne, it winds through beautiful forests, except for a short section along Jaunūdru road. Then the trail throws bows up and down along the backs of the steep hills of the Raudas massif. One of the highest points is Milzkalns, 113 m above sea level. Crossing the Tukums–Milzkalne–Smārde road (V1446), the Forest Trail leads through the Šlokenbeka Manor, crosses the Slocene river, turns around Bērzāji and further along the left bank of the Slocene curves through the beautiful forests to the Kārniņi cemetery on the Tukums–Milzkalne–Smārde road. From here, Valguma lake, with accommodations nearby, is about 2.5 km away. Ķemeri National Park starts behind Bērzāji.


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HardSection 99. Jāņukrogs – Bigauņciems.

Through Ķemeri National Park

After crossing the area with some homesteads, the Forest trail winds through beautiful coniferous forests and further 6.5 km along Čaukciems until the turn to the Green Dune leads along the side of the Antiņciems–Smārde road The neighbourhood is flat, as the section is part of the Engure plain of the Piejūras Lowland. The Green Dune (Zaļā kāpa) offers wide views of the Green Bog (Zaļais purvs) and the Witches' Bog (Raganu purvs). A small forest road bends along the lower part of the dune and in two places crosses the bog along wooden footbridges. In Ķemeri, the Forest Trail moves along Partizāna, Robeža, A. Upīša, Katedrāles and E. Dārziņa streets, along the Forest House and Vēršupīte, into which the waters of sulphur springs flow. Crossing Tūristu street, it continues along the Dūņu road to the Sloka lake. Further the trail crosses the Vēršupīte swamp forest, which is one of the most outstanding wet forest habitats in the whole part of the trail in Kurzeme. At Melnezers it turns onto the Old Ķemeri road and after 2 km it reaches Bigauņciems. Behind the Talsi highway, the Forest Trail reaches the shore of the Gulf of Riga and connects with the Coastal Hiking Trail. The Forest Trail runs through the Ķemeri National Park along the entire section.