Forest Hiking

Acessibility

The Baltic Forest Trail's accessibility varies significantly along its extensive route, primarily featuring natural forest paths, gravel roads, and occasional boardwalks. While some sections may offer smoother terrain suitable for less challenging walks, steeper inclines, uneven surfaces, roots, and steps mean that the trail generally presents limited accessibility for wheelchairs and individuals with severe mobility impairments, making it best suited for hikers with a reasonable level of physical fitness. It is recommended to consult detailed section descriptions for specific accessibility information.

Route sections adapted for accessibility

Wheelchair accessible
Baltic Forest Hiking - Wheelchair accessible

Specially adapted sections of the route, their parts or special places, improved with appropriate infrastructure for people in wheelchairs. These can be specially prepared alternative routes, route loops, access (off-ramps) to the sea, adapted parking lots, toilets, trails, etc.

Wheelchair accessible sections 
For visually impaired
Baltic Forest Hiking - For visually impaired

Sections of the route, or parts thereof, adapted with special infrastructure for people with visual restrictions.

For visually impaired

Accessible Hiking Guidelines

These documents (guidelines) contain practical advice on how to make hiking routes and nature trails accessible to different groups in society, based on solutions that have been tested in practice. They serve as a practical guide for trail planners, municipalities, and tourism organizations, as well as for trail and route visitors themselves, helping to create an inclusive and safe hiking experience. The guidelines are based on the example of the long- distance hiking trails Baltic Coastal trail and Forest trail.

Wheelchair use on hiking routes

These guidelines provide practical advice on how to ensure safe, comfortable and accessible use of the seashore, beach and nature trails for people with mobility impairments, using specially adapted equipment – trekking wheelchairs and paddle boats. The guidelines are based on the experience of Jūrtaka (Carnikava, Apšuciems in Latvia and Pärnu beaches in Estonia), promoting an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of physical abilities, can enjoy the beach, sea and coastline in a broader sense, participating in outdoor activities and, accompanied by an assistant, going on short hikes.
Wheelchair access for hiking routes (in Latvian)
Wheelchair access for hiking routes (in Latvian)

Creating hiking routes and audio guides for people with visual impairments

These guidelines provide practical recommendations on how to develop and adapt hiking routes for people with visual impairments, using audio guides, tactile maps, QR codes and other accessibility solutions. They are based on the active involvement of the target audience in the planning and testing process on the Jūrtaka and Mežtaka trails, describing the development of audio guide content, the creation of accessible infrastructure, orientation solutions in nature and augmented reality options. The guidelines are based on pilot tests in Latvia (Kuldiga, Jūrmala Wellness Trail and the Kurzeme coast) and Estonia (Kabli area and Setoma), demonstrating how to create safe, understandable and inclusive hiking routes for people with varying degrees of visual impairment.
Creating hiking routes and audio guides for people with visual impairments
Creating hiking routes and audio guides for people with visual impairments

Placing webcams on hiking routes

These guidelines provide practical advice on how to install and maintain webcams on hiking routes that display real-time weather and trail conditions, helping hikers better prepare and choose appropriate equipment. They describe technical solutions for operating cameras in places without or with electricity and Wi-Fi, installation and safety requirements, data transmission and display options, as well as recommendations based on the experience of the Jūrtaka and Mežtaka pilot projects in Latvia and Estonia.

Creating educational hiking trails for families and people with young children

These guidelines provide practical advice on how to design and adapt short, circular hiking trails for families with children and school groups, creating safe, educational and engaging routes in nature. They are based on the experience of the Forest Trail pilot tests, where two thematic trails with interactive activities and digital solutions were created and tested, providing recommendations for route planning, improvement and testing together with the target audience.
Creating educational hiking trails for families and people with small children (in Latvian)
Creating educational hiking trails for families and people with small children (in Latvian)

Guidelines for self-guided hikes for school-aged youth

Self-guided hikes are a great way to learn, experience, and explore the world around you. These activities not only provide young people with the opportunity to be active and spend time in nature, but also allow them to learn practical skills. Hiking encourages responsibility, teamwork, and involvement in decision-making, while also developing skills necessary for daily life and crisis situations. These guidelines can serve as a foundation for students to undertake self-guided hikes. The guidelines are intended for school-aged children, enabling them, either on their own or under adult supervision, to learn the skills required for organizing and leading safe and successful hikes.
Organizing self-guided hikes for school-age youth (in Latvian)
Organizing self-guided hikes for school-age youth (in Latvian)

Accessible Hiking Guidelines for Foreigners and Cross-Cultural Social Groups

These guidelines have been created to help hiking organizers, service providers, NGOs, and local authorities successfully plan and carry out hikes that are accessible to foreign participants.
Organizing hikes for people with cultural and language barriers (in Latvian)
Organizing hikes for people with cultural and language barriers (in Latvian)

Guide for tour guides on working with people with disabilities

These guidelines provide practical advice to tour guides and hikers on organizing professional, safe and inclusive tours and hikes for different groups of society. They describe the basic principles of guide work, planning and leading tours, communicating with representatives of different cultures and social groups, understanding the needs of clients, as well as recommendations for working with visitors with special needs to ensure a high-quality, accessible and positive tourism experience, based on the experience of Estonia and Latvia and internationally recognized tourism and accessibility guidelines.
Guide for tour guides on working with people with disabilities (in English)
Guide for tour guides on working with people with disabilities (in English)

Acessibility video playlist on YouTube