Baltic Forest Hiking - Family pleasure

From Caunītes, the Forest Trail leads through mesmerising pine forests and wetlands, across and around hills and slopes. One of the most beautiful views of the River Gauja opens from Sietiņiezis, and it might be worth devoting some extra time to visit the Sietiņiezis Nature Trail. The further road stretches along farmsteads and through forests, until reaching Valmiera. After Valmiera bypass, the Forest Trail leads down urban sidewalks, while the last stretch of road – from the so-called “Dzelzītis” (a narrow-gauge railway bridge) to Cēsu street – follows a wooded path along the Gauja River.

The beginning of the Forest Trail at this section coincides with the Gauja Nature Trail, which runs along the very bank of the river. The Forest Trail crosses the A3 in two places (before the turn to Seda and before Kauči) (be careful!) and continues along small forest roads, a sand-gravel quarry, then continues down a gravel road at the turn to Oliņas. After 3.5 km, turn right again and follow the route to Spicu Bridge via small and remote forest roads where some of the most beautiful sights of the Northern Gauja (“Ziemeļgauja”) protected landscape area can be seen by the so called Zemā sala (Low Isle). A picnic area and a camp are located at the end of this section, where the P24 crosses the Spicu Bridge.

The Forest Trail leads through the vast forests of Setomaa, along mires and moors, which are painted a fabulous shade of purple in September. This is a sparsely populated region, and hikers have the chance to really connect to the nature. At Lake Õrsava, the Forest Trail crosses several pedestrian bridges, circles around the lake and leads to the centre of Värska borough. Take your time to discover local Seto traditions and cuisine.

The Forest Trail passes by the Gulf of Tallinn, and beautiful views of the towers, harbour and skyscrapers of the city can be seen as early as in Püünsi. The Forest Trail turns into a beautiful pine forest before Pirita, then follows along a sandy beach for 2 km. Behind Pirita all the way to the Port of Tallinn, the Forest Trail takes you along the beautiful city waterfront promenade, which overlooks the city’s most important cultural and historical sites, and offers beautiful views of the sea and the port. The final destination of the Forest Trail is located in the Port of Tallinn, next to the Old Town. You can spend another day or two visiting various tourist locations of Tallinn.

From the Kaunas Lagoon Regional Park Visitor Centre, the Forest Trail leads through the Rokų forest and along the Miškininkų, Kelmyno, Muraškinės, Žarstos, Garšvės and Rokelių streets, circles the Kaunas suburbs, crosses the Marijampolė road (No. 139) and continues in the direction of Balčkalnio street to Panemunė district. At the stadium of Kaunas University of Technology Engineering Lyceum, it descends to Vaidoto street, then continues along the sidewalk to Baterijos highway, where it turns left. About a third of Kaunas city area is occupied by parks and other nature territories. The Forest Trail crosses the city through its greenest parts. About 2.5 km long the Forest Trail passes through the Panemunė pinewood, which has a dense network of trails, recreation areas and a beach. The Forest Trail crosses the Nemunas along the Three Virgin Bridge, leads through Gričiupis district, runs along Kaunas Zoo, crosses the vast Oak-Wood Park (Ąžuolynas) and leads through Vytauto Park behind the Lithuanian Sports University. Down the park stairs, the path descends to the beginning of the Avenue of Freedom (Laisvės Alėja) and continues to the destination of the section in Kaunas center.

IMPORTANT. There are no markings where itineraries are crossing the territory of Kaunas city.

After Biržuvėnai, for the next 3 km the Forest Trail goes through Biržuvėnai forest. 1 km to the village of Rudupiai, it follows the Luokė–Viešvėnai road (No. 4605) until it turns right to the north-northwest. For the next 11 km, it travels through the agricultural area until it leaves the village of Rainiai. From Rainiai, the Forest Trail continues initially as a lane separated from the road and then as a pedestrian / bicycle path for about 3 km continues to Telšiai, where it turns into Kauno street and then reaches the shore of Mastis lake. Further, it winds through the park, revealing beautiful views of Mastis lake panorama from Zaksas hill. Then the Forest Trail bends around a small bay of Mastis lake and then reaches the destination of this section.

The Forest Trail along Atmodas and Jelgavas streets winds through Aizpute, after the Laža water reservoir turns right, and approaches the Kazdanga manor park with a large circle from the south. As a small path, it leads along Dzirnavu lake through the manor park, around the manor and Zēnu pond, for 0.7 km continues along the Kazdanga–Cildi road (V1200) and then turns right onto the Snēpele–Kazdanga road (V1296). Up to the country house “Zemturi”, the Forest Trail gradually rises in the Bandava hills of the Rietumkursa Upland, revealing beautiful views in both directions. The height of the relief here reaches a maximum of about 81 m above sea level. From “Zemturi”, for about 12 km , the Forest Trail leads through a sparsely populated forest massif and only in the last 3 km comes out again in an open area with agricultural lands and farmsteads, reaching Snēpele.

The Forest Trail continues along the left bank of the Abava, along Kr. Barona street. Further, as a small path, it crosses the meadows and forest clusters of the Abava valley until it reaches a hill called the Swedish hat (Zviedru cepure). After Zviedru cepure, the Forest Trail goes along a small country road to the Plosti – Pūces road (V1471), crosses Amula and at Kalnmuiža winds up in the Abava valley, along which the next 6 km leads to Aizdzire Manor park. Another 1 km to the north the Forest Trail crosses the Abava valley in its full width, revealing some of the most beautiful views of the valley. The depth of the Abava valley in this place is about 40 m. After the Fisherman's Bridge (Zvejnieku tilts), the Forest Trail rises on the northern slope of a valley where vineyards are planted. Winding through the forest, it crosses the Kandava–Renda road (P130) and further along Sabiles street reaches Kandava. Along the Lauku, Ozola, Zīļu, Sabiles and Pils streets of this picturesque small-town the Forest Trail reaches the Knights' Castle Mound. Throughout the section, the Forest Trail winds through the nature park “Abavas senleja” (“Abava valley”).

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.

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.