A small and green country, Latvia impresses with its wide forests and tall trees. In the European Union, it has one of the largest areas of land covered by forest. Latvia also takes good care of its green spaces and has a high number of state-protected natural areas. There are many laws and regulations to ensure good conservation policies, that have been improved on, ever since the 16th century.
Trekking through Latvia’s national and natural parks is an extremely relaxing activity - the areas are huge and although there are tourists in some of the main touristic spots, you will have long periods of time where you can just wander without meeting other people. Not to mention, if you’re going at the right time of year, you can pick all sorts of forest fruit while walking around. If you’re not sure which park in Latvia to choose for your first expedition, here you can find a list and a short description of the most popular spots.
1. Gauja National Park
Gauja National Park is the oldest national park in Latvia. It is a wide forested area around the Gauja River, that can be reached from both Sigulda and Cesis. There are many trails and scenic spots to choose from, for all fitness levels. There are also some stairs to climb, on some of the trails. You can also go on a canoeing trip on the river, or rent bikes and discover parts of the park. Either way, you will see a lot of birds and you will get to enjoy the sounds of nature. There is no entrance fee to the park and you can wander around as long as you wish. Don’t get stuck here by yourself at night, though - it might be a bit scary.
Gauja National Park
Address: Sigulda 2150, Latvia
Website: Gauja National Park
2. Kemeri National Park
Aicinājums Ķemeru Nacionālajam parkam divdesmit gadu jubilejā dāvināt fotogrāfijas http://www.kemerunacionalaisparks.lv/?r=199&_
Posted by Ķemeru nacionālā parka fonds on Wednesday, 23 November 2016
Since Kemeri National Park is so close to Riga, if you have a car, you can make it a destination for a day trip. Kemeri is most famous for its unique bog, with its therapeutic mud. Not only a touristic destination, many people come here for medical reasons. However, if you just want to hike, there are many paths around the park, of many different lengths. Some of the most popular activities here include bird watching at Lake Kanieris and/or Lake Sloka. If you’re more adventurous and want to discover the wide area while riding a bicycle, Green Dune cycling path is a perfect choice.
Kemeri National Park
Address: Meza maja, Jurmala 2012, Latvia
Contact: +371 20 055 777
Website: Kemeri National Park
3. Tervete Nature Park
Posted by LVM Nature Park in Tērvete on Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Tervete Nature Park is a wide green area and very child-friendly. It’s the best place to spend a weekend for families travelling with children as there are a lot of wooden sculptures inspired by fairytales. You can even choose to go for a ride on the fairytale train. They do have a small entrance fee, though.
Tervete Nature Park
Address: Tērvetes sils, Tērvete District, Latvia
Website: Tervete Nature Park
4. Slitere National Park
On the west coast of Latvia, Slitere National Park is said to be a history lesson on the development of the Baltic Sea. One of the landmarks of this national park are the Blue Hills, that are a gold mine for geology-minded people, interested in the geological events in the area. There are many interesting sights in Slitere National Park - you can learn more about fishing villages and its tiny ethnic minority - the Livonians. If you happen to pass by in the spring, don’t miss out on the Cape of Kolka. This is the place to observe thousands of birds.
Slitere National Park
Address: Cape Kolka, Kolka, Latvia
Website: Slitere National Park
5. Razna National Park
Named after and located around the second largest lake in Latvia, Razna National Park protects the Latgale territory. But, Razna Lake is not the only lake in this national park. In fact, one of the reasons Razna National Park is famous, is for its multitude of lakes. It makes the green fields look like a mask, with many blue eyes. Not to mention that during the winter you can experience ice fishing here. Founded only in 2007, it is the youngest national park in Latvia and the administration is constantly building more trails, so tourists can observe more parts of the park.
Razna National Park
Address:Skolas iela 3, Lipuški, Mākoņkalna Parish, Latvia
Website: Razna National Park
6. Ragakapa Nature Park
If you’re interested in seeing very old pine trees, Ragakapa Nature Park is the place to go - some of them are around 300 years old! The view is impressive and walking on the available trails is very relaxing. It is right next to the sea, so while you’re walking through the forest, you can also hear the waves, giving the entire atmosphere a unique vibe of calmness and closeness to nature. The area is very close to Riga, so if you happen to be in the capital city, don’t hesitate to organize a trip to this relaxing part of Latvia. It is also right next to the old air museum, giving you the opportunity of diversifying your day.
Ragakapa Nature Park
Address: Address: Tiklu iela 1a, Jurmala 2010, Latvia
Contact: +371 67 754 909
Website: Ragakapa Nature Park
Green, green, green all around!
Exploring Latvia’s national and natural parks is a great experience, especially if your work requires you to be inside most of the time. This is the perfect opportunity for you to get closer to nature. Besides, Latvians are very friendly and welcoming people. Since you’re in the area, you might as well consider travelling into Estonia and Lithuania, to check a few more Baltic countries off your list. All of them have wonderful nature and many small and pretty towns, to enjoy.
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