Smiltene Municipality – Rivers, Forests and History

River valleys, dolomite cliffs and protected forests give Smiltene Municipality many different facets. There are also trails of varying lengths and character, as well as traces of history and vibrant cultural venues. When planning your trip, you can choose between nature watching, longer hikes, cycling and water routes, or a focus on culture.

Rivers, Cliffs and Protected Forests

In the “Gaujienas priedes” nature reserve, pine trees aged 150 to 180 years grow, and several bird species are also protected there. Small forest trails are used for walking, running, cycling and skiing. The area is also a Natura 2000 site and is located in the Gaujiena Parish of Smiltene Municipality. The Vizla offers a different landscape: in its lower reaches, its outcrops extend for more than a kilometre along both banks, between the Vizla Bridge and its confluence with the Gauja. The lower valley features rapids, low waterfalls, a spring and a stone island. The Žākļu Diabas Stone makes a striking impression: it is 3.4 metres high, 6 metres long and up to 3.7 metres wide.

Rauna Staburags is another special geological destination: this rare, cliff-like travertine deposit formed when calcium carbonate precipitated from calcareous spring and spring fen water. The area is a Natura 2000 nature reserve in the Rauna Parish of Smiltene Municipality. Its most prominent escarpment reaches 3.7 metres in height and 17 metres in length. Staburags can be visited via a dedicated nature trail; the path may be slippery in the rain.

The Kalamecu-Markuzu ravines offer further geological sights. These are geologically protected objects of national significance, with canyon-like ravines, waterfalls and dolomite outcrops. Seven waterfalls have formed in the bed of the Kalamecu stream. At Randātu Cliffs, the rock—described as Latvia’s highest dolomite cliffs—reaches 26 metres. The Randātu nature trail runs around the cliffs. In dry months, it can be linked with the Tilderu nature trail by crossing the Gauja; check crossing conditions before your visit. The Tilderu trail takes in a river valley with a dolomite escarpment, former quarries and lime kilns.

Choose Trails to Suit Your Time and Interests

The nature trails offer practical guidance for different time budgets, though their lengths do not indicate their difficulty. The Gaujiena nature trail runs along the Gauja and introduces the natural features and habitats of the Ziemeļgauja protected landscape area. It is six kilometres long, and shorter sections are also possible. The one-way Vizla nature trail is 1.2 kilometres long and follows the river bends to the Vizla’s confluence with the Gauja. It starts at a dolomite arch bridge built in 1834 and lies within the Ziemeļgauja specially protected nature area.

The Tilderu nature trail offers a one-way section of about 600 metres, as well as a 2.3-kilometre loop along the Gauja and a 1.7-kilometre return route via the road. At the end, there is a small rest area and a staircase down to the Gauja. The Launkalne nature trail offers a different experience: it follows the bends of the Rauza through natural meadows and has a picnic spot, outdoor exercise equipment and a masonry bridge over the Ruņģu stream.

Those planning longer distances will find four sections of the Mežtaka long-distance hiking trail in Smiltene Municipality: sections 12 to 15. Section 13 runs from Gaujiena to Trapene through remote forests, past large wetland areas and across open agricultural landscapes; the Trapene larch avenue is also on this route. For a shorter option in the Gaujiena nature area, you can consider the six-kilometre nature trail, which also has shorter sections. The Vizla trail, meanwhile, is explicitly designed as a one-way route.

Around Smiltene, the marked LVM cycling routes connect forests, lakes, hills and valleys. There are three routes: an easy one of about 10 kilometres, a moderate one of about 20 kilometres and a challenging one of about 30 kilometres. Picnic and rest areas, several swimming spots and places of interest are located along the cycling routes. In Smiltene Old Park and by Vidusezers, surfaced paths are suitable for walking, Nordic walking, cycling and inline skating. The Tepera promenade adds inline skating, swimming spots, outdoor exercise equipment and beach volleyball courts to walking and cycling.

There are also several named stretches of water routes. On the Palsa, the Krustakmens–Ūdrupe and Variņi–Palsmane routes are listed for canoeing. The approximately eight-kilometre Krustakmens–Ūdrupe stretch passes through landscapes with large erratic boulders and golden sandbanks; when water levels are higher, rapids form in stony sections. On the Rauna, the stretch from Rauna mills to the V187 road (Rauna–Valmiera) is considered particularly suitable for canoeing.

Cultural Heritage and Special Encounters

Cultural venues range from historic estates to music and crafts. The Gaujiena manor ensemble is an architectural monument of national significance. The Jāzeps Vītols memorial museum “Anniņas” presents the life and work of the composer Jāzeps Vītols. A visit includes permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as a guided tour with a specialist about Vītols and Gaujiena’s cultural landscape. A walk in Anniņas Park takes you through particularly picturesque surroundings; eight stations offer musical instruments that visitors can use free of charge.

At Cērtene Hillfort, history and activity meet in one place: the hill is considered the oldest witness to Smiltene’s history and a fortification of the fortress type. The wooded, hilly surroundings are crisscrossed by a dense network of trails, suitable for walks and sports activities. In winter, there are sledding routes; a picnic area with a fire pit is also available. The Kalnamuiža manor complex lies on the steep bank of Vidusezers. Several manor buildings and the ruins of a Teutonic Order castle remain there. The castle was built in 1370; today, fragments of individual walls remain on the steep slope.

Rauna Castle also tells the story of its former role: it was built in the second half of the 14th century and served as one of the Archbishop of Riga’s most important winter residences. The ruins have an observation tower with interactive exhibition panels, information panels and a digital display with tourism information. Exhibitions at the Smiltene Municipality Museum focus on the medical history of Smiltene Municipality and Birzuļi Primary School.

For an insight into regional culture and crafts, you can also consider a range of experiences. The “Kukaburra” Bread Museum offers a chance to bake rye bread together with the host. The experience includes kneading the dough, shaping the loaves and sliding them into the wood-fired oven with a bread peel. At the “Auškāpi” pottery workshop, vessels are fired in a wood-fired Vidzeme-type kiln, considered one of the last of its kind in Latvia.

Discover more destinations: Smiltene, Aumeisteri, Blome, Baltinava Municipality, Sigulda Municipality, Baldone Rural Territory, Gārsene Parish, Krāslava Municipality.

For the main travel overview: Latvia.