Turna: Lakes, Camino Stage and Regional Events

There are three distinct points of reference for a stay in Turna: the lakes of the Turna lake group, the Turna–Strenči Camino stage, and recurring events in the Ērģemes pagasts municipality. You can plan your trip around bodies of water, a specific route, or an event date. The Turna lake group is in northern Latvia. Ērģemes pagasts and Kārķu pagasts are part of Valkas novads.

Lakes of the Turna lake group

Valdis, also known as Valžezers, is the largest lake in the Turna lake group, covering 24.8 hectares. It lies southwest of Turna and is a public subglacial throughflow lake. These terms describe its geology and water flow; together with the area figure, they give a specific picture of the lake.

Kukris is also part of the Turna lake group and covers an area of 21.9 hectares. In a direct comparison of their areas, Valdis is 2.9 hectares larger. Both lakes provide fixed points of reference within the group if you want to explore the lake landscape around Turna. The information about Valdis and Kukris also makes clear that the group includes several named bodies of water, not just the largest lake.

Camino stage and bog landscape

The Turna–Strenči Camino stage offers a different perspective on Turna. It runs mostly along rural roads, crosses the Seda River, and passes through the Ziemeļvidzeme Biosphere Reserve. Along the route, you can observe places where birds gather in the reserve’s bog zone. Lake Rūķu is on the left side of the road along the stage. This route therefore combines rural roads, a river crossing, and a bog zone with opportunities for birdwatching, as well as a connection to the lake.

About 500 metres after the start of the stage, on the shore of Valdis, there is a bathing area established by the Latvian State Forests, with a changing cabin and a table. As facilities may change, check their condition before your visit.

During the 2026 season, walking the bog trails in the Seda Bog may be difficult and potentially somewhat dangerous because of roadworks. Some route markers may also be missing while the work is underway. Check the conditions again before your trip.

Recurring events in the region

“Lieldienas Ērģemes pagastā” takes place every year on Easter Monday in the Ērģemes pagasts area. Since the date of Easter changes from year to year, check the date for your travel year. The recurring “Lieldienu zaķa skrējiens” is a six-kilometre run from Ērģeme to Turna; its exact date also varies each year.

For travel planning, the two events differ mainly in their reference point: for “Lieldienas Ērģemes pagastā,” it is Easter Monday; for the run, it is the route between Ērģeme and Turna. If an event date determines your trip, check it in advance. For a walk through the Seda Bog, by contrast, the seasonal trail warning is directly relevant to planning the Camino stage.

Discover more destinations: Ērģeme, Zaķi, Valka, Omuļi

Go to the overview of the wider area: Valkas Novads.