Līgatnes Stirnu buks

At the closing stage of this year's trail run series, we will return to the largest and oldest National Park in Latvia! We will leap into the Gauja National Park for the third time already- this time, having got acquainted more closely with the nearby neighborhood of the rehabilitation center "Līgatne", we will return to the beautiful area of Līgatne town and its surroundings in the walled estuaries and sandstone outcrops in the tracks of Gauja and the picturesque curves of Līgatne river. And, of course, it is not for nothing that Ligatne is called a city of caves - they are everywhere here! In total, Ligatne has 333 cellar caves and 15 cave gullies.

Start/Finish:: Rehabilitation Center Līgatne, Līgatne region. Google Map HERE!

Competition Program:: HERE!

Detailed distance maps:: HERE!

If you wish to see a map of distances on your mobile phone, download LVM GEO mobile app in the GooglePlay Store or AppStore!

Data files for LVM GEO for mobile app::

(Lusis_Ligatne_2018), (Stirnu_buks_Ligatne_2018), 

(Zakis_Ligatne_2018), (Vavere_Ligatne_2018)

Remote GPX files are available here (click on "Save link as"!):: “Vāvere – GPX”, “Zaķis – GPX”, “Stirnu buks – GPX”, “Lūsis – GPX".

Ligatne is located in Vidzeme, on the left bank of the River Gauja, in the very center of Ligatne region. The name of Ligatne originated from the mouth of the river Līgatne, on which the city is located.

Typical landscape here is marked by a curved riverbank with sandstone outcrops and caves formed in rocks. It is a city with an abundance of colors of nature - green, lush forests and meadows, glittering golden, gray and reddish rocks and a bluish gray flow of the river.

Ligatne is located in the territory of the Gauja National Park, which is characterized by a diversity plant and animal species. In the park you can find old rocks, boulders, caves, grottoes and rapids, as well as exciting routes for walking.

Although we will not run the famous Līgatne nature trails, which is the most popular tourism object in the vicinity (this object is worthy of separate, tranquil and leisurely walk ), there will still be no lack of things to see and get to know! In addition to the sandstone outcrops, basements, rapids and the Gauja and Ligatne rivers, we  will also get acquainted with the unique 19th century Ligatne paper mill and the village of wooden constructions, built as the most modern village of workers in Europe in its time, passing by "we will take a peek in" the Soviet secret bunker, which once hoped to hide the Soviet elite from nuclear war, and, of course, we will not leave the race without a sprint stage that will lead us to the the Ligatne skiing hill! No one has been really skiing here for a couple of years, but the slope is challenging nonetheless!

During the preparation and the development of the race we were greatly helped by Armands Beitiks and Artis Ločmelis. They have been indispensable guides in our exploration of the Ligatne area to create new exciting distance trails for the race. It should be noted that the locals themselves have also been of great assistance - we have met so many positive people, whose property we crossed in the search for better grounds for our trails. Such warm hospitality had not been seen for a long time! Here in Ligatne, even dogs are better than anywhere else!