Zilo kalnu Stirnu buks

Congratulations! You have reached the info page for the second race of trail running series "Stirnu buks 2018"!
Start/finish: GoogleMap here!

Detailed distance maps:: HERE!

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

Paths of the second run of trail run series will lead participants into particularly protected nature area “Ogres Zilie kalni” (“Blue Hills of Ogre”). The largest part of the territory of the nature park is occupied by especially rare habitat – coniferous forests on gravel and sand ridges which are derived from melting glaciers. These ridges in average are 5 – 10 m high with explicitly steep edges which rise over surrounding area. That means – it is an excellent place both to have a good run and to climb up!

It is believed that the name of the Blue hills comes from characteristic coniferous forests which have blueish shade when looking from the top of gravel and sand ridges.

It is interesting, that in the eastern part of the complex in territory of Ogre there is a castle mound Zilais kalns which is included in State protected nature object register. As it is told by castle mound explorer Ernests Brastiņš, Zilais kalns is discovered in 1907. and it rises 27 m above the surroundings. Over the mound there was an old road from Ogre to Tīnūži, which later was tracked more aside to the North, to the foot of the hillside. It is believed that the castle mound was a shelter - people didn’t live there constantly, but only hid there in the case of danger. When we look to a landscape today, the castle mound comes in to sight very poorly and a great number of visitors have no knowledge of it, although there is an information stand on the top of the mound.

And – to be clear – although the nature park is closely located by the territory of Ogre city, the biggest part of it is in Ikšķile regional community.

Important websites for exploring this region: VisitOgre.lv, ZilieKalni.lv

In the process of making tracks for Stirnu buks we are grateful for help of Jānis Gailis and Roberts Ivzāns. Don’t be shy and after finishing look them both in the eyes to say – thanks!

See You at Zilie kalni!!!