Strīķupes Stirnu buks

Congratulations! You have opened the page of description of the first stage of the series of trail runs “Gjensidige Trejbuks 2022″ (or the remaining three extra stages of the season 2022)! Sounds complicated, doesn’t it?

The race center and registration of participants: “Staļi”, Raiskuma pagasts, Cēsu novads! GoogleMap here!

Race program: HERE!

Detailed maps of distances: TraceDeTrail

GPX files of distances are available here (click “Save the link as”!):: “Squirrel– GPX”, “Hare – GPX”, “Roebuck – GPX”, “Wolf – GPX”

Tūrismagids.lv:: “Things to see and experience in the vicinity of the picturesque Strīķupe” (LV)

EnterGauja.com:: “Tourism guide - the Gauja National Park”

The beginnings of the ancient valley of the Gauja date back to more than 350 million years of ancient past, however, it gained its current shape at the end of the Ice Age when the water of melting ice washed out the ancient valleys. The Gauja, the longest river in Latvia, flows through the park. This time (Roe bucks, Hares, Squirrels, and Students) will learn more about the Strīķupe, which is the right side affluent of the Gauja, referred to as one of the most picturesque hiking areas in Latvia. It flows approximately 10 kilometers below Ērgļi rocks and the Roebuck distances will lead via bushes, mixed forest trails, also some wet and slightly boggy places, as well as beautiful countryside roads and meadows.

Every moment spent at the Gauja National Park is saturated with the presence of nature. This is not a usual park, this is a park where every moment becomes a unique experience as one heads for adventure, surveys, and inquiries. The biggest national park in the Baltics was created more than 40 years ago. The Gauja National Park protects the treasures of the Gauja ancient valley and its vicinity (the Gauja region), as well as a vast variety of plants, birds, and insects.

The racers of the ultra-run “Garmin Fēnix Vilks” will experience the trails along the Gauja river for the third year. The usual distance “Garmin Lynx” in August will be replaced by the runners of  70+km distance also this year. Due to the impact of Covid, for the time being, we have dropped the idea to run the full round of the Gauja trails amounting to 120 kilometers once in three years.

It should be added that the participants of the longest distance who will start in Līgatne and will arrive at the finish line together with the participants of the other distances in the vicinity of the Strīķupe, will compete for the medals of the Latvian championship of the ultra-long trail running distance!

Also this year Artis Ločmelis (SC Burkānciems) is in charge of preparing the trail and he repeats his mantra again and again: “The Gauja river has its own magic! The trail is similar to a river in nature. Sometimes rapid, sometimes calm. There are secrets of glens and picturesque outcrops of rocks. Meadows, forests, paths, firebreaks, and people.

See you in Strīķupe!