LATVIA – TOURISM
«The A Trails» wind along the right bank of the Amata River between Melturi and Veclauči Bridge about 15 km, and divided into three sections. The middle section of the trail, about nine kilometres long, from «the Karlu fishery» to Zvarte Rock, is currently being logged on private property, making it difficult to navigate. This is why this section of the trail is temporarily closed to visitors.
The Amata Trail is one of the most popular trails for long-distance hikers. According to the meters installed, almost 20,000 hikers have already visited the trail this year.
«The trail runs on both public and private land where the owner is currently logging. Concerned for the safety of park visitors, we have closed the path to visitors during logging operations. In the meantime, I invite you to get acquainted with other trails of the Gauja National Park, which until now have remained unexplored and perfectly reveal the diversity of the park», commented Rolands Auzins, Director of the Vidzeme Regional Administration.
The trail passes through the ancient Amata River valley, which was formed simultaneously with the ancient Gauja River valley at the end of the Ice Age and during the post-glacial period, when glacier meltwater flowed into the Gauja valley. Its banks are decorated with outcrops of dolomite and sandstone, revealing the pages of earth’s history 350-400 million years ago, when the territory of Latvia was covered by the sea.
The ancient valley of the Amata River is particularly rich in geological natural monuments. These trails are of great scientific importance. More than 20 sandstone and dolomite outcrops can be explored here, 10 of which are protected geological nature monuments of national importance.
The Amata Trail of the Gauja National Park is divided into three sections. Although the middle section is currently closed, the other two sections are still open to tourists. From Vetslauče Bridge to Zvarte Rock, the banks of the Amata River are decorated with red-orange outcrops of Devonian sandstone, including the cliffs of Vanagu, Lustuža, Migla and Zvarte.
There are also well-equipped picnic sites at both ends of the trail. From the Karlu fishery to the village of Melturi there is a section of around four kilometres that is the most difficult and suitable for experienced hikers. Also in this area hikers enjoy cliffs with sound names – Melturu, Ilak, Vizuli, Dolomite Alps, Dambiu, Krusty Staburagas and Varaviksne. The area also continues beyond the Gauja National Park to Amatciems.
To choose new destinations, you can use the mobile app «Dabas Tūrisms», created and maintained by the Nature Conservation Department, and the website: www.tiekamiesdaba.lv where you can plan a day for an interesting nature walk or picnic anywhere in Latvia. This app contains more than 500 different nature tourism destinations – nature trails, lookouts, towers, footbridges, cycling and boating trails, bird and animal watching spots.
Data source: varam.gov.lv
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