Spring

SPRING - Awaken the Coast

Hear the migration. Feel the awakening.

When winter recedes, North Kurzeme becomes a stage for one of Europe’s most spectacular natural phenomena—the massive spring bird migration. Follow the coastline as millions of birds return, coastal meadows flood with life, and the ancient forests explode with the first carpets of wild anemones. Experience the raw energy of spring through roaring rapids, historic Livonian traditions, and empty, sun-drenched beaches.

Mērsrags • Kaltene • Roja • Slītere • Kolka • Livonian Coast (Sīkrags)

Season: April - May

Activity level: Moderate

Recommended transport: Car

WETLANDS, WOODLANDS & ACTIVE RIVERS

Rīga Gulf coastline

Morning/Afternoon

FLOODED MEADOWS & THE ROJA RIVER ADVENTURE

Mērsrags Coastal Meadows: Walk along the wooden boardwalk through flooded meadows and reed beds. Climb the birdwatching tower to witness thousands of geese, swans, and waders resting on their northern journey.

Rojas Upe Outdoor Trail: Head towards Roja for an active afternoon. From spring to autumn, this beautiful trail is perfect for hiking, cycling, or canoeing along the rushing river. Explore the surrounding pine forests and discover 3 fully equipped outdoor campsites featuring benches, tables, toilets, swings, fitness structures, and campfire places—perfect for a spring outdoor picnic.

Discover:

Evening

RECHARGE BY THE WATER

Check into your accommodation in the Roja or Kaltene area. Warm up next to a crackling campfire or an indoor fireplace. Enjoy fresh, local spring greens and seasonal dishes at a local eatery.

Overnight: Roja or Kaltene

THE MIGRATION EPICENTRE & ANCIENT FOREST

Slītere National Park • Cape Kolka

Morning

THE GREAT SPRING FLYWAY

Cape Kolka: Stand at the northernmost point where two seas meet. During April and May, Cape Kolka becomes a bustling migration highway. Look up to see tens of thousands of birds flying overhead every hour. Experience the traditional Livonian ritual of “Awakening the Birds,” an ancient spring solstice custom meant to bring luck to local fishermen.

The experience includes:

Please follow all applicable nature protection and mushroom-picking regulations, particularly within protected areas.

Afternoon

INTO THE FOREST - CHOOSE YOUR TRAIL

Discover the incredible landscape diversity of Northern Kurzeme. Whether you are driving along the coastal highway or exploring the ancient inland forests, choose a nature trail within or bordering the Slītere National Park that best fits your route, time, and preferred activity level.

OPTION 1 - The Coastal Gateway

ĒVAŽI NATURE TRAIL

Location: Right on the border of Slītere National Park, located on the Riga-Kolka highway (P131) near the border of Kolka parish.

Distance: Approx. 0.6–1.2 km

Experience: Take a short walk through the coastal pine forest leading directly to the highest steep coast of the Gulf of Riga. From the viewing platform, enjoy dramatic, panoramic views across the sea.

Best for: Travellers looking for a quick nature break with a dramatic coastal view directly from the main seaside road.

OPTION 2 - The Ancient Wetland

PĒTEREZERS NATURE TRAIL

Location: Deep inside Slītere National Park, situated along the Dundaga-Mazirbe road (P125).

Distance: Approx. 3.4 km

Experience: Discover a unique, world-renowned geological landscape of kangari and vigas — ancient parallel sand dunes separated by wet, boggy depressions. The trail passes through unique forest and wetland ecosystems and reveals traces of the historic North Kurzeme narrow-gauge railway.

Best for: Hikers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts seeking a wilder, immersive forest and bog experience.

OPTION 3 - The Ancient Inland Forest

ŠLĪTERE LIGHTHOUSE & NATURE TRAIL

Location: The historical heart of the national park, located further inland on the edge of the Blue Hills (Zilie kalni) escarpment.

Distance: Approx. 1.2 km

Experience: Visit the historic Šlītere Lighthouse and explore the pristine, ancient broadleaf forest growing at the foot of the prehistoric Baltic Ice Lake shoreline. A short but physically engaging experience combining a steep wooden staircase, untouched wilderness, and panoramic views from the lighthouse tower.

Best for: History lovers and travelers looking for majestic old-growth forest scenery and wide views from above the tree line.

Evening

LIVONIAN COAST LINE

Settle into a cozy guesthouse within the historic Livonian Coast area (Sīkrags to Melnsils). Indulge in traditional Livonian sklandrauši (sweet rye tartlets with carrots and potatoes) paired with hot herbal tea.

Overnight: Livonian Coast (Sīkrags - Melnsils area)

Day 3 - THE AWAKENING VALLEY

Roja • Mērsrags

Morning

RAISHING WATERFALLS & DEEP RAVINES

Zartapu Waterfall: Visit this seasonal hidden gem hidden in the Slītere forests. Unlike the dry summer months, spring snowmelt turns this stream into the most powerful, rushing waterfall of the year.

Pitragupe & Kaļķupe Ravines: Hike along the steep banks of these small rivers, which flow like mountain streams through deep, greening sandstone ravines.

Afternoon / Evening

SĪKRAGS TO MAZIRBE COMFORT WALK

Sīkrags Village: Take a peaceful stroll through this ancient, protected fishing village showcasing simple, authentic timber architecture.

Final Beach Hike: Complete your journey with a refreshing 6 km coastal walk from Sīkrags to Mazirbe along the completely empty, wild beach of the open sea (Dižjūra).

Hear the migration. Feel the awakening.

This 3-day journey follows North Kurzeme as it awakens in spring – from ancient Livonian villages and pine forests to Cape Kolka and the wetlands of Engure Lake. Watch migratory birds gather, forests turn green, rivers come alive and wildlife return to the open landscape. Discover the wild coast, hidden geological wonders and centuries-old cultural heritage at the most vibrant time of year.

Sīkrags • Kolka • Roja • Mērsrags

Season: April - May

Activity level: Moderate

Recommended transport: Car

Pristine Wilderness & Livonian Coast Heritage

Sīkrags • Mazirbe • Slītere • Kolka

The first day invites you to disconnect in untouched nature, where coastal pine forests begin to release their scent in the spring sun and the ancient Livonian Coast comes alive.

The Silence of Sīkrags Village & First Migratory Birds

Start your morning in the historic village of Sīkrags—a protected urban monument of national importance. Complete peace reigns here in spring. Take a walk through the village down to the “Great Sea” (the open Baltic Sea), where the winter ice has vanished and the air is filled with the calls of early sea birds.

Mazirbe Boat Graveyard & The Livonian Community House

Head over to Mazirbe, the cultural heart of the indigenous Livonian people. Explore the Mazirbe Boat Graveyard tucked away in the coastal pine dunes.

Spring is the absolute best time to visit this site—because the trees have not yet fully leafed out, the skeletons of the old wooden fishing boats slowly fusing with nature are clearly visible and exceptionally photogenic.

Pēterezers Nature Trail – A Geological Phenomenon (~3.4 km)

The perfect spring alternative to winter trail walks

Drive deeper into the heart of Slītere National Park along the P125 road. This trail guides you through a world-renowned geological landscape of kangari and vigas—ancient parallel sand dunes separated by wet, boggy depressions. In spring, this unique wetland and forest ecosystem awakens, resonant with early woodland bird songs, and reveals traces of the historic North Kurzeme narrow-gauge railway.

Tranquility & Coastal Flavors

Settle into a local holiday home or guesthouse in Pitrags, Košrags or Kolka. Far away from city light pollution, the spring nights here reveal brilliant starry skies accompanied by the rhythmic roar of the breaking waves.

Where Two Seas Collide & Active Spring by the River

Šlītere • Cape Kolka • Ēvaži Steep Coast • Roja

This is the peak day of the journey—the absolute epicenter of spring bird migration, high coastal bluffs, and an active afternoon out on the water or on a bicycle.

Šlītere Lighthouse & Prehistoric Old-Growth Forest (~1.2 km)

Start your day on the edge of the Blue Hills (Zilie kalni), the ancient shoreline of the prehistoric Baltic Ice Lake. Walk the wooden boardwalk trail cutting through a thousand-year-old broadleaf forest where the first spring flora begins to bloom. Climb to the top of the historic Šlītere Lighthouse—the tower offers a panoramic, sweeping view over vast forest canopies turning a vibrant light green all the way to the sea horizon.

Cape Kolka – A World-Class Ornitological Spectacle

Travel to Cape Kolka itself, the exact geographical point where the open Baltic Sea collides with the Gulf of Riga (the “Little Sea”).

In spring (especially April), Cape Kolka is an international hotspot for migratory bird concentration. Within just a few hours, tens of thousands of birds fly directly over the cape. Because of this spectacular natural phenomenon, ornithologists and nature enthusiasts travel hundreds of miles from all over Europe to get here. Walk the Kolka Pine Trail and climb the timber viewing tower to watch this massive movement of life over the waves.

Ēvaži Steep Coast – A Dramatic View from Above (~0.6–1.2 km)

Driving along the P131 highway towards Roja, pull over right at the border of Slītere National Park. A short, sunlit walk through a coastal pine forest leads directly to the highest steep coast of the Gulf of Riga. The wooden viewing platform offers dramatic, panoramic views across the sea. A quick, perfect nature break directly off the main seaside road.

Active Exploration & Spring Picnic at the Roja River Nature Trail

Head into Roja for an active afternoon. In spring, this beautiful nature trail is ideal for hiking, cycling, or going on a canoe trip down the rushing, seasonal currents of the river. Enjoy the surrounding pine forests, listen to the calls of river waterfowl, and discover 3 beautifully maintained open-air rest areas. Equipped with benches, tables, restrooms, swings, outdoor fitness equipment, and fire pits, it provides everything needed for a perfect spring picnic in the wild.

Spring Flavors of Roja

In spring, Roja smells of freshly smoked fish. Enjoy dinner at a local seaside tavern, sampling traditional Curonian spring delicacies (like Baltic herring or garfish), and catch the vibrant spring sunset from the Roja port pier.

Glacial Boulders, New Sensations & The Wild Lake

Kaltene • Mērsrags • Engure Lake

The third day surprises travelers with a completely different coastal landscape, where soft sands transition into massive stone ridges, coastal meadows, and wetlands teeming with wild animals.

Kaltene Stony Beach & The Mystical Stone Ridges (Kalvas)

Visit the unique Kaltene coastline, where the shore is covered in massive Ice Age glacial boulders. Next, head slightly inland into the forest to the Kaltene Kalvas—prehistoric, moss-covered stone mounds. In spring, when the snow has just melted and the thick moss turns a brilliant neon green, these ancient stone ridges look truly magical and shrouded in mystery.

Mērsrags Lighthouse & The New Trail of Senses

Continue down to Mērsrags. View the historic Mērsrags Lighthouse (built in 1875) and walk the new, approximately 2-km-long pedestrian boardwalk running along the Mērsrags canal and the seashore. The trail features interactive installations detailing 19 local folklore stories and legends, and includes a fun, swinging rope bridge—a great spring walk for the whole family. Continue your walk to Cape Mērsrags (Pekrags), where the myth-shrouded Devil’s Stone rises from the sea, and large flocks of migrating swans and ducks feed in the shallow coastal waters.

Engure Lake Nature Park – Bird Tower & Wild Animals

Conclude your 3-day journey just a few minutes’ drive past the center of Mērsrags at the Engure Lake Nature Park. In spring, the lake’s reed beds and surrounding meadows literally buzz with life, serving as a nesting ground for hundreds of waterfowl species. Reaching the wooden bird-watching tower offers unparalleled wildlife viewing. Right in the lakeside meadows, you will meet the park’s most famous residents—wild cattle and Polish Konik horses, which venture out into the fields in spring to enjoy the first fresh green grass.