About 0.5 km after Kirkšnovė the Forest Trail turns left from the Ariogala–Betygala road (No. 3504) and then up to the destination at the Raseiniai–Baisogala road (No. 225) winds along the bends of the Dubysa river, where floodplain meadows alternate with small forest massifs and little villages. In some places there are vast views of the high banks of the Dubysa valley and the castle mounds. There is a pronounced land relief in this section – the Forest Trail winds up and down the steep slopes of the shores, ensuring a memorable hiking experience. This is a section for hikers – “gourmets”!
Practical information
Length: 25 km
Duration: 6 – 9 h
Starting point: Krikšnovė pond
End point: Kaulakiai village by Dubysa Regional Park Administration (located 0.7 km from the main route)
The course of the route: Vandžiai – Smulkiškė – Pakalniškiai – Maslauskiškiai – Kybartėliai – Kaulakiai
Road surface: Very small country gravel or natural roads, trails.
Difficulty: Hard
Obstacles: In some places the trail may be overgrown.
Danger points: Some places have steep slopes, a coastal erosion has occurred in one.
Good to know! Shops are only in Betygala village, located just over a kilometre from the main route, and in Kaulakiai village. At this section, the Forest Trail crosses the yard of the farm (GPS: 55.32639, 23.34747).
Nature
Dubysos regional park was founded in 1992. It covers the impressive Dubysa valley, which is up to 40 m deep and 0.5 km wide. The beautiful slopes of the valley are crossed by deep ravines of lateral tributaries. Important habitats that are protected at European level are found here, such as dry grasslands in calcareous soils, species-rich pastures and pasture meadows dominated by local cattle, moderately moist meadows, old natural boreal (northern) forests, sloping and ravine forests and oak groves. A total of 805 plant species and 922 animal species have been found here, many of which are protected and rarely found in Lithuania and Baltic States. The unusual beauty of this place has influenced the ancient pagan traditions – Betygala was home to the last pagan priest Gintautas, who was called Krivių Krivaitis. This was the name of the chief priests of the Baltic nations. An ethnographic museum was established in the homestead of the birthplace of the famous Lithuanian poet Maironis (1862–1932) The park visitor centre is located in Kaulakiai village.
Tourism information:
- Public Institution “Atrask Rasenius”
Address: Vytauto Didžiojo street 17, Raseiniai; Phone: +370 61834611; Website: http://en.atraskraseinius.lt/
- Dubysa Regional Park Visitors Center
Address: Dubysos street 2a, Kaulakiai village, Raseiniai district,; Website: www.dubysa.info
More information about the route (accommodation, catering, shops, map, GPX coordinates) - https://baltictrails.eu/en/forest/day/146
