In 2020 At the beginning, the limited opportunities to travel around the world encouraged Lithuanian residents to look for more diverse entertainment. Hiking seems to have taken over the free time of many people who like active recreation. Better conditions were created for trips around Lithuania - in 2021, two long-distance hiking trails spanning the whole of Europe were marked in Lithuania. The Forest Path route, which consists of a 747 km route, joined the international route E11 from the Netherlands. The E9 route running along the coasts of European countries was supplemented by a route marked by the Baltic coast - Sea Trail, which winds for 216 km along the Curonian Spit and the mainland.
"Miško takas" is part of the European long-distance hiking route E11 in the Baltic countries, passing through the most beautiful forests and national parks of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, but don't be afraid - it is not necessary to cover it all at once. The route of the Forest Trail in Lithuania is divided into ~ 20 km long sections.
The "Forest Trail" starts in Lazdijai (at the Polish/Lithuanian border) and continues through Veisiej, Druskininki, Merkina, Alytus, Birštona, Priene, Kaunas, Vilkija, Ariogala, Šiluva, Tytuvėni, Kurtuveni, Pavandenė, Telšiai, Platelii, Salantis, Mosėdis, Skuoda. , in Latvia via Riga and reaches Tallinn in Estonia.
The E11 route starts on the coast of the North Sea, on the outskirts of The Hague - in Scheveningen (Netherlands) and ends in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It crosses 6 countries - the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
The total length of the "Forest Trail" in the Baltic States is ~ 2,141 km. The forest trail stretches for 747 km in Lithuania, 674 km in Latvia, and 720 km in Estonia. In the Baltic countries, the forest trail appeared in 2018, in Estonia. It was approved in Lithuania at the end of 2019.
The "Forest Trail" route is divided into regions. Each region with different landscapes, terrain, natural values and sections of different difficulty. Each region has between 3 and 14 sections. The forest trail route is divided into sections of ~20 km length, with accommodation and transport providers indicated.
In total, the Forest Trail in Lithuania consists of 36 sections. 140 km in the ethnographic region of Dzūkija, 111 km along the Nemunas loops, 79 km in Kaunas and Kaunas district, 141 km along the banks of the Dubysa valley, 276 km in the ethnographic region of Žemaitija. The landscape of the "Miško takas" route is shaped by the Dzūkija highlands, the Nemunas Valley, many lakes, and also leads through the Nemunas Loops Regional Park along the banks of the Nemunas River, which offers a view of the river valley and old mounds. The route travels through cozy towns, the Kaunas Marii Regional Park and winds its way to Kaunas. The main pedestrian street is Panemune šilas, Ėuolynas and Laisvės aleja. The route stretches through the old town of Kaunas and continues through the Lampėdžii quarry. The banks of Dubysa offer a view of mounds and historical churches, while the Tytuvėnai regional park is decorated with many hills, marshy lakes and Šiluva, a famous place of pilgrimage.
The forest trail is a great place to watch birds and animals. Here you can see one of Europe's largest animals - the moose. It is also possible to meet roe deer, red deer, fox, hare, marten, otter, squirrel, hedgehog or even tracks of lynx or wolf. Decayed trees and beaver habitats made of twigs are often found near bodies of water. Bird watchers can observe white and black storks, little eagles, tawny owls, barn owls, northern plovers, and woodpeckers at the right time. There are many natural monuments near the Forest Path - huge stones, springs, giant trees, avenues of trees and interesting landforms: hills, ravines, old river beds, etc. i.e. Powerful and picturesque outcrops of sedimentary rocks emerge on the banks of the Nemunas and its tributaries. In swampy forests, there are hornbeams, cranberries, various peat mosses and small pines, firs, hairy birches, black alders, small bushes and various types of sedges.
Marking: "Forest Trail" is marked with colors - white, orange, white. Marking on the path is every 200-300 meters, unless there are deviations, then arrows and flags are used. In the forest, trees, stones, and sidewalks are marked with paint, in the city, with stickers that reflect light and are easily visible in the dark.
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"Hiker Friendly" is a sign that hikers are welcome here and their needs are understood and respected. The service provider offers necessary services for pedestrians, such as: information about the route, drinking water, first aid kit, charging of electrical devices, possibility to dry wet and wash dirty clothes, shoes, etc. i.e. When hikers see this sign, they can confidently ask for the help they need and they will certainly receive it.
Currently, almost 120 service providers in Lithuania have been awarded the "Friendly Hikers" mark - tourism information and visitor centers, catering establishments, various accommodation establishments, small shops in villages.
Seasonality: At first glance, it may appear that the trip on the Forest Path is adapted to the summer season. After all, nature is probably the most beautiful at this time of the year. And where else are the various goodies of the forest, such as blueberries or strawberries - it's definitely worth deviating from the route for a while and enjoying natural vitamins.
This information has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this information are the sole responsibility of Lithuanian Countryside Tourism Association and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.
