Four sections of the Mežtaka Forest Trail – stages 12, 13, 14, and 15 – pass through Smiltene Municipality, forming dozens of scenic kilometres.

 

12. Stage 12: Zaķi – Gaujiena Along Zvārtava Castle toward Gaujiena.

After 1.5 km from Zaķi, the trail leaves the Sēļi – Vireši road (P23) and winds along a small country road toward Zvārtava, where Zvārtava Castle appears at the end of a long tree avenue. Beyond Zvārtava, the trail returns to road P23 and, after another 2 km, reaches the steep bank of the River Gauja Valley, where the centre of Gaujiena is located. Part of this stage lies within the Protected Landscape Area “Ziemeļgauja”.

Route map and more information: Stage 12: Zaķi – Gaujiena

 

13. Stage 13: Gaujiena – Trapene Along Latvia’s longest larch avenue to Trapene.

From Gaujiena to Līzespasts, the trail passes through remote forests surrounded by extensive bogs, with no settlements or farmsteads except Mežciems. From Līzespasts to Trapene, the route continues for 5 km through open agricultural landscapes with scattered farmsteads, marking the western slopes of the Alūksne Highlands. For roughly half of this 5 km stretch, the impressive Trapene larch avenue lines both sides of the road.

Route map and more information: Stage 13: Gaujiena – Trapene.

 

14. Stage 14 Trapene – Ape. Towards Ape, where witches were said to dwell along the banks of the Vaidava.

The first 6 km of the trail follow the P44 road before turning north onto the Ādams – Ape road. Four kilometres before reaching the Riga – Pskov highway (A2), the trail enters a large, beautiful forest, rich in berries and mushrooms in autumn. After crossing the A2, the route continues through farmland and reaches the centre of Ape, one of Latvia’s smallest towns, crossing the former Ape – Valka narrow-gauge railway line along the way.

Route map and more information: Stage 14: Trapene – Ape.

 

15. Stage 15: Ape – Paganamaa – Korneti – Latvia/Estonia border Through the Korneti-Peļļi valley and Paganamaa, also known as Devil’s Land.

Leaving Ape, the trail winds through hilly agricultural landscapes before entering a vast forest area dotted with numerous ponds and lakes. Beyond Peļļi, the trail follows the Peļļi Trail and crosses into Estonia, continuing for 2 km along the shores of the lakes Smilšājs, Sūneklis, and Ilgājs in the region known as Paganamaa (“Devil’s Land”). Here, it descends into the Korneti-Peļļi subglacial valley, one of Latvia’s most impressive ravines. Near Lake Ilgājs, the trail returns to Latvia and leads across a distinctly hilly landscape to Drusku Hillfort, accessible via a steep path. In Korneti, the trail descends once again. From the centre of Korneti to the Latvia-Estonia border is just under 3 km, with scenic views of the Great and Little Baltiņš lakes along the way. This section lies within the Protected Landscape Area “Veclaicene”.

Route map and more information: Stage 15: Ape – Paganamaa – Korneti – Latvia/Estonia border.

 

Vairāk noderīgu informāciju par Mežtaku un atsevišķiem posmiem meklē Mežtakas oficiālajā mājaslapā.