Vidzeme coastline

Recommended season:  May-September.  The Randu meadows and rocky parts of the coastline in Vidzeme are also appropriate on lovely spring or autumn days, as well as during bird migration.  Interesting observations can be made at the Veczemji cliffs during autumn and spring storms.
Length:  ~80 km (along the shore, not counting local trails).  
Level of difficulty:  Medium
Road cover:  Sandy beaches near Saulkrasti, Tūja and Vitrupe, various sizes of pebbles and stones between Tūja and Vitrupe, reeds and other plants covering much of the shore opposite Cape Ķeguļi and between Kuiviži and Ainaži.
Start:  Saulkrasti (the city centre, the train station, the bus station, or the white dune)
End:  Ainaži (the ruins of the Northern breakwater, with a bus station 1 km to the South of the breakwater)
Markings:  None, though a bike route along the shore is marked.
Route:  Saulkrasti-Zvejniekciems-Tūja-Ķurmrags-Vitrupe-Salacgrīva-Ainaži
Distance from Rīga:  Start – 45 km, end – 115 km
Logistics:  Saulkrasti can easily be reached by bus or train, with a bus travelling ~10 times a day between Saulkrasti and Ainaži along VIA Baltica (A1).
Alternatives:  You can hike earthen and gravel pathways along the shoreline dunes between Lembuži and Salacgrīva.   You can start from Vecāķi (+35-40 km), which can be reached by train, then crossing the Gauja along the new Carnikava hiking and biking bridge.  During low water seasons, the little Lilaste River can be crossed on foot.  During high water, you must go around the river in Lilaste.  After Ādaži, you can continue to hike to Häädemeeste in Estonia, where the old Rīga-Parnu road stretches along the shoreline between Häädemeeste and Ikla.  The shore along this part of the route is overgrown, so you must travel by bus, disembarking only in coastline villages with local nature and information trails.  You can also end your hike anywhere where bus services are available (Tūja, Vitrupe, Svētupe, Salacgrīva, Kuiviži).
Note:  After rains and during flooding season, it may be hard to cross the little Kurliņupe River.  Please walk around the ports in Zvejniekciems, Salacgrīva and Kuiviži.  There are bridges near the mouths of the Vitrupe and Svētupe rivers.
Points of interest:  Bike Museum, Lauči rocks, Munchhausen trail and museum, Cape Ķurmrags with an old lighthouse, Veczemji cliffs, Kraujas sea stone, Salacgrīva lamprey fishing, Randu meadows, Ainaži Maritime School Museum.

Certificates

Logo	Certificate name	Description
	Environmental protection Specially protected nature territories	Maršruts ietilpst Ziemeļvidzemes biosfēras rezervātā.