Upes

Viens no skaistākajiem Ventas upes ielejas un tās pietekas – Šķērveļa posmiem ar izteiktu dziļu upju ieleju un tās sānu gravu sistēmu, kurā dažviet redzami dolomīta un smilšakmens atsegumi un strauji upju posmi (straujteces). Ventas krastos atsedzas arī izmēros lielākie Kurzemes pamatiežu atsegumi – Ātraiskalns un Gobdziņu klintis. Netālu no lieguma atrodas Lēnu katoļu baznīca. Šobrīd lieguma teritorijā nav nekādu labiekārtotu tūrisma elementu – taku, atpūtas vietu u.c. Venta posms no Nīgrandes līdz Kuldīgai ir populārs ūdenstūrisma galamērķis.

The River Ķīšupe (length – 31 km) begins its journey in the marshlands of Lēdurga Parish. As the river reaches the seashore, its bed and the location of its mouth often changes. One of the tributaries of the Ķīšupe carries a rather interesting name – Pupaļurga. The name of the River Ķīšupe probably comes from the name of a man and his house. In the 17th century a man named Ķīsis (in English: ruffe) used to live by the river. 

The Brasla River flows through a lovely valley that is approximately 300 m wide and up to 30 m deep. It is near the Inčukalns-Valka highway. The river has among the most beautiful rapids in the country, with mighty cliffs (the Brasla cliffs) that can be seen at nearly every curve in the river (except along the lowest reaches of the river). During the winter, various unusual frozen waterfalls can be seen in some of the cliffs, including the Krauļukalns cliff and the Jāņavārti cliff. On the left bank of the Brasla, opposite the Brasla fish farm, there are the Aņīte cliffs -- a series of sandstone cliffs that are 1 km long. The cliffs are between 2 and 35 m in height, and the sandstone cliffs are separated by ravines. On the right bank of the Brasla, there are major cliffs such as the Vāršavu cliff, the Kraukļukalns cliff, the Jāņavārti cliff, the Slūnu cliff, the Virtaka cliff and the Buļi cliff. How can you best learn about them? Boat down the river from the aforementioned highway or even from Straupe, which is further upstream. An alternative is hiking down the right bank of the river, though please take into account that the terrain is fairly extreme, and you are going to have to think about what to do when you arrive at the place where the Brasla River flows into the Gauja.

The Vecročupe river flows out of the artificial Vaide pond.  It was created by blocking the Vaide and the Kukšupe rivers.  This happened during the Soviet occupation, when forestry people decided to establish a fishing pond and an area for recreations.  A wooden pergola has been installed at the pond, and there is an information stand, as well.  On the northern shore of the pond is the Vaide cemetery, which dates back to 1928 and has interesting wooden crosses.

The Slocene River flows through Lake Valgums and Lake Mazezers before flowing into the western part of Lake Kaņieris.  It is part of a branched and swampy delta in which there are seasonal restrictions aimed at protecting birds.  The wetlands which are alongside the river are difficult to access in many places.  Before the Starpiņupīte was dug between Lake Kaņieris and the Bay of Rīga (the water level is regulated with sluices), the water from the river flowed along what is now the Vecslocene River all the way to Sloka, where it ended at the Lielupe River.  The Vecslocene can be used by canoe boats only when the water level is high and then from the Old Ķemeri road to the place where the river enters the Lielupe.  Between Milzkalne and Lake Valgums, the river is not navigable because of many fallen trees.  During the springtime, the estuary of the Starpiņupīte is a good place for bird watching.