Cycling routes around Lake Raiskuma and in its vicinity

The cycling route winds along forest paths, taking you around Lake Raiskuma. Located on the right shore of Gauja, it is one of the most picturesque lakes of Pārgauja Municipality.

The lake is surrounded by a thicket of reeds which becomes scarcer only at swimming spots. In summers, the surface of Lake Raiskuma is adornmed with colourful water lilies. The hillocks on the lake shores provide for a marvellous view to the large lake!

Lake Raiskuma cycling routes give you a unique opportunity to travel around the lake and in its vicinity, enjoying the gorgeous sceneries and shadowy forest paths. As you pedal forwards, the trees softly swaying in the wind lull your ears. The fresh air fills your lungs, while your eyes try to take everything in. You see the white clouds in the sky and the shores of the beautiful lake unfolding in the distance.

As you move from one hillock to another, your hand reaches for the camera to immortalise the sunlight playing on the lake surface.

Once your feet start feeling the pleasant tingling of tiredness, your journey comes to an end, and you return home filled with wonderful sensations and experiences!

Free of charge

Facts

• The cycling route is circular, therefore it can be started at any point. The usual starting and end point of the cycling route is at campsite Apaļkalns. Address: Apaļkalns, Raiskums, Raiskuma pagasts, Pārgaujas novads. Phone: +371 29448188
• The cycling route around Lake Raiskuma is 6 km long. Other cycling routes are longer — up to 108 km
• The surface of the cycling route around Lake Raiskuma: forest road 3 km, asphalt 2 km, gravel 1 km
• The cycling route around Lake Raiskuma can also be used for walks
• Lake Raiskuma is 78.5 ha large
• The average depth of the lake is 5 m; the maximum depth — 10.6 m
• Lake Raiskuma is home for pike, perch, roach, bream, silver bream, tench, eels, rudds and ruffes
• Lake Raiskuma is a nesting place for ducks and seagulls
• The famous Latvian movie A Limousine the Colour of Midsummer’s Eve (Limuzīns Jāņu nakts krāsā) was filmed in the vicinity of the lake

Additional services

• Bicycle rental and service at campsite Apaļkalns. Address: Apaļkalns, Raiskums, Raiskuma pagasts, Pārgaujas novads. Phone: +371 29448188
• Free map of cycling routes available at campsite Apaļkalns and Pārgauja Municipality Tourism Information Point (Address: “Ezeriņi”, Stalbe, Straupes pagasts, Pārgaujas novads; phone: +371 26620422; e-mail: turisms@pargaujasnovads.lv)
• Guide services can be previously booked by calling Pārgauja Municipality Tourism Information Point at +371 26620422

For your convenience

• The bicycle route has benches for resting. Benches are placed along the shores of Lake Raiskuma
• Accessible to people with disabilities. Route surface is even, without considerable ascents or descents

Other nearby attractions

• Lake Auciema. Lake Auciema is 41.4 ha large. Its average depth is 1.9 m; maximum depth — 2.7 m. The lake is home to pike, perch, roach, eels, bream, silver bream, crucian carp, rudds and tench. Reeds, rushes, bulrush, and many other plants grow on the lake shores. Yellow water lilies cover 150 m of the lake’s southeastern part