Salaspils – Ogre
Salaspils – 8.5 km Saulkalne – 7 km Ikšķile – 6.5 km Ogre Blue Mountains – 4 km Ogre
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The 26-kilometer-long stage from Salaspils to Ogre leads through the outskirts of Pieriga on quiet and peaceful roads.
The stage of the road starts at Salaspils Evangelical Lutheran Church. You should continue forward along Rīgas Street in the direction of the railway tracks, cross the railway, after which you should immediately turn right onto Miera Street. Look at the luxurious clock face. Then pass the Salaspils botanical Garden and you will reach the crossroad with Dienvidu Street. Continue on the left, along Miera Street. On the way you will find a grocery store Aibe, for the last purchase, because the next store will be only after 12 km.
Pass the shop and continue along the side of the road, because the pedestrian/bicycle path ends here. Pass the road sign that say that the city ends. After 400 meters go right on the main road, and after another 250 meters, at the fork in the road go left on the main road. The road leads along the former Salaspils nuclear reactor building, which can be seen behind the trees on the right side of the road. After 1 km you will reach the A4 highway, which you must cross. Be very careful here because there are no pedestrian crossings and cars move at high speed.
After crossing the highway, continue straight and after 70 meters, at the fork in the road keep to the right. Pass the “Ezerkauliņi”, pass the village of Bajāri private houses and soon after the end of the village the asphalt pavement will end ant a dirt road will start. After 2.14 km, keep to the right at the fork.
The road will continue along the corn fields and lead to an alley of large trees, which leads through the former farm, from which the ruins of a cowshed remain. You should go through the alley and after less than a kilometer you will enter the village with a charming name – Sun Garden (Saulesdārzs).
At the crossroad go straight and after 300 meters turn right onto a dirt road and after another 100 meters turn left into a forest. After 10 meters, the next junction follows, in which you should go straight ahead.
On the hill on the left, you will see a yellow-white stone building – Saulkalne railway station. Turn left towards the railway and you will get to the railway. You can go to the station building, where a toilet is available, there is also a water pump outside (no information whether water is drinkable) to rinse off road dust.
Along the pedestrian crossing cross the rails and turn left onto a path that after 30 meters turns 90 degrees to the right and takes you to a dirt road that leads you straight to the road and five-storey houses in the distance. Arriving at the highway, cross it through a pedestrian tunnel. Leaving the tunnel, continue along the asphalt road and after 100 meters turn left along Daugavmalas Street, which leads along the five-storey residential houses. Continue your walk along the side of the street at the top of the hill. City Saulkalne ends and Ikšķile region begins. After 740 meters turn right on the first side road to Kābeļi ancient cemetery and towards the Daugava, then continue to go left along the promenade.
Going straight along the road you can get to the accommodation in the Carmelite Monastery.
Walking along the promenade after 2.3 km you will reach Ikšķile boat base, where there is a place to relax, a toilet is available, as well as it is possible to rent boats and SUP boards. Continue to move forward along the promenade until at the green area of Ikšķile beach it turns left. Walk another 30 meters to the road and turn right onto Rīgas Street. On the way there is a hotel, restaurant, and water recreation center. There is also Ikšķile beach, shop, and cafe. Walk straight along the beach park until you reach the sign to Meinarda Island (Meinarda sala), our recommended attraction.
At this sign, turn left and cross the street along the pedestrian crossing and start walking along Ozolu Street, crossing Kārklu Street, Papeļu Street and at the junction continue along the main road straight.
At the place where the main road turns left, go straight and you will arrive at Ikšķile Catholic Church. Pass it and you will reach the tunnel under the A6 highway. Walking out of the tunnel, on the left side is the Ikšķile Lutheran Church, where accommodation is possible in the parish house. Continue straight along Daugava Avenue to Ikšķile railway station. There is a toilet, shops, and cafes near the station. Walking along the left side of the station, cross the railway, behind the tracks along the parking lot turn left and exit it on the right. At the T-junction, go left and immediately on the next side road to the right. Continue on the way to the small zoo on the right (Mini zoo “Iks park”).
The road goes to the left and after 200 meters takes you to the parking lot. Go right until you reach the entrance to the Ogre Blue Mountains (Ogres Zilie kalni) Nature Park. Go inside the park. Further on, the path leads along the Ogre Blue Mountains cross-country skiing track. Yes, a skiing track that can be used as a pedestrian walkway with lighting poles at the sides of the trail during the summer. You still have to walk 7.6 km from the entrance to the park to Ogre.
Go on the skiing track. After 200 meters the track turns left and takes you further to the crossroads. At the crossroads, turn right (follow the lighting poles) and continue along the high-voltage route clearing. After 200 meters the track turns left over the clearing to the forest and further leads through the forest, where after another 200 meters at the crossroads you should turn right. After 600 meters at the crossroad, you should go to the right again (lighting poles), and after a moment you will arrive at the sand quarries. Continue on the way forward. After 300 meters at the crossroad choose the trail on the left and after a moment you will reach a gravel road. Walk along it and after less than half a kilometer from the road to the right, a pedestrian trail branches off through the observation deck, which leads to Dubkalnu quarry. The former quarry is flooded, with beaches along its shores and is now a popular holiday destination in Ogre. There are picnic and relaxation areas, as well as swimming areas. Continue the path along the slope along the quarry and you will reach the other end of the quarry, where the path leads up the hill, where viewing platforms are arranged.
From the viewing platforms walk along a wide pedestrian path away from the quarry. After 100 meters at the crossroads turn right onto the next plateau footpath, but – be careful – this footpath leads down from the hill to the city, but after 50 meters the route branches off from the footpath to the left and enters the forest. A narrow path along the side of the hill will take you up the stairs to the Ogre Blue Mountains observation tower. You should go upstairs and see Ogre from above.
From the observation tower continue down the hill and at the first crossroad choose the trail to the right. Next – just go straight ahead down the mountain ridge. After a little more than two km you will reach the obstacle park “Giant Trail (Milžu Taka)”, where there is a beautiful view of the city of Ogre. There is a cafe here during the summer season. Continue along the main trail and after 100 meters at the V-shaped crossroad go right down the hill, entering the city.
At the roundabout, go over the pedestrian crossing to the left and then immediately to the right. At the nine-storey house turn right again, and after 40 meters turn left onto Tīnūžu Street. Continue straight along Tīnūžu Street along the pedestrian/bicycle path. After 600 meters you will reach the fountain and the Ogre municipality building. To the right is a pedestrian street with cafes and shops, and the opportunity to relax and explore the city. But the road goes straight past the municipal building. After 200 meters at the crossroad, you should cross the street and continue straight along Brīvības Street for 500 meters. You will arrive to the parking lot, where on the left side is the Ogre Lutheran Church.
