Gauja National Park, in the Vidzeme region, holds the most pronounced terrain in northern Latvia: a steep-sided valley cut by the Gauja River through red sandstone cliffs, locally nicknamed the “Switzerland of Vidzeme.”
Rolling terrain between cliffs and forest
From Sigulda, forest tracks and small roads follow the Gauja Valley toward Krimulda and then Cēsis for about 46 km, with around 560 m of total elevation gain. The terrain alternates short, sharp climbs above the sandstone cliffs with long rolling stretches through pine and conifer forest.
How to approach the ride
All-terrain gravel tires around 40-45mm handle most of the route well, though some forest tracks can turn slick over exposed sandstone after rain. The elevation gain, modest compared to the Alps, still adds up across the ride.
When to go
May to September, with autumn bringing particularly vivid color to the deciduous forest overlooking the valley. Sigulda is also a well-known winter destination for bobsleigh, on a track built in the Soviet era and still in operation.
Good to know
Turaida Castle, a 13th-century red-brick fortress, and Gūtmaņa Cave are worth a detour early in the route. A cable car, running since 1969, crosses the Gauja Valley between Sigulda and Krimulda for anyone wanting a different vantage point.