E9 section 25: Vecāķi - Carnikava

The E9 section 25 (Vecāķi – Carnikava) is a 14-km point-to-point coastal trail in Latvia, gaining roughly 20 m of elevation along the Baltic shoreline. Rated easy and walkable in a single day, it threads Riga's seaside suburb of Vecāķi north through pine-forested dunes, open sandy beach, and the reed-fringed meadows of Piejūra Nature Park to Carnikava's pedestrian bridge over the Gauja River — one of the most accessible and rewarding stages on the entire E9 European Long Distance Path.

About the E9 section 25: Vecāķi - Carnikava

Stretching 14 km along the Latvian Baltic coast, section 25 of the E9 European Long Distance Path connects the seaside suburb of Vecāķi — roughly 15 km north of Riga's city centre — to the market town of Carnikava at the mouth of the Gauja River. This is one of the most accessible stages of the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route, lying within easy reach of Latvia's capital and requiring no special permits or fees.

The E9 in Latvia is part of a transnational network of marked coastal trails running through Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Section 25 is waymarked throughout with the characteristic three-colour bars — white, blue, white — painted on trees and posts at regular intervals, making navigation straightforward even for first-time visitors to the region.

The terrain is typical of the Latvian coast: wide, firm-sand beaches give way to coastal foredunes rising 6–10 metres above the waterline, flanked by stands of Scots pine and silver birch. Piejūra (Seaside) Nature Park covers much of this stretch, protecting habitats for nesting birds including the common tern, Eurasian oystercatcher, and white-tailed eagle. Total elevation gain is modest at around 20 m, and the entire route can be completed in 5–6 hours at a comfortable pace, making it ideal as a standalone day hike or as part of a longer E9 multi-stage journey.

Between the start in Vecāķi and the Gauja estuary, the path transitions from open beachfront to quiet coastal forest before joining the Gauja River flood-protection levee into Carnikava. That final levee section offers wide, unobstructed views over the Gauja floodplains and reed beds — a landscape entirely different from the sea-facing leg of the hike. A raft crossing of the Gauja estuary mouth is available on request (advance booking: +371 29214438, capacity 12 persons) for those who prefer a more adventurous end to the stage.

Lamprey (Latvian: nēģi) is a celebrated regional delicacy, caught in the Gauja between 1 August and 1 February each year. The town of Carnikava has built much of its identity around the annual lamprey season, and small stalls selling smoked lamprey appear along the main street each autumn — a rewarding culinary endpoint for walkers completing the section in September or October.

Route Overview & Stages

Section 25 is walked south to north, starting at Vecāķi beach opposite Pludmales street and finishing at the pedestrian bridge in Carnikava. The 14 km divides naturally into three segments by terrain type, each with a distinct character.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Vecāķi Beach — The trail begins at Pludmales street on Vecāķi's wide sandy beach. In summer, beach bars and seasonal cafés line the promenade; in the shoulder season the shore is often deserted, offering genuine solitude within 15 km of a European capital. The beach is wide enough at low tide to walk on firm, packed sand.
• Coastal Dune Formations — Between Vecāķi and Mežciems, wind-sculpted foredunes rise 6–10 metres above the waterline. The Scots pines rooted in their crests are twisted into distinctive shapes by the prevailing westerly winds, and the dune flanks are carpeted in heather, crowberry, and sea buckthorn.
• Nudist Beach Section — A designated naturist stretch lies north of Vecāķi, clearly signed and well respected by locals. The beach here is particularly wide and the sand firm at low tide — ideal for barefoot walking.
• Eimura Canal Crossing — Around the 4 km mark, a small footbridge carries the trail across the Eimura drainage canal approximately 100 m from the shoreline. This is the only mandatory inland detour on the beach section and takes under 5 minutes to complete.
• Piejūra (Seaside) Nature Park — The entire section falls within or adjacent to this protected area, one of Latvia's most visited nature parks, established to protect the dynamic coastal ecosystem. Pine forest and coastal meadows support over 200 bird species; spring migration (April–May) brings raptors, wading birds, and sea ducks in large numbers.
• Mežciems Village — The approximate midpoint of the route, a quiet residential settlement with a bus connection back to Riga. No commercial services, but a reliable landmark for pacing your walk and checking the time against the remaining distance.
• Gauja River Levee Walk — The final stretch follows the flood-protection embankment of the Old Gauja channel. The embankment is a raised gravel path offering wide views across reed beds and flooded meadows — a landscape strikingly different from the open coast and particularly atmospheric on misty autumn mornings.
• Carnikava Pedestrian Bridge & Gauja Estuary — The trail ends at a wooden pedestrian bridge spanning the Gauja River. The estuary is wide and shallow, with fishing boats moored in the reeds and terns fishing the shallow channel. In autumn, smoked lamprey stalls operate within 200 m of the bridge, offering a memorable end to the day.

Best Time to Hike the E9 section 25: Vecāķi - Carnikava

The trail is walkable year-round, but conditions and facilities vary considerably by season. As of 2026, the Latvian Baltic coast runs consistent summer services from mid-June to late August, with beach bars, transport connections, and accommodation at full capacity.

June–August brings long daylight hours — up to 18 hours in late June — and warm temperatures of 18–24 °C. The Baltic Sea reaches 17–20 °C at its summer peak, making swimming at Vecāķi beach genuinely comfortable. The main trade-off is crowds: Vecāķi is a popular Riga day-trip destination and the beach fills on summer weekends. Midweek visits or early morning starts largely avoid this.

September is the single best month to hike this section. Crowds clear after the August peak, temperatures of 14–18 °C remain comfortable for walking, and the surrounding forest shows early autumn colour in the pine stands and birch copses. Critically, the Gauja lamprey season opens on 1 August, meaning fresh smoked lamprey is available at Carnikava at the end of your walk. Light winds and stable high-pressure systems are typical in early September, and the lower sun angle makes the dunes and coastal forest particularly photogenic.

October–November rewards those seeking solitude and dramatic seascapes. Baltic storms roll in from the west, the sea turns grey-green, and the forest floor is carpeted in amber needles. Distances feel longer in deteriorating weather, so carry extra waterproofing and plan around transport timetables, which reduce after September.

December–March can be atmospheric — a frozen or snow-dusted beach is extraordinary — but Vecāķi's catering closes entirely, transport services are reduced, and soft winter sand is significantly more tiring underfoot. Waterproof insulated footwear is essential.

April–May is ideal for birdwatching, with spring migration at its peak in Piejūra Nature Park. Temperatures are cool (8–14 °C), the beach is quiet, and the forest understory produces early spring flowers through May.

Practical Information

Accommodation

Carnikava at the trail's end has several small guesthouses offering double rooms from approximately 50–80 EUR per night. The guesthouses are typically within 500–800 m of the pedestrian bridge. Wild camping on the beach is not permitted within Piejūra Nature Park; however, designated public rest areas along the trail permit free overnight camping for through-hikers — carry a lightweight tent and leave the site clean. For a wider choice, Riga (15 km south of Vecāķi) offers accommodation from 30 EUR/night in hostels to 150 EUR/night in city-centre hotels. Many walkers base themselves in Riga and treat section 25 as a day trip, returning by bus from Carnikava in the evening.

Getting There & Back

The Vecāķi trailhead is served by Riga city bus routes 30 and 37 from Riga Central Bus Station (Prāgas iela), with journey times of approximately 35–45 minutes and services running from early morning until around 23:00. By car, Vecāķi lies 15 km north of central Riga via the coastal road; paid parking is available on Pludmales street in summer (June–August).

Riga International Airport (RIX) is approximately 20 km from the Vecāķi trailhead — roughly 30 minutes by taxi or 50 minutes by public transport (airport bus to Riga centre, then bus 30 or 37 to Vecāķi). From Carnikava, regional bus routes connect to Riga centre in approximately 30–40 minutes, with services running regularly until around 22:00. See Latvia.travel's long-distance hiking trails page for current regional transport links and route updates.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required and there is no entry fee for any part of this trail. Access to Piejūra Nature Park's trails is free year-round. The optional raft crossing of the Gauja River estuary requires advance booking (+371 29214438) and charges a small fee; confirm pricing when booking as seasonal rates apply. Paid parking at Vecāķi beach applies in summer (June–August) for those arriving by car.

Gear & Packing List

Section 25 is a flat, easy coastal day hike, so a lightweight setup is appropriate. Soft sand and occasional forest mud mean footwear choice matters more than pack weight: trail runners or low hiking shoes with a grippy sole outperform heavy boots on this terrain. For a multi-day E9 journey taking in several consecutive sections, a 35–50 L pack balances capacity with comfort on long beach days. The Fjällräven Abisko Hike 35 carries well on coastal stages thanks to its weather-resistant fabric and hip-belt ventilation. For heavier multi-day loads, the Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10 offers a proven suspension system suited to the flat but long Baltic days. Ultralight-focused hikers completing a week of E9 sections should consider the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60L, which cuts significant pack weight without sacrificing capacity for a full kit.

Core items to pack for this section:

• Windproof jacket — the Baltic coast is highly exposed; even on warm summer days, sea wind of 20–30 km/h is common and the temperature on the beach can feel 5–7 °C cooler than inland
• Sun protection — open beach sections offer no shade for 8 of the 14 km; SPF 50+ sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are essential from May through September. Check our guide on how many calories you burn hiking a full day to plan your food and water intake accordingly
• Water (1.5–2 L) — no reliable water sources exist on the beach section; fill up before leaving Vecāķi and top up again if stopping in Carnikava
• Waterproof bag liner or dry bags — sea spray can reach packs during strong onshore winds, and autumn rain arrives without warning
• Trail shoes or low hiking boots — grippy enough for soft sand and the levee's compacted gravel surface
• Cash (EUR) — Carnikava's lamprey stalls and the optional raft crossing are cash-only; the nearest ATM is in Carnikava town centre
• Navigation app with offline GPX — the trail is well signed, but the open beach can disorient in low light or fog; a GPX file is downloadable free from baltictrails.eu

If you are planning a longer E9 adventure across multiple Baltic stages, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 covers the packs that hold up across weeks of coastal hiking.

Similar Trails You Might Like

Section 25 sits within the longest continuous coastal hiking route in the Baltic states. The neighbouring E9 stages form a natural chain along the Latvian shoreline, each 12–20 km long and equally accessible from Riga or the regional bus network. Walking two or three consecutive sections back-to-back makes for an excellent long weekend with minimal logistics.

• E9 Section 27: Saulkrasti - Lauči (Latvia) — passes through the popular seaside resort of Saulkrasti, known for its white-sand beach and open-air museum of wooden architecture
• E9 Section 28: Lauči - Tūja (Latvia) — a quieter, forest-heavy section with excellent birdwatching in the Tūja coastal wetlands
• E9 Section 29: Tūja - Svētciems (Latvia) — reaches the dramatic sea-carved sandstone scarps at Svētciems, one of the most photogenic viewpoints on the Latvian E9
• E9 Section 30: Svētciems - Ainaži (Latvia) — the northernmost Latvian E9 stage, ending at the Estonian border town of Ainaži and its maritime heritage museum
• E9 Section 2: Pape - Bernāti (Latvia), 25 km — the southern Latvian E9 counterpart, passing Europe's westernmost wild horse reserve at Lake Pape Nature Reserve

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike E9 section 25: Vecāķi – Carnikava?

September is the best single month. Temperatures of 14–18 °C remain comfortable, crowds have cleared after the August peak, stable high-pressure weather is typical, and the Gauja lamprey season means you can finish the walk with a plate of smoked nēģi in Carnikava. June and July offer the longest daylight and warmest swimming, but Vecāķi beach fills with Riga day-trippers on summer weekends.

How difficult is the E9 section 25 trail?

The section is rated easy. Total elevation gain is approximately 20 m over 14 km, and no technical terrain is involved at any point. The main physical challenge is soft sand, which is more tiring underfoot than packed trail or rock — expect to walk around 2.5 km/h on the beach sections. Fit adults and families with older children can complete the stage comfortably. The route is not suitable for mountain bikes.

How far can you walk per day on this section?

The entire 14 km is designed as a single day stage, typically completed in 5–6 hours including rest stops. Most walkers average 2.5–3 km/h on beach sand, slightly faster on the forest path and levee. There is no practical reason to split this into two days unless you want to camp in Piejūra Nature Park and explore the forest trails at leisure before continuing to Carnikava.

Where can I stay overnight near the trail?

Carnikava has guesthouses from approximately 50–80 EUR per night, within easy walking distance of the pedestrian bridge trail endpoint. Free camping is tolerated in designated rest areas within Piejūra Nature Park — carry a lightweight tent and leave no trace. Most hikers base themselves in Riga, 15 km south of Vecāķi, and complete the section as a day trip, returning to Riga by regional bus from Carnikava in the evening.

Do I need a permit or pay a fee to hike section 25?

No permit is required, and there is no trail fee. The beach and Piejūra Nature Park are freely accessible year-round, 24 hours a day. The only optional cost is the Gauja estuary raft crossing, which requires advance booking and a small fee — confirm the current rate when booking. Paid summer parking (June–August) applies at Vecāķi beach if you are arriving by car.