Skaņaiskalns Nature Park is a 3 km long trail that covers the most beautiful section of the Salaca ancient valley with sandstone outcrops, caves, springs and a pine forest. Going along the trail, you can see such unusual natural formations as Werewolf Pine, Devil’s Stone, Angel’s Cave, Dream Stairs, Devil’s Cave, Skābumbaļļu, Dwarf Trail, Neļķu Cliffs, Devil’s Pulpit and Skaņaiskalns.
The Neļķu Cliffs (“Carnation Cliffs”) are one of the most picturesque red sandstone outcrops in Latvia, which stretch along the right bank of the Salaca at a height of 20 m and a length of 300 m. A particularly beautiful view of the cliffs opens from the Devil’s Pulpit. Once upon a time, white, fragrant sand carnations grew on the rock wall, from which the name of the rocks originated. In the 1960s, they were uprooted and considered extinct. The Dwarf Trail (“Rūķu Takas”), on the other hand, expresses the idea of diligence and wisdom, symbolized by the active oak dwarfs and the owl in the Dwarf Oak, but the Werewolf Pine (“Vilkaču Priede”) is unusual for its twisted roots, which are associated with stories of people turning into werewolves.
No less magnificent is the Angel’s Cave (“Eņģeļu ala”), which got its name from the rocky outcrop, reminiscent of an angel’s wings. The most recognizable object of the park is the Skaņaiskalns cliff (Skaņaiskalns), about 20 m high, which can be seen on the left bank of the Salaca and gives the strongest echo in Latvia, with the listeners facing the cliff and the speaker in certain places in the middle or behind.
The place of rest by the Skaņākalns cliff is also excellent for boaters
The trail is circular and takes about 2 hours to complete.
