- Place
- Užgiriai, Telšiai District Municipality
- Region
- Samogitia
- Type
- lakeshore nature and sensory trail
- Address
- L. Andrijausko Street, Užgiriai village, Telšiai District
- Coordinates
- 55.97082, 22.17417
- Visit duration
- 1-1.5 hours for a short circuit; longer when combined with the Germantas trails
- Best time
- May to October, when forest paths are drier and the sensory section is easier to use safely
Ilgis Lake sensory trail, Ilgis Lake barefoot trail
The trail beside Lake Ilgis at Užgiriai
The Ilgis Lake Nature Trail is at Užgiriai in Telšiai District, beside L. Andrijausko Street. The official protected-area point marks the route at Lake Ilgis, while the car park is listed at approximately 55.970819, 22.174169. This is not merely a short urban-park loop: the lakeside trail belongs to a larger Germantas-Ilgis nature-trail network.
Visitors can also reach Ilgis from the Lake Germantas side, but the car park and information board by Ilgis are the practical starting point for a short visit. Choose your starting point in advance because a phone route may not show pedestrian directions clearly at forest junctions.
The main feature: a 1.2 km sensory route
Part of the trail is a sensory, or barefoot, route listed at approximately 1.2 km. It offers changing surfaces including bog, loose materials, stones, logs, and balance beams. This is more than a novelty: the different textures make visitors notice how balance, stride, and the feel of forest ground change from one section to the next.
You do not have to remove your shoes for the whole circuit. Check for sharp twigs, wet or slippery surfaces, insects, and other obstacles before going barefoot, and supervise children. If the ground is saturated or you feel unsteady, keep your shoes on and use only the safer part of the trail.
Outdoor learning stations for children
On the route from Germantas towards Lake Ilgis, nature-learning installations include Bird's Nest, Insect Hotel, Know the Trees, Forest Classroom, and other features. They invite visitors not just to complete a circuit but to stop and observe forest structure, insect habitat, and differences between trees.
These stations are outdoor learning infrastructure, so their condition can change with weather and use. Do not break the structures, move natural materials, or climb into features that are not designed for play. The best pace here is slow, with time for children to ask questions and notice their surroundings.
Lake shore and the Germantas reserve landscape
Along Lake Ilgis, the forest trail comes close to calm water, while the sensory section and simple timber structures help cross wetter ground. The setting combines pine, spruce, and birch woodland, grassy shore, and aquatic vegetation. Observe it from the marked route rather than cutting across sensitive shoreline areas.
Lake Ilgis is part of the Germantas Landscape Reserve's lake-and-forest complex. Walking and cycling trails connect Lakes Germantas and Ilgis, while the wider network includes the small Durbinas lakes, information boards, and separate symbols for walking, cycling, and barefoot routes.
Planning the visit
Allow about one to two hours for a short Lake Ilgis visit and the sensory section, especially with children or when stopping at every learning feature. Connecting Ilgis with Germantas requires a longer walk and attention to the local map because this is a group of linked routes rather than one simple circuit.
Official Telšiai information lists benches, a fireplace, and a toilet near the Ilgis car park. Check whether each facility is available before travelling, and assess forest-road and barefoot-section conditions on arrival. After rain, thaw, or strong winds, take extra care because natural ground can be slippery and fallen branches can change the approach.
Leave the trail as you found it
Do not drive onto the walking trail, damage wetland edges, or cross marked structures. Stay on the route, especially beside water and in damp woodland, so the worn strip does not widen. Keep dogs under control so they do not disturb other visitors or wildlife.
Light a fire only in a designated, clearly marked fireplace, extinguish it completely before leaving, and take rubbish with you. Lake Ilgis is valuable for its quiet shore, forest habitats, and the chance to learn about them without turning the route into a noisy amusement area.
