Vilnius District Municipality
Vilnius District
Šilėnai-Naujoji Rėva route in Neris Regional Park
Šilėnai and Naujoji Rėva area, Vilnius district
54.73521, 25.03401
about 3 hours
May-October; dry weather is better for forest roads and steeper stretches
Šilėnai-Naujoji Rėva Nature Trail
Officially the Šilėnai-Naujoji Rėva Route
Šilėnai Nature Trail is officially called the Šilėnai-Naujoji Rėva Nature Trail. That matters because maps and Saugoma.lt often use the full name.
The route introduces not only forest but also the setting of Šilėnai village, so it begins differently from many purely forest trails. Šilėnai lies in Neris Regional Park, established in 1992 and covering 10,523 ha; VLE also identifies the Šilėnai ethnocultural reserve here.
About 6 km and 3 Hours
According to Saugoma.lt, the route is about 6 km and takes about 3 hours. It is a medium-length hike suited to a calm half-day outing from Vilnius.
Plan some margin because part of the route follows forest roads, while near Naujoji Rėva there are steeper and narrower stretches.
Two Different Trail Characters
The first part up to Naujoji Rėva Hillfort has more objects and information panels, so it feels more like a classic educational trail.
The return toward Šilėnai is a simpler forest road. The route therefore feels more like a hike through park landscape than a constantly signposted exhibition.
Where to Start
Sources give two convenient starts: Šilėnai church square or the parking area by Naujoji Rėva Hillfort. Choose according to whether you want to begin from the village or the hillfort side.
For a first visit, starting from Šilėnai helps you follow the official route story: village, forest, hillfort, then a simpler return.
Bicycle: Not Easy Everywhere
Saugoma.lt notes that the route can also be done by bicycle, but near Naujoji Rėva there is a steep hill and a narrow forest path where the bicycle may need to be pushed or carried.
So by bicycle this route is not as simple as the distance suggests. On foot it is more consistent and safer.
Who the Trail Suits
Šilėnai Trail suits visitors who want a less crowded, less tourist-heavy Neris Regional Park route. It is not as dramatic as the Dūkšta valley, but offers more village-and-forest calm.
Children can walk it if they are used to about 6 km. For younger children or strollers, the route may be too long and uneven.
