Anykščiai District Municipality
Anykščiai
forest and river-valley route in Anykščių šilelis
End of Vilniaus Street, near SPA Vilnius Anykščiai, Anykščiai
55.49768, 25.07244
2-3 hours
April-October; dry weather is easier for the forest road and steps
Šventoji Trail
A forest road through Anykščių šilelis
The Šventoji Nature Trail in Anykščiai is a route for visitors who want to see not only Puntukas or the canopy walk, but also the environment of Anykščių šilelis itself. Saugoma.lt states that the trail begins at the end of Vilniaus Street, near SPA Vilnius Anykščiai.
This is not an urban riverside promenade. The route follows forest roads, includes steps and natural surfaces, and is better planned as a 2-3 hour walk.
Starting the trail in Anykščiai
According to Saugoma.lt, from Vilniaus Street you need to walk west through Anykščių šilelis to the wooden "Šventosios takas" sign, then turn left.
This detail matters because the trail is not as obvious as the canopy-walk infrastructure. Before travelling, mark the coordinates and do not rely only on the general Anykščių šilelis name.
17 educational stops
Saugoma.lt states that the route has 17 stops: information panels marked by green circles on tree trunks. They introduce the values, plants, and natural phenomena of Anykščių šilelis, the forest celebrated by Antanas Baranauskas, so the trail both guides direction and provides themes worth noticing.
The stops present topics such as tree hollows, erosion, dead wood, sanitary felling, Šlavė Outcrop, old riverbeds, and steppe meadow, as well as plants including hops, polypody ferns, and barberries. Because of this, the trail is better for slow learning than for rushing through. Anykščių šilelis is part of Anykščiai Regional Park, established in 1992 and covering 15,486 ha, and belongs to its landscape reserve.
Puntukas and the canopy walk
The route ends or leads toward Puntukas Stone and the Tree Canopy Walk, so it is convenient to combine with the most popular sights of Anykščių šilelis.
If you want a calmer impression, start with the Šventoji trail and then continue to the busiest points. That way you first see the forest and river-valley context, not only the main tourist infrastructure.
Who the trail suits
The Šventoji trail suits visitors who want more walking and fewer crowds. It is not highly technical, but because of steps, forest road, and distance, it is not suitable for strollers or a very short walk.
With children, plan extra time and bring water. If your main goal is only the canopy walk, this route may feel long, but for nature interpretation it is much richer.
How to prepare
Footwear should suit a forest road and steps. After rain, some places can be slippery, and in summer insect protection is useful.
Because the route runs through Anykščių šilelis, follow the signs, do not damage slopes, and do not create shortcuts. The river-valley and forest-floor themes are the core of this nature trail.
