Raunis – Vaive Mill

A linear hike starting from the old Cēsis–Madona road bridge over the Raunis (next to the new P30) and continuing for 8 km along the Raunis valley to the confluence of the Raunis with the Rauna River and a short distance along the Vaive River to Vaive Mill, where the hike finishes.

The Raunis is one of the swiftest rivers in Latvia, with a fall of 7.7 metres per kilometre. Along its entire length the river is very shallow (from half a metre to one metre deep) and winding, with many rapids and accumulations of fallen trees. The riverbed is stony, and in the upper and lower reaches it is more sandy and pebbly. In the lower course the river valley (the Raunis valley) is up to 30 m deep. The banks are steep and contain many sandstone outcrops, but none of the outcrops has been given an official name. In 1997 the book “Nature of Latvia” was published, in which some of the sandstone outcrops were given unofficial names: Striped Cliffs, Kunči Outcrop, Pārupe Outcrop, Danki Outcrop, Priežkalni Red Cliff, Raunis Sonorous Hill, Red Bank, Rapids Outcrop, Sesis, High Bluff. Two of the outcrops have names used only by nature researchers: Kalndanki Outcrop and Ķekaviņa Mill Outcrop. Devonian fossils have been discovered in some of them. Springs, landslides and small caves can also be found on the banks of the Raunis. There was once also a cave named Ķekaviņa Cave, but it has now collapsed. The river water is very clean and contains very few organic substances but a lot of iron. The Raunis valley is difficult for people to access.