Slīteres National Park

Slīteres National Park is in the Kurzeme region of Latvia.

History
In 1921, the Zalie Kalni Nature Reserve was established in the Republic of Latvia. During the Latvian SSR era, it underwent expansion, leading to the creation of the Slitere Nature Reserve. Throughout the Soviet period, the coast of the Kurland Peninsula was designated as a border zone, necessitating a pass for visitation.

In 2000, following Latvia's regaining of independence, a national park was established, based on the original reserve. This park stands as the smallest national park in Latvia, and its infrastructure is less than ideal. In particular, you are likely to encounter not only asphalt roads, but also gravel roads.

Flora and fauna
Lynx, elk and wolves roam the park, but you're unlikely to see them.

Get in
If you are driving from Riga directly to the park, then you need to go through Tukums and further along the P131 road to Kolka. The road goes along the coast of the Gulf of Riga. If you want to see something else in Courland, then it makes more sense to go through Kuldiga or Talsi to Ventspils, and from there along the P124. Both roads are slow; it takes several hours to drive from Riga.

Fees and permits
Entry to the park is free; however, there is a fee for entering Kolkasrags and for its parking.

Mazirbe
Mazirbe is the main settlement on the Liv Coast, the territory where the Livs, a people who once spoke a Finno-Ugric language (related to Estonian but very distant from Latvian), still reside. The Liv language has effectively become extinct, with no native speakers remaining and very few who can understand it. However, people who identify as Livs still exist, and in Mazirbe, there is a small museum dedicated to Liv culture, as well as a separate Liv Culture House.

Observation towers
Sometimes observation towers with roof can be good solution for overnighting in the middle of nowhere, if you got a sleeping bag and mattress.