Usma - the sea

Seasonality: spring, summer, autumn

Complexity: This is a non-classified leasure trip route, suitable for all people and all type of boats. However, the obstacles along the course may require certain basic skills to be able to catch up with the scheduled time-table. Click on asterisk for details.

Photo: Engure before Ugale

Three to five days route by canoe. Contestants of Ultra-Marathon make it one day, but it will take a week or more by inflatable boat.

If there are four vacant days at your disposal, it's the right choice! Route is not technically complex, suitable for fishing and sun bask – river flows zig-zag all the way.

Photo: Sandstripe near Irbe outfall into the sea

Before you start it's important to plan possible camp-places in advance, because in middle section (Rinda river) are only few appropriate riverside spots.

See also Irbe route and other connected routes.

The left bank of river Irbe starting from the bridge of Lielirbe to the very end of the route belongs to the territory of the Ovīši nature reserve. No drive in, even walk is prohibited. Frankly, the only allowed thing here is walk on the beach.

When taking this route it has to be considered, that the part of the Usma lake Luziķērte, from which falls out Engure river belongs to the Moricsala Nature Reserve. Presence here is allowed only with special permissions from related authorities.

Permissions are issued by Administration of the Slitere Nature Reserve in Dundaga, however we do not remember, they've actually done this. It is considered, that authorities will not have objections if you stay on waterline Usma – Engure outfall. So, keep the course!

Places to see in this route are the ruins of Angermindes castle, radar facility of Irbene and Miķeļbāka (beacon) - the highest one in Baltics - 62 m. Experts of nature will find here many more interesting places to see.

On the way there is also Pope with it's interesting manors house, but it only roughly matches the route.

Transportation and reach of the route: There is a traffic problems along this route. How to reach from and to has to be considered in advance.