Overlanding & Hiking in Kaunas: The Best Trails, Campsites, and 4x4 Routes
Introduction to Kaunas and Its Region
Central location in Lithuania gives Kaunas a major advantage. The city has recently gained UNESCO status for its modernist architecture. While buildings there and street art can keep you busy for some days, you might be tempted to explore the surrounding area's beautiful nature and resort towns.
Kaunas Lagoon is a great 4x4 destination. Drive through dirt roads, explore small settlements, and end up at the scenic shore—perfect for fishing and nature lovers. After a morning adventure in nature, you can quickly transport to a nearby resort town. In recent years small towns of Kačerginė, Zapyškis and Kulautuva grew more attractive for tourists with festivals, art exhibitions and opportunities to spend time actively.
St. Ann’s Church in Kačerginė
Overlanding Routes in the Kaunas Region
Want the best overlanding experience near Kaunas? Take scenic backroads, explore hidden trails, and enjoy the stunning views of the Nemunas River. Wherever you go you might spot Nemunas River coming closer to the road from time to time. Outside Kaunas Lagoon Regional Park you will enter Nemunas Loop Regional Park with Birštonas resort town in the heart of it.
There are several campsites around the Kaunas Lagoon as well as fishing spots, the shores of Nemunas River are dotted with steep mounds. In these woods, you can discover an abandoned Soviet-era camping or a short but beautiful Dubrava forest swamp trail. After completing the boardwalk hike why not go explore forest roads?
Dubrava bog boardwalk
Top Hiking Trails in Kaunas: Juniper Valley, Dubrava & More
Juniper Valley - a popular and beautiful boardwalk among the Juniper trees with amazing views of the Nemunas River. The trail is also wheelchair-friendly.
Dubrava Reserve Boardwalk – an easy but unique bog hike. It is accessible for families with children and the one-way trail is only 1,7km long and won’t take you an hour to complete.
Pakalniškiai Cognitive Trail – river views & cardio climbs. The linear trail will make you walk 6km in total meaning you will cover a lot of steps, and come down to the Lagoon water a few times before conquering steep hills and Pakalniškiai mound. The close proximity to the water, breathtaking views and interesting info stands along the way will make it an exciting memory.
Juniper Valley Boardwalk
Best Camping & Wild Camping Spots Near Kaunas (With Map!)
Plan to visit the city or prefer more comfort, be able to work on the road and then quickly jump in the refreshing water? Kaunas Lake Camping is the place for you. Located on the shore of Lampėdžiai, the former quarry lake the campsite offers water sports and other sports facilities, free Wifi and all the amenities.
If you prefer seclusion and completely natural surroundings away from any noise then Kaunas Lagoon and Nemunas River bends are dotted with campsites. You can refer to my Kaunas map to find a great place for your rest.
Jiesia outcrop
Hidden Cultural and Historical Gems
Kaunas Castle is a popular location in the Old Town located near the confluence of two rivers - Nemunas and Neris. But rarely do travellers visit a castle in Raudondvaris. Just several kilometres outside the city on a hill you will be greeted with well-preserved Manor buildings including the winter garden turned restaurant and the Kaunas region tourism office with plenty of travel inspiration and helpful staff for planning your trip.
Pažaislis Monastery on the shore of Kaunas Lagoon is a baroque masterpiece built in 1644. You can visit the museum, and the church, walk through the inner courtyard and go on a hike along the shore of the Lagoon.
In anticipation of World War 1 a circle of Forts was planned and built over time. These days all 10 Forts remain in different levels of preserve with a few of them turned into museums, while others act as unique art spaces, and a few are protected areas of wintering bats. Plan your overlanding trip in Kaunas visiting as many of these Forts as possible. The full list with a map and other military objects is on the Kaunastic website.
Practical Tips for Travelers
To prepare for your overlanding trip in Kaunas you will need fuel and food and for your convenience, I have prepared a map with gas stations and grocery stores marked near the major roads and the majority of interesting places.
The best time to go hiking and overlanding near Kaunas is from April to October. Trails, particularly near the Kaunas Lagoon and in the Dubrava forest, near the Nemunas River, might be wet and more difficult to access in early spring. However, Winter will be nevertheless exciting with challenging off-road trails.
For further exploration and planning an overlanding and camping trip along the beautiful Nemunas River road check my blog post about activities and sights between Kaunas and Jurbarkas.
Have you explored Kaunas and its wild side? Share your experience in the comments or tag me on Instagram (@redhead_in_woodland)!
