Tērvete Nature Park: Latvia's Enchanted Forest for Families

Tērvete Nature Park has been a beloved destination for Latvians for generations, but 2026 marks a significant upgrade: LVM (Latvijas Valsts meži — Latvian State Forests) opened a new visitor and educational centre alongside a 25-metre observation tower that now gives visitors their first proper view over the park's remarkable ancient dune landscape.

The park lies in the Zemgale region of central Latvia, about 70 km southwest of Riga, in the valley of the Tērvete River. The defining landscape feature is an ancient valley of tall, straight Scots pines growing on sandy ridges — the same continental dune system that appears across the Baltic lowlands. Among those ridges are the preserved earthworks of an ancient Semigallian hill fort, used as a stronghold during the fight against the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century.

The Forest and Trails

LVM maintains an extensive network of marked trails through the park, ranging from short family loops to half-day hikes. The forest floor beneath the pines is carpeted with bilberry and lingonberry bushes, and the air has a characteristic resinous dryness that makes Tērvete a popular destination for people seeking the documented health benefits of phytoncides — volatile organic compounds released by conifers.

The park also contains a fairy-tale forest area with carved wooden characters from Latvian folk tales — an enduring family attraction created decades ago and now carefully maintained among the trees.

LVM Glamping

LVM operates a glamping area at Tērvete — comfortable canvas-and-timber structures with beds, lighting, and private terraces. This is separate from the general campsite. Book direct at tervete.lv. Standard motorhome parking is available in the main car park; hook-up facilities in the adjacent campsite.

Getting There

Tērvete is 70 km from Riga on road P98. It sits almost exactly between Riga and Šiauliai (Lithuania), making it an ideal overnight stop on the north–south Baltic corridor. The Bauska medieval castle ruins (40 km east) and the Rundale Palace gardens (50 km east) can be combined into the same circuit — one of the best two-day drives in Latvia.