Estonia

Start is at Tartumaa Sports Base some 30km away from Tartu, second biggest Estonia’s city. There's a good international connection of trains and buses from Tartu and Elva.
Here track mostly follows roads and hiking paths of Estonian forest service (“RMK”), which follows Latvian-Estonian border quite closely, sometimes even peaking into Latvia (Ape town). Route winds through famous Karula and Haanja nature parks until reaching Valga, border city with Latvia where first checkpoint is. You might want to come back to the beautiful river singletracks that will lead you through most of Estonia's track part. ​The route also shares some of its kilometers with famous Tartu marathon track.

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​Latvia​

The first city in Latvia is the twin city of Valga, called Valka. You will enter there for few meters. The next milestone is the Seda bog (lat. "purvs"). It's partly abandoned railroad track is one the slowest parts in Hydra, but also at the same time very remote and beautiful.
From Strenči town track follows scenic river of Gauja through its regional park, at the same time allows you will visit city of Valmiera and pass next to scenic castle of Cēsis. The views from the river banks are fascinating and some say it's worth even stopping to admire those green foresty canyons.
After some nasty sand stretch, track swiftly leads you into center of the capital - Riga. Cycling paths next to biggest Latvian river Daugava will then require to get on and cross it's greatest dam. This will end up in a super long stretch of forest gravel roads, with only one grocery/convenience store on your way.

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Lithuania​

Your way to Lithuania - the famous two plank bridge crossing border river Nemunėlis. Route keeps on extending along the Lithuanian-Latvian border gently crossing nice Lithuanian country towns. The trail weaves through many nature parks, the greatest lake famous Labanoras and Gražutė regional parks just to mention a few of them. The route closely hugs the rivers of Nemunėlis, Žeimena, Neris and Lithuania's river father - Nemunas - biggest river in Lithuania. With Nemunas you will start in Kaunas and follow up until finish in Druskininkai city.

After some sandy sections you will ride into resort city of Druskininkai, which is famous for it's pine tree parks, forests and SPAs - worth to come back after finishing. This is where finish is set for year 2027.

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Poland​

This year event participants will not enter Poland, but public track still goes there.

From sandy Lithuanian/Polish border route goes through the spectacular Suwalki national park.

Route ends near Suwalki city, next to Hańcza lake which is famous for it's nature beauty and surroundings. 

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​​​​In this manner Hydra's trail traverses Baltic countries

The route is varied and has to offer technical cross country singletracks (there's tons of it), long fast gravel sections and everchanging forest roads which go through most beautiful parts of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.  Along the way you will have an opportunity to visit a handful of the Baltic States' cities: Kaunas, Vilnius, Zarasai, Riga, Sigulda, Cesis, Valmiera and etc.

We hope you'll be fascinated as we are of how close some of the singletracks appear to be near the city centers and how beautiful and untouched nature is in Baltic states!