Ozolkalns is a small real outdoor ski and recreation centre beside the Gauja river near Cēsis in Latvia's Gauja National Park, home to some of the country's longest slopes.
- 28 m Base
- 102 m Top lift
- 74 m Vertical
- 3 Lifts
Best known for
Après & vibe
A relaxed recreation centre with a riverside camping and bungalow park alongside the slopes.
The snow centre
Ozolkalns is a genuine, if gentle, outdoor ski hill set beside the Gauja river near the town of Cēsis, within Latvia's Gauja National Park. It is real snow skiing on a low Baltic slope rather than any artificial dome, and is known for having some of the longest runs in Latvia along with a chairlift, rentals and instructors. The terrain suits beginners, families and snowboarders looking for easy laps close to Riga, and the wooded river setting is a large part of the appeal. Off-season it doubles as a camping and outdoor-activity centre. As a low-lying Baltic area it depends heavily on snowmaking and a cold winter, so the season is fairly short.
The slope
Gentle, forgiving slopes make it a strong choice for learners and children.
Latvia's longer runs here give improving skiers room to cruise.
Little steep terrain for stronger skiers.
No expert pistes.
Gauja National Park setting
The slopes drop towards the Gauja river inside Latvia's oldest national park, giving the skiing an unusually scenic, woodland backdrop.
On the map
Legend
Run difficulty
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced / Expert
- Freeride / Extreme
- Unknown
Run types
- Downhill — groomed
- Downhill — ungroomed
- Downhill — gladed
- Nordic (groomed)
- Ski tour
- ☾Lit (night)
- △Not patrolled
- →One-way
- ❄Snowmaking
Lifts
- Operating
- Operating (private)
- Non-operating
- Lift station
Slope-gradient grading
Downhill / ski tour
- Flat<3°
- Easy3–14°
- Intermediate14–22°
- Advanced / Expert22–45°
- Freeride / Extreme>45°
Nordic
- Easy<6°
- Intermediate6–9°
- Advanced>9°
Aspect (sun exposure)
- N — least sun
- E — morning
- S — most sun
- W — afternoon
Legend after OpenSkiMap
Stay near Ozolkalns
Stay in the historic town of Cēsis a few kilometres away, or in the on-site bungalow and camping park; many visitors day-trip from Riga.
A base in town — the snow centre is a day trip, not a resort stay.
Self-catering flexibility for a family visit or a longer city break.
Handy if the centre is a stopover between flights.
Book access to Ozolkalns
Snow sessions, lessons and slope passes for Ozolkalns.
Online access tickets for Ozolkalns will be bookable here shortly. In the meantime, book direct on the venue's own site.
How to get there
Riga is the gateway airport, a straightforward drive to Cēsis and the Gauja valley.
A short drive from Cēsis reaches the centre; a car is the easiest way in, though Cēsis is also on the rail line from Riga.
Best time: Midwinter, roughly January to February, when Baltic cold and snowmaking give the best cover.
Nearby resorts
Other resorts within reach.
Faces west © ogre11 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0) Riekstukalns
- Vertical
- 45 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 19
- Lifts
- 20
Faces west © Toomas Tsamoot / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0) Kuutsemae
- Vertical
- 56 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 7
- Lifts
- 5
Faces north © Lauri / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) Tehvandi Snowpark
- Vertical
- 76 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 5
- Lifts
- 5
Milzkalns
- Vertical
- 40 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 4
- Lifts
- 10
Kütioru Centre
- Vertical
- 68 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 3
- Lifts
- 3
Getting to Ozolkalns
Book an airport transfer up to the resort, or pick up a car at Helsinki (HEL) — search and compare without leaving the page.
Ski data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via OpenSkiMap & Skimap.org. Basemap © OpenFreeMap / OpenMapTiles. Editorial: mynext.holiday. Accommodation via Stay22; transfers via Kiwitaxi; car hire via Travelpayouts.