Aiviekste, Latvia

The Aiviekste cannot impress with its rapid flow or spectacular scenery, typical for the River Gauja, but it is a large and interesting river with its charm. Two types of paddlers will like this river: those who prefer marathons and kilometres and like being in a narrow kayak and rowing while watching their average speed on a GPS screen, and those who will tie their canoes together, go with the stream and share snacks with their travel companions.
The Aiviekste, constrained by locks, flows from Lake Lubāns . The course is slow up to Aiviekste HPP (101 km from Lubāns) and the slope is only 1m per 14 km on average. The river changes after Aiviekste HPP and it shows a dizzying slope of 0.8 m per kilometre for the next 14 km to the River Daugava.
For those interested in virgin nature in combination with hydraulic and technical wonders around Lubāna we recommend the initial Aiviekste section to the town of Aiviekste (35 km). During the first 15 kilometres of the route the Aiviekste flows through wetlands and damp deciduous forests, and for some time it even loses its name and its course, when it is replaced by the 3.5 km long Vērdes canal. Signs of civilisation – well-groomed fields and road network, appear on the banks at about 10 km from Lubāns.
The section from Lubāna to Daugava (79.8 km) can be recommended to those planning a slow and leisurely trip. It is quite likely that you will not see other paddlers in long sections. Starting from Lubāna down to ‎Ļaudona (81.8 km from Lubāns) 5 bridges cross the Aiviekste with an average interval of 10 km between them with a well-developed road infrastructure along the river. This will allow you to change the length of your trip and will not cause any inconveniences to those who hired their canoes.
Aiviekste HPP is located 20 km downstream from Ļaudona. Canoes can be transported on the left bank or you can reach the island Ozolsala in the middle of the river. Do not jump over the HPP dam! Although it seems low there are flow dividing concrete ribs that are not visible under the water! Aiviekste HPP is open to visitors.
The course of the river accelerates after Aiviekste HPP, and Sprindzāni HPP is situated at 5 km. Here canoes can be transported on the left bank. 1.8 km from Sprindzāni HPP a sharp-eyed paddler may see the old mouth of the Veseta on the right bank of the Aiviekste. It is worth trying to go only fifty metres up the Veseta to admire the wonderful creations of craftsmen, for example the triple-arch stone bridge over the old road Pļaviņas-Madona. Here is a good point to finish your canoe trip along the Aiviekste – at 6.6 km from Daugava and Pļavinas. Boat hire operators:
Aborieši (Canoe) (+371) 26649344
Aiviekstes laivas (Canoe) (+371) 25434346 info@aivieksteslaivas.lv
Campo (Inflatable/Canoe/Kayaks/SeaKayaks) (+371) 29404049 campo@laivas.lv
Jeņču laivas (Canoe) (+371) 20607509 jenculaivas@gmail.com
Laivot.lv (Canoe/Kayaks) +371 22151577 laivot@inbox.lv
Mezmalas laivas (Inflatable/Canoe/Kayaks) (+371) 26649575 info@mezmalaslaivas.lv