The educational trail of the Škėvonii ridge has been updated

For the comfort and safety of visitors, worn-out observation deck structures, slope fences were replaced, a new educational trail was installed, supplemented by rest areas, a 10 m long ridge model and an already functioning visitor flow calculator. From now on, it will be more convenient to reach the outcrop on foot or by bicycle and enjoy the breathtaking panorama of the Nemunas loops.

Škėvoņi outcrop is a natural monument formed at the end of the Ice Age, included in the list of the most valuable geological objects in Northwestern Europe. The outcrop is particularly important from a naturalistic point of view due to the preserved interglacial weathering crust, so its accesses have been updated in order to preserve and create favorable conditions for travelers to get to know the landscape of the Škėvonii geomorphological reserve. It is one of the most attractive visited objects of the Nemunas kilpai regional park.

On the initiative of the State Service of Protected Areas and the Birštonas municipality, the works on the installation of the new path on the Škėvonių ridge began in the spring. The heavily worn and partially exposed structures of the observation deck, slope barriers, which had lost their structural stability and could not ensure the safety of visitors, were replaced.

According to Agnes Jasinavičiūtė, director of the State Protected Areas Service, we have achieved a beautiful result through cooperation and we can present to the public the renovated Škėvonii ridge trail in the Nemunas Loops Regional Park. This is not the first project in Birštona implemented with the investment funds of the European Union for 2014-2020. We invite you to start your acquaintance with the Nemunas Loop Regional Park in the renovated regional park visitor center, then, while traveling along the promenade along the Nemunas, climb the accessible Vytautas mountain, walk up to the highest observation tower of the Nemunas Loops Regional Park in Lithuania, and then visit the Škėvonių ridge trail.
"Visitors who come here will be greeted by a newly installed rest area near the parking lot, which is decorated with the Nemunas loop-path made of stones and a 10 m long model of the Škėvonių ridge made of artificial stone. It is made in such a way that visitors can feel free to touch it, explore it and get to know what the ridge looks like on a reduced scale," says Birštonas municipality mayor Nijolė Dirginčienė.
The outcrop of Šekavoni is valuable because of the different rocks that can reveal over 100,000. year-old processes of landscape development. It is a great place to admire the panorama of Nemunas and its coasts. Stretching for more than half a kilometer, the exposed cliff reaches a height of 33 meters at its highest point. At the narrowest point, the width of the ridge is less than 100 m, and at the widest point it is slightly more than 400 m.

The outcrop itself is best seen while swimming in the Nemunas, and the most beautiful view is when the sun is setting, when the different rock layers are painted in rainbow colors. In addition, in the near future it is planned to remove bushes from the slope and reveal the entire panorama of the Nemunas, fully opening from the educational trail.

Newly equipped rest areas and a visitor calculator operating on radio waves have been built on the educational trail, which registers the flow of people entering and leaving. The renovated Škėvonii ridge trail is now operational and open to visitors.