Palūšė is a pearl of the Highlands and a capital of the National Park, which is a perfect place to enjoy water amusement, get some rest and get acquainted with the history of this region. This is also a place which will not disappoint those, who love walking on the nature trails.
There is a botanical (nature) trail established between the villages of Palūšė and Meironys near the Lūšiai Lake, which is 3.5 kilometres long and can be tackled going by foot or riding a bicycle. When following this path, one can find out more about the flora of the National Park. Here you may see around 150 types of plants, of which 9 are entered into the Red Book of Lithuania. You will be able to admire the picturesque view of the forest, meadows, lakes and ponds almost any time of the year.
Part of the path is with a wooden cover, while the wetter areas are equipped with small bridges, footbridges to the lakes and recreational areas.
During your journey, you will visit Lūšiai Lake as well as some other smaller lakes which are cosily hiding among the forests. Since the path is winding on the slopes and foothills of a large hill, you will also need to overcome some steep sections. You will also pass a wonderfully beautiful forest, where you will find a lot of space among the trees and will be able to try and find the hidden continental dunes. There is a possibility to wade through a real meadow of bents and find a trail, where you will be surrounded by real jungles of canes, peeking on both sides of the path.
One of the more interesting plants that you may find here are menyanthes, marsh violets, mountain everlastings, cinquefoils and many other various types of plants, which you will find plenty here. In case you will be travelling in the second half of summer, you may also find blueberries and other types of berries as well as mushrooms on your way there.
Even though this path is for getting to know the flora, it is interesting not only because of the plants but also the fauna. When following the trail, you can see a house of a bat, a nest of a carnivorous bird, to observe how the toads are “getting married” as well as to see the largest woodpecker in Lithuania – the black woodpecker.
Even though it is very diverse, the route is not difficult with road directions marked for you and if you will have an informational leaflet with a map, received in the Centre of Tourism, it will simply be a pleasure. Especially considering the fact that everything is natural and real here. Your journey should take around 1.5–2 hours, so it will be perfect for families with older children, groups of friends as well as elderly people who are ready to enjoy their life.