Hot summer as well as warm spring and autumn are a good time for kayaking. Lowland rivers dominate in Poland. The current flows slowly and the river often meanders strongly. These are excellent conditions for kayaking. You can go with your family as well as a larger group of friends. We present 13 longer and multi-day swimming routes.
Rafting on the Brda River
The Brda is a left tributary of the Vistula in its northern part. Rafting trips are organized on the Świeszyno-Bydgoszcz section. The longest route is 233 kilometers. The route is rather calm, although very picturesque. In many places, the shores are very high and sandy. The river accelerates by flowing through the Brda Valley, where there are numerous rapids called Hell. In addition, the route leads through the Tuchola Forest, Charzykowskie Lake, Koronowski Lagoon, up to the city of Bydgoszcz.
Rafting on the Drawa
The Drawa flows through the Drawskie Lake District and flows into the Noteć. The beginning of the canoeing trail is in Czaplinek on Lake Drawsko (173 kilometers to the mouth), and the end in Krzyż (2.4 kilometers from the mouth). The trail is divided by the Drawsko training ground into two parts – the northern one (the Drawsko Landscape Park and the Drawsko Lake District) and the southern one (the Drawa National Park and the Drawsko Forest). In most sections, the trail is comfortable with local difficulties. In the national park, the trail is sometimes difficult in the foothills. On the lakes Drawsko and Lubie, crosswind and wave
Rafting on the Krutynia River
Krutynia, or rather the Krutynia Canoe Trail, runs through the Piska Forest, and from Lake Mokre also through the Masurian Landscape Park. The length of the trail is 91 kilometers. The most popular route for canoeing starts in Sorkwity and ends in Ruciane-Nida, but many modifications are possible. This is a route in the heart of Masuria. It flows through a huge number of lakes, including: Lake Lampackie, Lake Piłakno, Lake Dłużec, Lake Białe, Lake Zyzrdój Wielki, Lake Mokre, Lake Bełdany. It is necessary to have a good map or navigation so as not to deviate from the route. Canoeing can be interrupted by the lake and turned into sunbathing.
Rafting – Czarna Hańcza
The Czarna Hańcza is a tributary of the Nemunas. It is the largest river in the Suwałki Region. It has a typically lowland character. It flows slowly among fields and forests. A popular canoe trail starts in Bryzgiel. It leads through Lake Wigry and Czarna Hańcza to Rygol, then through the Augustów Canal and lakes to Augustów. It is about 85 kilometers long. You need 4-6 days to overcome it, depending on the pace of the trip. In the past, the route leading further through the Augustów Canal to the Nemunas and further to Druskininkai was popular. Now you would have to cross the state border twice, and there are no tourist border crossings on the rivers.
Rospuda – canoeing
Rospuda is the upper course of the Netta – a tributary of the Biebrza River. A 67-kilometer long canoe trail leads here. It starts in Matlak and leads to Augustów In the upper course of the river, there is little water, there are stony shoals, boulders, stakes driven into the bottom of the river or fallen trees. In its lower course, the river meanders among the walls of reeds, obscuring the visibility of both banks. There are convenient places for camping along the entire route. Rospuda flows through several lakes, including Sumowo and Bolesty, which are used for tourism.
Rafting on the Wieprz River
The Wieprz is one of the largest rivers in the Lublin region. It is available for canoeists on the section from Krasnobród to Dęblin. It is nearly 300 kilometers. In the upper reaches from Krasnobród to Lake Nielisz, the river is small and narrow, and the terrain in the area is hilly. Further on, it is a typical lowland river. From Łęczna to Dęblin, it is already a large river that carries significant amounts of water, although it flows slowly. It is wide and deep. This section is for the experienced, because the capsize can end in tragedy. Canoeing on the Wieprz River along its entire length is a big challenge. It takes about 3 weeks.
Rafting on the Tanew River
Tanew is the main river of Roztocze – a tributary of the San River. In its upper course, it creates picturesque noises and is located in the Solska Forest Landscape Park. You can get into the kayak a bit further. The route starts at the Borowe Młyny bridge. The entire route to Ulanów is 93 kilometers long. Only the beginning leads through the forest, and most of the route runs through fields. Those who have seen the Nad Tanwią Nature Reserve will be surprised. The river is small and very easy. Suitable for children and beginner canoeists.
Rafting the Rawce
The Rawka is a tributary of the Bzura. It can be found in Mazovia, near Skierniewice. The river is 97 kilometers long, of which about 75 kilometers are accessible to canoeists. The route can start in Żydomice and end in Nowe Kęszyce. The Rawka has features characteristic of mountain rivers such as rapids, backwaters, rapids, rewinds, and sometimes fast current. The river flows through a nature reserve, but also close to buildings, so in addition to nature, you can admire numerous bridges.
Rafting on the Świder River
The Świder River has its source in the vicinity of Stoczek Łukowski and flows into the Vistula River on the border of Józefów and Otwock. The river is rather difficult. There are many rapids and fallen trees. A lot of people live in the area, so there are many organizers of rafting trips who offer various variants. Usually, the routes start in the vicinity of Wólka Mlądzka (shorter) or Kołbiel (longer) and end in Wisła.
Rafting on the Pilica River
The Pilica is the longest left tributary of the Vistula. It is 309 kilometers long. It is extremely popular among kayakers because it is available for a very long distance. Canoeing can start in Szczekociny and end on the Vistula. Popular towns with a wide range of canoeists are Przedbórz, Sulejów, Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Spała, Nowe Miasto Nad Pilicą, Białobrzegi and Warka. The river is rather easy and very picturesque. From Nowe Miasto Nad Pilicą it is large and only those who can sail on large rivers should go here.
Wkra – canoeing
The Wkra is a tributary of the Narew River. The river is 249 kilometers long, of which about 200 can be crossed by canoe. It starts in Działdowo and leads to the mouth of the Narew River. It is a lowland trail, leading mainly through meadow areas. Obstacles on the route are weirs, power plants and mills – active or destroyed. It is easy to find a place for camping – numerous meadows and convenient access to the water. Only on the Poniatowo – Bieżuń section, in principle, you can spend the night only near villages or weirs. Some problems with camping can also occur in the last kilometers of the river due to the numerous summer houses on the banks, which often occupy places with the best access to water.
Rafting on the Liwiec River
The Liwiec flows in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship and is a tributary of the Bug River. The river is 142 kilometers long, and 120 kilometers is a route for canoeing. It is a typical lowland river, meandering quite strongly to the Łochów region, with beaches on the inner parts of the bends, flowing mainly through meadows, in the lower course on the banks there are often forests, mainly pine, the river spreads wider here and significantly shallows. The water is clean and there are many great places for swimming with a sandy bottom along the entire stretch. There are many convenient places for camping on riverside meadows. The trail is a bit arduous, there are three water structures that require portages and shallows in the lower course, which can force you to tow the kayak frequently at low water level. Apart from the lower course, where the aforementioned summer houses by the river are located, it is easy to find peace and quiet.
Rafting on the Dunajec River
The Dunajec River is associated with rafting under the care of a professional raftsman. However, you can cross the river on your own in a kayak. The route is the same: Sromowce Niżne – Szczawnica. This is undoubtedly a demanding route, and a possible mistake can be costly. However, it is worth going here, because the views are unique, and you can adjust the pace to your needs by sailing on your own.
