Pilica: the longest left tributary of the Vistula

Pilica – the longest left tributary of the Vistula

The Pilica is the longest left tributary of the Vistula and one of the most popular kayaking rivers in central Poland. It is 319 km long and, for most of its course, a lowland river - wide, sandy and calm. It is precisely this gentle current, clear water and sandy bed that make it one of the friendliest rivers for families and beginners.

The Pilica works well at any scale of trip. Below the Sulejów Reservoir run dozens of kilometres of easy water that can be split into convenient day-long stretches, and rentals line the route. The river is long enough to allow a multi-day trip too, through the forests, meadows and historic little towns of the Pilica valley.

Where the Pilica rises and where it flows

The Pilica rises from karst springs near the town of Pilica, on the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. From there it flows in a great arc north and east, passing Szczekociny, Koniecpol and Przedbórz, and beyond Sulejów it spreads into the Sulejów Reservoir. Below the dam at Smardzewice, through Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Spała, Inowłódz, Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą, Białobrzegi and Warka, it reaches the Vistula. The whole river measures 319 km.

For paddling, the most interesting stretch is below the Sulejów Reservoir - here the Pilica is at its widest, sandiest and best served. The river is 20-30 metres wide there and, on average, half a metre to a metre and a half deep, its bed formed of pale, sandy shoals.

The Sulejów Reservoir and the landscape parks

In its middle course the Pilica is dammed, ponding up the Sulejów Reservoir - a body of water about 17 kilometres long, created in 1974. Above the dam the river turns into a broad lake, popular with sailors but less appealing to paddlers; that is why the kayak trail below the reservoir usually only begins beyond the dam at Smardzewice, near Tomaszów Mazowiecki - the town of Sulejów itself lies at the upper, southern end of the reservoir.

The Pilica valley is protected by three landscape parks: Przedbórz, Sulejów and Spała. Thanks to them the river runs for much of its length through forests and natural, little-altered banks, and its valley is among the most scenic in this part of the country.

Spała, Inowłódz and the Blue Springs

A few places along the Pilica are not to be missed. In Tomaszów Mazowiecki, right by the river, lie the Blue Springs - a reserve of karst springs with water of an extraordinary blue-green hue. A little further on is Spała, once a hunting residence of the tsars and later of Poland's presidents, still surrounded by vast forests.

In Inowłódz, by the river, stands one of the region's oldest monuments - the Romanesque church of St Giles from the 12th century. Downstream the Pilica passes Nowe Miasto, Białobrzegi and Warka, known for its orchards and brewery. So a trip on the Pilica joins nature with history, and between stretches you can visit the landmarks of the Pilica valley.

Stretches of the Pilica trip: from Tomaszów to Warka

The Pilica is best paddled in stages. The upper stretches, below the dam at Smardzewice, through Tomaszów Mazowiecki to Inowłódz, pass the Blue Springs and Spała, along the best-served part of the trail. The middle, scenic Inowłódz-Nowe Miasto stretch is a classic family weekend trip. The lower stretches, through Białobrzegi to Warka, lead down a wide, lazy valley towards the Vistula. You can see every stretch on the map below - in "Take it easy" mode, with facilities and water levels along the way. And if you'd rather plan the trip your own way, you can draw your own route in "Your own way" mode.

See the trail on the interactive map Click to load the map with the route drawn in

Obstacles and practicalities on the Pilica

The Pilica is an easy river - there are no rapids or difficult water, and few portages. The biggest obstacle is the Sulejów Reservoir dam, which you avoid by starting below it, along with the occasional weir. In summer, at low water, you have to watch for sandy shallows.

The season runs from spring to autumn; the river carries water steadily, but before you set off it is worth checking the current water level. The nearby Radomka, which also flows into the Vistula, has a similarly calm, lowland character.