Knowledge base
Descriptions of Poland's rivers and lakes – from the San in the Bieszczady and the coastal Parsęta to the deep lakes of the Suwałki region and the Drawsko Lake District. For rivers you'll find a checked route with its stretches, obstacles and current water level; for lakes, suggested kayak and SUP routes, facilities and conditions on big water.
Pick a region, trip length or difficulty level – and we'll show you the rivers and lakes that suit you best.
Kayaking the Rawka – the trail from Rawa Mazowiecka to Kęszyce. A reserve along its whole length with a required permit, weirs, small power plants and fallen trees, Bolimów Landscape Park and the water level.
Lake Gopło by kayak: Kruszwica and the Mouse Tower from the water, the reserve boundaries and the navigable channel, birds, the ferry across the lake and squalls on open water.
Kayaking the Wełna – a Greater Poland trail from Mieścisko to Oborniki. Route and stretches, the crossing of two rivers in Wągrowiec, weirs and portages, reserves below Rogoźno and the water level.
Lake Wdzydze by kayak: the cross-shaped Wdzydze lakes, the Lipa peninsula and Ostrów Wielki, the open-air museum by Gołuń, the ban on motorboats, waves in the wind and the portage at Borsk.
The Wel – a picturesque river of the Wel Landscape Park: ten lakes, numerous portages at mills and the mountain-like Piekiełko gorge. The trip route, stretches, map and water level.
Kayaking the Wisłoka: route and day-long stretches, water level and season, the portage at the weir near Mokrzec and the nature of the Beskid Niski. A practical guide to this Subcarpathian river.
Lake Charzykowskie by kayak: one of the largest lakes in the Tuchola Forest, the route to Swornegacie, the beaches and harbour in Charzykowy, the cradle of Polish sailing, and safety on big, open water.
Kayaking the Drawa through Drawa National Park – route, day-long stretches, the park's rules and season, portages and rapids. A practical guide to one of the wildest rivers in Pomerania.
Lake Necko in Augustów: how to paddle it, its link to the Augustów Canal and the Czarna Hańcza, safety on busy water, the Bielnik beach and the nature of the Augustów Forest.
Kayaking the Brda through the Tuchola Forest – route, day-long stretches, portages (Mylof, Samociążek, Smukała), lakes and the aqueduct at Fojutowo. A practical guide to the region's most popular river.
Lake Powidzkie by kayak: the largest lake in Greater Poland, the Ostrów peninsula, the palace and neo-Gothic church in Giewartów seen from the water, beaches and safety on big, open water.
Kayaking the Nida – the easiest trail in the Ponidzie. Route, stretches, the only portage at Rębów, exceptionally warm water, Wiślica and Pińczów, and the water level.
Krutynia – Masuria's most famous kayak trail. The trip from Sorkwity to Ruciane-Nida: length and stages, a family-friendly stretch, obstacles, facilities and the current water level.
The Pisa – an easy kayak trail from Masuria to the Narew, from Pisz to Nowogród. The trip route, stages, the wild riverbed of the Pisz Forest, campsites, obstacles and the water level.
The Dajna – a demanding, picturesque kayak trail from Piecki through Mrągowo to Święta Lipka. The trip across nine lakes, weirs, portages, wild nature and the water level.
The Guber – a quiet, easy kayak trail from Biedaszki near Kętrzyn to Sępopol. The trip route, obstacles, the birds of the Warmia-Masuria valleys, Kętrzyn's landmarks and the water level.
The Łyna – Warmia's main river (264 km). A kayak trail from its source through Olsztyn to Lidzbark Warmiński: stretches, power plants, reserves, castles and the water level.
The Marózka – one of the cleanest rivers in Warmia and Masuria. A kayak trail from Mielno to Kurki: difficulty, the family-friendly Maróz-Pawlik stretch, the wild Napiwoda-Ramuki Forest and the water level.
The Pasłęka – the second-largest and one of the wildest rivers in Warmia, flowing down to the Vistula Lagoon. A kayak trail through a beaver reserve: route, formalities, nature and the water level.
The Sajna – a quiet, wild river of Warmia passing through historic Reszel. A kayak trail from Sątoczno to Sępopol: route, obstacles, birds, beavers and the water level.
The Sapina – an easy, wild Masurian kayak trail along the edge of the Borecka Forest, from Kruklin to Lake Święcajty. The trip route, stretches, obstacles, bison and the water level.
The Węgorapa – one of the least-visited rivers in northern Masuria, from Węgorzewo to Ołownik. A kayak trail through the Węgorapa gorge: route, portages, birds, the border and the water level.
Kayaking the Biebrza – Poland's wildest lowland river. The Lipsk-Wizna route, stretches, the marshes and wetlands of Biebrza National Park, elk and birds, entry rules and the water level.
Kayaking the Bug – a wild, unregulated river of eastern Poland. The Mielnik-Serock route, stretches, the Podlasie Gorge of the Bug, Drohiczyn, the Bug Landscape Park and the water level.
Kayaking the Bzura – a gentle lowland river of Mazovia. The Łowicz-to-mouth route, stretches, Łowicz folklore, the 1939 Battle of the Bzura, the Kampinos Forest and the water level.
Kayaking the Drwęca – the only river protected as a reserve along its whole length. The Ostróda-Toruń route, stretches, clean water, the castles in Brodnica and Golub-Dobrzyń, the reserve's rules and the water level.
Kayaking the Dunajec – the Pieniny Gorge and a mountain river of Lesser Poland. Route, stretches, the Pieniny, the Czorsztyn and Rożnów reservoirs, rapids and portages, the water level.
The Narew (Ostrołęka-Serock) – a picturesque Mazovian kayak trail. The trip through Różan and Pułtusk to Serock: the nature of the "Polish Amazon", fortresses and the water level.
The Narew (Podlasie stretch) – the "Polish Amazon" from Siemianówka to Ostrołęka. A kayak trail through Narew National Park: route, wild nature, Tykocin and the water level.
The Nysa Kłodzka – a demanding river rising below Śnieżnik. A kayak trail through the Kłodzko Valley and the Bardo Gorge: route, obstacles, Kłodzko fortress, reservoirs and the water level.
The Parsęta – the "queen of salmon rivers", from the Drawsko Lake District to the Baltic at Kołobrzeg. A kayak trail: route, obstacles, a wild valley, Białogard and the water level.
Kayaking the Pilica – the longest left tributary of the Vistula. The Tomaszów Mazowiecki-Warka route, stretches, the Sulejów Reservoir, Spała, the Blue Springs in Tomaszów, obstacles and the water level.
Kayaking the Radomka – a meandering river of Mazovia and the Kozienice Forest. The route from the Domaniów Reservoir to the Vistula, stretches, weirs, nature and the water level.
Kayaking the San – the whole river from the Bieszczady to the Vistula. Route, stretches, the gorge near Dynów, Solina, the lower San in the Sandomierz Basin, for kayakers and packrafters; the water level.
The Skrwa Prawa – a forested, meandering kayak trail of western Mazovia. The trip through Brudzeń Landscape Park, weirs and portages, Sierpc, Płock and the water level.
The Lubusz Warta – an easy kayak trail from Skwierzyna to the Oder at Kostrzyn. The trip route, Santok, Gorzów, the "Warta Mouth" National Park and the water level.
Kayaking the Warta in Greater Poland – a wide, calm river. The Śrem-Poznań route, stretches, the Rogalin oaks and the Rogalin palace, Greater Poland National Park and the water level.
Kayaking the Wda – an easy, picturesque trail of the Tuchola Forest (the "Black Water"). Route, stretches, the Wdzydze lakes, portages at power plants, the culture of Kashubia and Kociewie, and the water level.
The Wieprz – an easy, quiet kayak trail of Roztocze and the Lublin region. The trip from Roztocze National Park, Zwierzyniec, Szczebrzeszyn, riverside towns and the water level.
Kayaking the Wkra – a wild, sandy river of Mazovia. The Działdowo-Pomiechówek route, stretches, meanders, mills, clean water, obstacles and the water level.
The Vistula Lagoon, Żuławy and the Vistula Spit – a sea-like body of water at the Vistula's mouth. A demanding kayak route: how it differs from a river, safety, nature, the Żuławy Loop and the water level.
Kayaking the Bóbr – one of the most beautiful rivers in Lower Silesia. Route, stretches, the Borowy Jar gorge, the Pilchowice dam, Lenno castle in Wleń, portages and the water level.
Kayaking the Mała Panew – the Opole Amazon. Route, stretches, wild meanders, the dinosaurs at Krasiejów, the historic bridge in Ozimek, obstacles and the water level.
Lake Pluszne Wielkie in Warmia: a large, deep and clean body of water in a quiet zone near Olsztyn. Its character, where to rent a kayak and SUP (Przystań Pluski), possible routes, safety on big water and what to do by the lake.
Lake Wigry in the Suwałki region: one of the largest and deepest lakes in Poland, within Wigry National Park. Its character, the monastery in Wigry, where to rent a kayak, possible routes and safety on big water.
Lake Drawsko in the Drawsko Lake District: the second-deepest lake in Poland (82 m), Bielawa island and Drahim castle. Its character, where to rent a kayak in Czaplinek, possible routes and safety on deep, open water.
Lake Bachotek in the Brodnica Lake District: a ribbon lake in Brodnica Landscape Park, Treasure Island, a PTTK water station and the start of the Skarlanka trail. Its character, where to rent a kayak, routes and safety on the water.
Lake Niesłysz in the Łagów Lake District: the largest lake in the region, three islands, the palace in Przełazy and clean beaches. Its character, where to rent a kayak in Niesulice, routes and safety on big water.
Kayaking the Liswarta – a wild, clean river on the border of Silesia and the Wieluń country. The Starokrzepice-Danków-Wąsosz Górny route, stretches, portages, the castle in Danków, the "Forests on the Upper Liswarta" Landscape Park and the water level.