With packraft in the wild: one-day rafting through two canals and three lakes: Lipie, Słowa and Osiek

We present another proposal for packraft rafting. This time the route leads through the lakes Lipie, Słowa and Osiek.

Recommended rafting route

The water route is available from the village of Dlugie (9 km east of Strzelce Krajeńskie, about 35 km from Gorzow Wielkopolski) – packraft can be dropped into the water at the local beach. Since the beach in this village is heavily trafficked (especially in high season), consider starting your rafting trip from the peninsula in the northwestern part of Lake Lipie, which is its quietest corner. It is easy to observe wild birds here, which gather in large numbers to rest and feed. After the trip, head to the westernmost part of the lake. After half an hour of floating, on the left among the reeds, there will appear a small width channel leading to the Lake of Words, which we will reach in a few minutes. Soon we find another canal. Just turn right and sail along the coastal reeds. The canal to Lake Osiek is a bit longer and full of charm. After entering Lake Osiek, turn left and sail towards Ogardzka Odnoga. After some time on the horizon will appear the bridge, once called “burned”, today its official name is the Bridge of Reconciliation. On its left side there is a small pier where you can leave your equipment. There are shelters nearby, while on the other side of the bridge is a wooden observation tower. It is worth climbing to its upper floor and looking at the lake for at least a moment. With a bit of luck, we will see taxing birds of prey.

Assuming that we return to the starting point by the same route, the total length of the proposed route is about 8 km. Leads all the time through wooded areas. The banks of the canals are sometimes swampy.

Approximate rafting route (map: OpenStreetMaps; elaborate.: Robert Bogusz)

Difficulty

The trail is easy, beginners can easily cope with it. Since the packraft is light, it is worth considering returning to the starting point through the forest. The surrounding forests are diverse in both terrain and stand of trees. The difficulty of returning with the luggage on your back will be rewarded with views.

Rafting time

To sail the route in combination with a break at the “burnt bridge” is enough 6 hours.

Equipment

I sailed the route with my own equipment. You can easily rent one, and you can find the offer on the Internet. A typical offer is 150 PLN for the weekend (packraft, paddle, vest).

A one-day rafting trip through two canals and three lakes: Lipie, Słowa and Osiek (fot. Robert Bogusz)

Additional information

Before starting the rafting trip, it is worth seeing the site of a former fortified settlement at the isthmus between Lakes Lipie and Słowa.

For a change, being in the vicinity of the “burnt bridge” you can swim to nearby Chomętow. In the village, on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Osiek, there is a residential and defense tower, which was built by the Teutonic Knights, probably in 1402-55. Almost on the opposite shore of this lake is the village of Ługi inhabited by Lemkos. In July every year a local wattle festival is held there.

Finally, with some sadness, we can add that not long ago, starting rafting on Lake Lipie through Lake Słowa, Lake Osiek, Lake Wielgie, Mierzęcka Struga, Drava, Noteć, Warta, Odra, Szczecin Bay, you could reach the Baltic Sea. Today, due to the partial overgrowth of Mierzęcka Struga, this is not fully possible. Here optimistic information – for packraft users it is not a big problem.

Robert Bogusz

One-day rafting through two canals and three lakes: Lipie, Słowa and Osiek (photo. Robert Bogusz) A one-day rafting trip through two canals and three lakes: Lipie, Słowa and Osiek (photo. Robert Bogusz) A one-day rafting trip through two canals and three lakes, Lipie, Słowa and Osiek (photo. Robert Bogusz) A one-day rafting trip through two canals and three lakes: Lipie, Słowa and Osiek (photo. Robert Bogusz) One-day rafting through two canals and three lakes: Lipie, Słowa and Osiek (photo. Robert Bogusz) A one-day rafting trip through two canals and three lakes: Lipie, Słowa and Osiek (fot. Robert Bogusz) One-day rafting through two canals and three lakes: Lipie, Słowa and Osiek (fot. Robert Bogusz) One-day rafting through two canals and three lakes: Lipie, Słowa and Osiek (fot. Robert Bogusz)