Cycle the summer
Summer is the perfect time for cycling adventures and Poland offers countless opportunities for lovers of two wheels. From picturesque coastal paths, through charming routes in wonderful Polish forests, to green trails along rivers and lakes – there is something for everyone. Get ready for unforgettable landscapes, unique attractions and lots of pedalling fun!
Let’s start in Lower Silesia. It is a real paradise for cyclists. The region offers more than 250 cycling trails, which together are almost 3,000 km long. That’s quite a lot to choose from, whether you want to ride with your family, individually, professionally or just for fun. One of the largest areas offering as many as 527 km of marked trails that lead through the most beautiful corners of the region, including 5 reserves, is the Barycz Valley.
Visitors can use the local roads with low traffic, as well as unmarked, picturesque forest and field trails that run among meadows and villages. Cycling trails in this region allow you to discover its greatest beauty that is nature. Barycz Valley is also the area of the largest breeding ponds in Europe, which makes it even more unique. And it is in this area that one of the most interesting routes is located: the Stawy Milickie (or the Milicz Ponds) Trail, named after the largest complex of breeding ponds in Europe and Poland’s largest reserve of birds. Nesting here or stopping in their migration are up to 270 species, which, according to ornithologists, accounts for over 2/3 of the Polish population of water birds. It is worth taking binoculars with you, because during the ride you can encounter rare species of birds, especially on stretches running along pond dykes. There are several trails that go around the ponds. You can choose a shorter section for a family ride, or you can dare to go for over 100 km.
Another interesting idea is the charming route of the former narrow-gauge railway, with rest areas stylised as railway stations with elements of the former infrastructure. A detailed plan of cycling routes of the Barycz Valley can be found at: www.dolnoslaskakrainarowerowa.pl.
The Barycz Valley is not the only way in which Lower Silesia attracts cyclists. It is here that you will find Singletrack Glacensis, Europe’s largest network of singletrack routes (narrow, one-way paths) with different degrees of difficulty. In addition, these paths run through the wonderful Kłodzko Land. The whole trail, from Srebrna Góra to Jagodna, is about 260 km long (including asphalt or gravel connecting stretches). Routes consist of 23 loops and one two-way stretch.
You can also cycle through the largest forest complex in Poland – Bory Dolnośląskie with interesting routes around Bolesławiec. In the south of the region, the Sowie Mountains, the Izera Mountains and the Karkonosze are waiting for thrill-seeking bikers. Also, the areas of the Kaczawskie Mountains and Foothills with small elevations are an attractive challenge for lovers of two wheels. Lower Silesia is an ideal place for MTB fans. Here you will find something for both an advanced cyclist, a downhill cyclist and a beginner lover of mountain riding. The places to check out are, among others, the Czarna Góra Bike Park with 12 downhill slopes of all levels, also for children; Bike Park Świeradów Zdrój, which is a Polish-Czech project that has several paths for mountain biking, and Bike Park Srebrna Góra, with routes at four levels of difficulty.
Let’s not forget about another system of routes in Lower Silesia, the Sudety MTB Zone. It is the largest and fastest growing system of mountain bike trails in Poland, which is a response to the growing trend of active leisure.
From Lower Silesia let’s go to Silesia where we recommend the Iron Bicycle Trail. This is not a long route – it can be covered in one day as it is only 55 km long and runs through Poland and the Czech Republic. The trail follows fragments of now defunct Silesian railway lines: Orzesze-Wodzisław Śląski (no. 159) and Jastrzębie-Zdrój-Zebrzydowice (no. 170). It is best to start the journey in Jastrzębie Zdrój. Advantages of the Iron Bicycle Route to be appreciated are certainly mild inclines and its location at a distance from buildings and roads with traffic. The trail is perfect for bike trips for whole families, also with small children and beginners.
Another great idea for summer cycling trips is the region of Kaszuby and the trail known as Kaszubska Marszruta. From your two wheels you can admire the beauty of the Tuchola Forest –the Zaborski Landscape Park andthe Bory Tucholskie National Park. Located in the Chojnice poviat, the Kaszubska Marszruta trail consists of 4 bike trails with a total length of 160 km along specially built paths, among pine and deciduous forests, hills, valleys, picturesque lakes and rivers. In addition to the wonderful nature on the way, cyclists will find original bicycle stops (12 of them), footbridges and bridges, including a picturesque pedestrian and bicycle bridge on the Brda in Męcikał, in itself worth a stop. The trail is very well marked, as you will find a detailed tourist map on it as well as boards with information about the places visited. A big advantage of the trail is the separation of bicycle paths from heavy vehicle traffic, the lack of steep climbs and dangerous descents. The trails are ideal for family trips and also for those who just want to start their adventure with cycling.
From Kaszuby we continue in a slow rhythm while moving to the wonderful Podlasie. This land full of pristine nature and cultural wealth offers a unique adventure for lovers of two wheels. The Podlasie Stork Trail is the longest marked cycling trail in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, spanning as much as 412 km. The route goes on both asphalt roads and unpaved paths. It begins in the centre of Białowieża and ends in Stańczyki on the edge of the Suwałki region and passes through four national parks – Białowieski, Narwiański, Biebrzański and Wigierski. Storks are an integral part of the landscape of Podlasie. Following the Podlasie Stork Trail, you can see their nests in almost every village. The characteristic clatter of these birds quickly becomes part of the soundtrack of the expedition, while information boards along the route help learn about the life and habits of these birds. The trail is not only spectacular views and being close to nature. There are a host of interesting places along the way that are well worth visiting, too, including the Land of Open Shutters, the Augustów Canal, wooden churches and orthodox churches as well as observation towers – excellent places to watch birds and admire vast landscapes.
The trail is geared to every cyclist – from families with children, through seniors, to beginners and intermediate cyclists. It is an excellent destination for a week’s holiday or a shorter break, surrounded by natural beauty and cultural richness of this unique region of Poland!
In the summer, cyclists can also visit the Land of Great Masurian Lakes, where the Masurian Bicycle Loop was established at the end of 2023. This remarkable, 300-km trail goes around picturesque Masurian lakes and offers a variety of routes – from easy asphalt sections, through gravel roads, to more demanding MTB sections. All the while, you remain surrounded by amazing landscapes of forests, fields and lakes. The Land of the Great Masurian Lakes is a unique natural complex on a European scale, comprising over two and a half thousand lakes connected by rivers and canals. The Great Masurian Lakes Trail runs north from Ruciane-Nida in the south to Węgorzewo in the north, passing through such towns as Mikołajki, Orzysz, Ryn, Giżycko and many smaller, charming villages. The route offers not only beautiful views, but also a well-developed infrastructure supporting travel on two wheels. In the north, the Masurian Bicycle Loop connects with the East of Poland Green Velo Bicycle Route, which is the longest bike route in Poland. The Masurian Bicycle Loop has 18 specially prepared service places for cyclists, which guarantee comfortable travel conditions. In addition, 9 observation towers allow you to admire the landscapes from above, and information boards located along the route inform about the nearest local attractions.
When riding this trail, not only can you remain in contact with nature, but you also have the opportunity to visit numerous tourist attractions, such as: Miłki with the oldest church in the region, a historic rotating bridge and the 19th-century Boyen Fortress in Giżycko, a picturesquely located amphitheatre in Mrągowo, Pranie Forester’s Lodge and refuges of various birds.
You can also take advantage of other forms of recreation, such as lake cruises, kayaking or horse riding. Masurian towns are bustling with life in summer, offering numerous festivals and cultural and sports events. The most important include the Mazury Air Show, Piknik Country, Mazurska Noc Kabaretowa, the Medieval Culture Festival, the Milko Mazury MTB race and the Rally of Poland. And if you crave extreme experiences, Great Lakes Gravel, a bike ultramarathon, is organised in Mikołajki in early autumn.
