Łeba River

Location:

Łeba flows through the Kaszubskie and Słowinskie Lake Districts. The river originates near Borzestow in the Kaszubskie Lake District and empties into the Baltic Sea in the town of Łeba. The river is classified as the typical post-lake river, its drop from the sources up to Strzebielin is significant. Lębork is one of the biggest towns on the river. The river transforms into mountainous type river in places. It has five large tributaries – paddling upstream navigable Chełst you can canoe into the Sarbsko Lake.

Łeba statistics:

Length of the river: 135 km (83 miles)
Length of the trail: 111 km (69 miles)
Estimated time of canoe trip: 6 days

Skill level:

The river is  difficult, it is best to canoe in polyethylene kayaks. 22,5 km long section of the river between Miłoszewo and Bożepole Małe is believed to be one of the most demanding sections in the North Lowlands of Poland. Both paddling experience and common sense are necessary on the trail.

Description of the trail:

The upper section up to the Sianowskie Lake is very demanding, you have to forget about kayaking for a while and get ready for hauling the canoe. Planning the trip downstream from the Sianowskie Lake is probably the best solution.
Canoeing to Lębork takes usually about 4 days. Not only the upper section is pretty tough, but also extremely picturesque. The river meanders through a narrow riverbed. Current is very swift, riverside bushes make the paddling difficult. The 22,5 km long section of the river between Miłoszewo and Bożepole Małe can be chosen as a testing trail for paddlers competing for  the Badge of Mountain Canoeing. The section is comparable with Łupawa or Radunia Gorge. Canoeists should watch out for tree trunks and rocks.     
Paddling from Lębork to Łeba town takes another two days. This part of the trail is relatively easy and does not require any previous experience. Unfortunately, the scenery is not breathtaking, probably the magnitude of the Łebsko Lake is the only reason to canoe there. We pass through the plain with irrigation ditches on the way to the Lake. We should remember that permission issued by the management of the Slowinski National Parki is necessary to canoe through the Łebsko Lake. The permissions, however, are issued very rarely and only if the weather is windless and sunny. Have in mind that the lake is a sea reservoir and the high wave may catch us by surprise!! Łeba is another river of the Polish seaside which require high paddling skills and in some places is as wild as a mountain river.

It is definitely worth canoeing downstream Łeba up to the sea. Six days of the pioneer adventure will surely imprint in your memory.
Łeba is among the most quiet rivers where we won’t be bothered by the multitude of tourists who want to simply check off the next river.

Camping Conditions:

The tourist infrastructure, apart from Lębork and Łeba, is poorly developed. There are numerous and wild camping sites but no riverside hostels or tented fields. There are many shops in the area, one day stocks are sufficient, staying in one of the riverside households would be a great idea. 

Tourist Attractions:

  • Sanctuary of the Holy Mother Sianowska
  • The water-power station in Paraszyn and the 18th  century Manor House
  • Bozopole Wielkie (The 19th century Palace and Wooden Church)
  • Lębork
  • Chocielewka(the neo-Gothic Church and the 19th century Manor House)
  • Łeba Town


Suggested route:

  1. Jezioro Sianowskie – Bożepole Wielkie - 3 days
  2. Bożepole Wielkie – Lębork
  3. Lębork – Chocielewka
  4. Chocielewka – Gać
  5. Gać – Łeba