ALONG THE LAGOON OF BYTOWA RIVER

Location:

Bytowa River is the left tributary of the Slupia River and cuts its way through the Bytowskie Lake District. The river rises in the vicinity of Ugoszcz town, next to Bytów, and empties near the Głębokie Lake. Bytowa flows through the area of Bytowskie County which is a part of the Pomeranian Voivodeship.

Bytowa statistics:

Length of the river: 29 km (18 miles)
Length of the trail: 23 km (14 miles) + 72 km (44 miles) (Slupia)
Estimated time of canoe trip: 1 day + 5 days (Slupia)

Skill Level :

The trail is not difficult; obstacles are easy to pass round; there are rare, short-distance portages next to the fallen trees; numerous rapids and river bars; still water in the lower part of the trail. The kayaks have to be transported from the Głębokie Lake to Gałąznia Mała if we want to continue the trip down the Słupia River. The trail is recommended for beginner paddlers.

Camping conditions:

The tourist infrastructure is underdeveloped, but there are a great number of unspoiled places for campsites around the lagoon of Bytowa River. The riverside campsite on the right shore of the Głębokie lake is the perfect location if you finish trip on Bytowa River. Paddling further down the Słupia River enables to use the tourist facilities of this trail.

Description of the trail:

Bytowa River Water Trail is easy to canoe, scenic and wild. Scarcely dotted with houses and other buildings, remote and not very popular, the river allows one to delight in the beauties of nature. You will come across the traces of human attempts to control the riverbed: already damaged river bars and riverbank reinforcements. You can enjoy a few hours of communing with nature.

The length of the trail combined with the Słupia River Water Trail is 95 kilometers – which makes 5 or 6 days of peaceful canoeing in the magnificent scenery of “Słupia Valley” Wildlife Reserve.

The trail starts in Bytow. The first section up to the Bytowa River Lagoon is very exciting, full of rapids and river bars. At the first stage you paddle beside lavishly green meadows and enter the remarkable forests. You definitely won’t be bored as the current is fast. At the end of the river stage you canoe into the Bytowa River Lagoon which was built at the end of the previous century and forms a part of the hydro-technical infrastructure of the Słupia River. The weirs and inspiring lagoon wait for us. This is also the place where the old riverbed of the Słupia River joined the Kamienica River. A few hours downstream, Bytowa flows into Słupia and empties into the Głębokie Lake.

It is worth paddling further down the Słupia River and completing the canoe trip on the beaches of Baltic Sea in Ustka.

Słupia River is a really attractive choice for canoeists due to the old, hydro-technical power plants which were built between 1898 and 1926. Old tunnels, canals, earth dams, weirs, air-traps and settlers create magical atmosphere. Those constructions are truly magnificent and are still operating and thus frequent portages are inevitable. The opportunity to see the unique energy system of water – power stations makes up for this inconvenience.

You will not regret canoeing down this river. The opportunities to paddle into the Baltic Sea and celebrate on the beaches of Ustka are probably the greatest advantages of this canoe trip. Those who have already had a chance to go on sea kayaking will surely try it in Ustka again.

Beautifully located kayaking campsites which are usually out of charges compensate for the lack of organized campsites with a tourist infrastructure. You will not find any tourist facilities on the trail, but for some people it is a convincing argument to embark on a paddling adventure on Bytowa and Słupia Rivers.

Tourist Attractions:

  • PLandscape Park “Slupia Valley”
  • Bytowa River Lagoon
  • Old Słupia Canal
  • Gałąźnia Mała Water-Power Station – the largest on Słupia River
  • Konradowo Water-Power Station (Strzegomino)
  • Krzynia Water-Power Station 
  • Skarszow Dolny Water-Power Station
  • “Gołębia Góra” Forest Wildlife Reserve
  • The Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle
  • Castle Mill in Slupsk
  • 19th century Richter’s Granary in Słupsk
  • Ruins of the early medieval dwelling (8th-9th century) by Kamienica River
  • “Buczyna nad Słupią” Wildlife Reserve
  • Ustka Resort

Suggested route:

  1. Bytów - Zalew Bytowy -15km
  2. Zalew Bytowy – Jezioro Głębokie -10km
  3. Gałąźnia Mała - Łysomiczki - 15km
  4. Łysomiczki - Lubuń - 10km 
  5. Lubuń – Bydlino – 33 km
  6. Bydlino – Ustka – 14 km

Useful advices:

  • Remember about the transportation of kayaks from the Glebokie Lake to Galaznia Mala (7km – 4 miles)
  • Canoeing into the harbor and sea requires the Bosman’s of Ustka permission.