Spychowo: Kayak Routes, Forest and History
Accommodation in Spychowo
Spychowo lies on Lake Spychowskie and at the eastern edge of the Piska Forest. Waterways, forest trails and cycling routes offer different ways to spend your time here: you can explore a section of the Krutynia by kayak, follow a nature trail by the lake or explore the surrounding area on marked routes. A visit to the Forest Museum and a Neo-Gothic church also contribute to the character of the town.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in Spychowo, 2016 II
Photo: Mateusz Giełczyński via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kayaking on the Krutynia
The section of the Krutynia kayak trail in the Masurian Landscape Park begins in Spychowo. Just beyond the bridge on national road DK59, you can launch a kayak from the left bank of the river. This makes the town a specific starting point for anyone wishing to combine their trip with a stretch of paddling. The Krutynia water route includes a canoeing section from Spychowo to Krutyń.
The Krutynia section from Spychowo follows the Spychowska Struga towards Lake Zdrużno. Along the way, it passes beneath two wooden bridges used by pedestrians and cyclists. The description of this section thus brings together the waterway, the lake and the bridges as landmarks. Those interested in a kayak trip can distinguish this route from another option in the area: the “Jezioro Ciche” nature trail.
Nature Trail and Cycling Routes
The “Jezioro Ciche” nature trail starts at the Spychowo Forest District headquarters on Lake Spychowskie. It is accessible to everyone and runs along comfortable paths and trails. Its facilities include benches and litter bins. At Lake Ciche, the “Eko-Oczko” shelter has a fire pit; there is also a pier, a wildlife observation hide and a boardwalk across a marsh. The nature trail therefore includes various stops and facilities by the water and in the marsh, in addition to the path itself.
The green Szlak Ostatniego Niedźwiedzia cycling route starts at the cemetery in Spychowo and runs through Spychowo and Niedźwiedzi Kąt. It then passes through the “Pupy” nature reserve, goes by the “Jezioro Ciche” nature trail and returns to the cemetery in Spychowo. This sequence makes the cycling route easy to follow without confusing it with the separate Krutynia kayak section.
The Szlak im. Melchiora Wańkowicza also passes through Spychowo. Nearby, another hiking trail starts at the beach in Połom, near Spychowo: the Szlak Fortyfikacji Szczycieńskiej Pozycji Leśnej is 4.8 km long and leads to historic fortifications dating from 1901 to 1944. For those interested in history as well as nature trails, this offers a separate hiking route with a clearly specified destination and distance.
Local History and Places to Visit
Spychowo has a Neo-Gothic church dating from 1903. The Forest Museum can be visited with a member of staff from the Spychowo Forest District; advance contact is required. Keep this requirement in mind if you plan to include the museum in your trip. Together with the trails by the lake and the historic fortifications, it offers a range of nature and culture activities alongside paddling, each of which can be explored separately.
For other places in the same larger area, you can also see Narty, Świętajno, Rudziska Pasymskie, Jedwabno, Krzywonoga, Rudka, Trelkówko and Występ.
For the wider travel overview: Szczycieński.
