eKajaki.pl • Zbrzyca • the most beautiful tributary of the Brda • the Zabory Landscape Park

Zbrzyca – a kayaking trip on the most beautiful tributary of the Brda

The Zbrzyca is the most beautiful of the Brda's tributaries. For almost its entire length the route leads through magnificent forests and several lakes. Paddlers love it for its scenery and variety – reasons enough to take on a few portages at charming mills, weirs and sawmills.

The river and its surroundings grow more beautiful with every kilometre. It's a perfect prelude to a Brda trip and a great idea for a charming weekend.

the most beautiful Brda tributary an easy route ideal for a weekend the Zabory Landscape Park lakes and forests

Location and parameters

The Zbrzyca is a right tributary of the Brda. It runs through the Zabory Landscape Park in Kashubia. It rises at Lake Małe Sarnowicze and reaches its mouth at Lake Witoczno, where its waters feed the Brda. This interesting, very varied route is a great idea for spending a charming weekend.

Route difficulty and camping conditions

The Zbrzyca route is easy and doesn't require much experience. Some difficulties await in the upper course, where the river is very narrow and numerous portages are necessary – at low water you sometimes have to tow the kayaks. The accommodation base is poorly developed (no kayak stations or landings): private farms and wild camps remain. Shopping is no problem – in every village you come across you'll find a shop.

Route description – what awaits you on the water

Start: Lake Dywańskie or Somińskie

We suggest starting the trip from Lake Dywańskie or Somińskie. It's worth visiting the village of Sominy with its mini open-air museum and a charming wooden 18th-century church. The first stage leads through three lakes: Somińskie, Kruszyńskie and Parzyn.

From Parzyn – high, forested banks

The section from Parzyn is wonderful: high, steep banks covered with mixed forest. Further on you'll meet a left tributary – the Młosienica (those who wish can paddle upstream to Leśno, a little over 3 km) – and the villages of Kaszuby and Rolbik. You can also paddle onto Lake Milachowo. The next tributary is the Kulawa (8 km) with the landscape reserve of the Kulawa River Valley.

The most beautiful finale – ribbon lakes

Past Laska you enter the reserve of the lake of the same name, then Lake Księże with the Kłoniecznica tributary. Then ribbon lakes appear: Długie, Parszczenica and Śluza – a sign that the mouth is near. The final section is the most beautiful: a channel 20 m wide and a varied shoreline leave unforgettable impressions. Past the village of Zbrzyca, Lake Witoczno opens up, where the river joins the Brda at the 150th km of its route.

Despite the numerous portages, it's worth paddling the beautiful Zbrzyca route – communing with pristine nature and the wildness of this river cannot be overvalued.