Krutynia River

The Krutynia is the classic kayak river of the Mazurian Lakes: a slow-moving, forest-edged waterway that winds through eleven lakes over about 100 kilometres from its source to Lake Roś. The standard multi-day kayak route — typically done over four to six days — begins at Sorkwity or Krutyń village and finishes at Ruciane-Nida, passing through state forest, quiet lakes, and villages with campsites at reasonable intervals.

The water is clear and the current is gentle enough for beginners. Wildlife along the route includes white-tailed eagles, black storks, beavers, and otters. The route is well-established and can be done either independently (renting kayaks and camping along the banks) or as a package through one of the many agencies in Mikołajki. Summer weekends bring more boats; weekdays in June or September are considerably quieter.

things to do sight
A story
The Krutynia kayak route was opened to tourists in 1955 and has been run by Polish canoeists every summer since. Generations of Poles have their first kayak memory on this river; it was for many years the training ground for competitive Polish kayakers and is still the benchmark by which other Mazurian rivers are judged.