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Lakes, Forests, Borderlands

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Lakes, Forests, Borderlands is an overnighter route that packs the very best of northeastern Poland into just two days. It traverses sprawling forests, a national park, borderlands with Lithuania and Russia, and a forgotten enclave of Old Believers. Plus, the route offers a night beside the country’s deepest lake, countless spots for a wild swim, and endless views around every curve...

This route serves up the crème de la crème of northeastern Poland. The journey kicks off in Giżycko, a fun spot in its own right, with a narrow isthmus squeezed between two lakes and a fascinating fortress to explore. Once you leave the land of the Great Masurian Lakes, the route dives straight into the Borecka Forest, where rolling gravel roads weave between ancient oaks. Just beyond lies Mazury Garbate, a region of post-glacial hills, steep pitches, tiny lakes, and stunning vistas. Then the track heads into the Romincka Forest, a wild and remote woodland right on the Russian border. It’s sometimes smooth gravel and sometimes narrow forest lanes, but always beautiful.

From Romincka, the route rolls into Stańczyki, home to two tall and slender viaducts of a long-abandoned railway line. This first day of riding ends in the Suwałki Landscape Park, at a campsite right on Lake Hańcza, the deepest lake in Poland (over 100 meters deep!).

Day two brings a fresh dose of steep climbs and wild descents in the Suwałki Landscape Park, easily one of the most scenic places in the country. From there, the route hits the Polish–Lithuanian borderland, where the cultural blend is especially noticeable during a visit to Puńsk, the informal capital of Poland’s Lithuanian community. Soon after, you enter Wigry National Park, where winding gravel lanes rise and fall along one of Poland’s most stunning lakes, watched over by a 17th-century Camaldolese monastery. Expect fun singletrack, wooden boardwalks through wetlands, and pure bikepacking joy.

The trip wraps up at Płociczno train station, from where it’s easy to head anywhere else in Poland.

Route Difficulty

Mostly smooth, enjoyable gravel. Depending on the season, you may hit small patches of loose sand. Wigry National Park brings a bit more challenge (roots, singletrack), but that’s at the very end. If you made it this far, you’ll be just fine.

The route rolls through many hills (which provide killer views) with a few steeper climbs, but nothing close to real mountains. The main challenge is the distance. If you prefer longer breaks, come in summer when the days are long. You never need to get off the bike and push.

Start and finish are both at train stations, so getting there is easy. Plenty of small local shops en route, and restaurants in the bigger villages. Any local will happily refill your bottles if you ask.

This ride mixes hills, long mileage, and mostly friendly terrain. It’s harder than a casual Sunday spin, but way easier than true mountain routes. Great surfaces, easy resupply, and simple logistics keep things relaxed.

Route Development: This route was pieced together over many rides, exploring, and refining trails across Mazury, Suwałki, and the Polish-Lithuanian borderlands. It combines gravel sections of local roads, public landscape park trails, and a few lesser-known gems scouted on many personal trips.

This route is part of the Local Overnighter Project, which was created to expand our growing list of worldwide bikepacking routes—the first and largest of its kind—and create an independent map and catalog of great bikepacking overnighters, curated by you, from your own backyard. Our goal is to have accessible routes from every town and city in the world. Learn More

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As the leading creator and publisher of bikepacking routes, BIKEPACKING.com endeavors to maintain, improve, and advocate for our growing network of bikepacking routes all over the world. As such, our editorial team, route creators, and Route Stewards serve as mediators for route improvements and opportunities for connectivity, conservation, and community growth around these routes. To facilitate these efforts, we rely on our Bikepacking Collective and the greater bikepacking community to call attention to critical issues and opportunities that are discovered while riding these routes. If you have a vital issue or opportunity regarding this route that pertains to one of the subjects below, please let us know:

Lakes Kruklin and Gołdopiwo – perfect for a summer swim
Borecka Forest – rolling gravel among giant old oaks
Mazury Garbate – up-and-down riding with jaw-dropping views
Romincka Forest – remote woodland full of hidden history
Stańczyki railway viaducts – early-20th-century engineering masterpieces
Lake Hańcza campsite – don’t miss sunset over Poland’s deepest lake
Suwałki Landscape Park – in my opinion, top three most beautiful places in Poland
Polish and Lithuanian borderland – if you want solitude, you’ll find it here
Wigry National Park – stunning lake, rewarding bike trails… what more could you want? And yes – go for a swim!

When to go: The best season runs from May through September. There is plenty of daylight, perfect temps.
Logistics: Giżycko is easy to reach by train; the route ends at Płociczno train station. Wigry National Park requires an entry ticket (a one-day pass costs about $2.20). Tickets available online.
Travel basics: No special requirements. Poland is in the EU; if you’re from outside the Schengen area you’ll need a standard visa, and if you’re from within Schengen, just carry an ID.

Night one is planned at a private campsite on Lake Hańcza (about $2.75 per person in 2025, paid directly to the owner).
There are also plenty of farm stays and guesthouses in the area.

Plenty of grocery shops along the route with all the basics.
If you carry a filter, lakes and rivers are everywhere. If you don’t – just ask any household to refill your bottles.

Terms of Use: As with each bikepacking route guide published on BIKEPACKING.com, should you choose to cycle this route, do so at your own risk. Prior to setting out check current local weather, conditions, and land/road closures. While riding, obey all public and private land use restrictions and rules, carry proper safety and navigational equipment, and of course, follow the #leavenotrace guidelines. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be used as a point of inspiration in conjunction with your own due-diligence. In spite of the fact that this route, associated GPS track (GPX and maps), and all route guidelines were prepared under diligent research by the specified contributor and/or contributors, the accuracy of such and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. BIKEPACKING.com LLC, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individual riders cycling or following this route.