Słowiński National Park. Dunes, lakes, open-air museum and other interesting places

Słowiński National Park - a land of water, wind and sand. Today we want to show you this wonder of nature. The most beautiful part of it is the moving dunes, where you will feel like in the desert! But we also have other offers for you, often little known, but also worth getting away from the beach. We will get to know the life of the Słowińci, we will enter Łebsko with Łeb and we will get to know a more secluded version of the Łącka Dune.

It is a beautiful and valuable natural area, delighting tourists from all over the world. It is located in Pomerania, in the northern part of the Gardnień-Łebska Lowland, slightly west of the popular town of Łeba. Its area is over 30,000 hectares. And do you know where the name "Słowiński" national park came from? It comes from the Slavs - a northern Kashubian people, whose heritage can be learnt more in the open-air museum in Kluki.

Słowiński National Park UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

15 reserves were created in the Park, and in 1977 it was included by UNESCO in the network of World Biosphere Reserves, due to its natural and cultural values. In addition, this area is important for birds and has been included in the list of RAMSAR areas. It is also one of the world's protected sea areas. I must admit that it is definitely worth it, this place is delightful, and the dunes create a fantastic landscape!

In the Słowiński Park as in the desert

Be sure to visit this place, because it is unique in Poland and even in the world. You will feel like in a desert, surrounded by vast, bright sands that are in constant motion. The wind smacks her face, squeezes the sand into her eyes and nose, almost like a sandstorm, at least that's how you can imagine her here. The dunes can change their position by up to 10 meters during the year and grow up to 40 meters. 

That is why they sometimes cover trees, which they later reveal in the form of dead stumps. They create an amazing view. The difference between the smoothness of the sand behind the traffic limiting posts and in places where you can walk is significant. 

The walk along the moving dunes in Łeba and Czołpin was an unusual adventure and great fun for us. This is a unique attraction and for me one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful place I have seen in Poland!

Attractions of the Słowiński National Park

The main attractions of the Słowiński National Park are numerous picturesque coastal lakes, vast areas of peat bogs, and above all coastal dunes, which are in constant motion. The latter are the most characteristic and at the same time variable element of this landscape. See the most beautiful attractions of Słowiński PN!

Łącka Dune

On a length of 5 km, between Lake Łebsko and the sea, you can observe the most extensive on the Polish coast, and at the same time the highest moving dunes called "White Mountains". These dunes move eastward, about 2-10 meters per year. In winter, this process intensifies. Fragmentary golden sands are open to the public. To get to them, it is best to leave the car in the last parking lot, next to the observation tower.

After buying a ticket at the ticket office, we will walk about 6 km to the entrance on sand. You can overcome this part on foot or by bike, leaving the bike at the place where the bikes are parked, in front of the sands (if they end up free, you have to use the paid one, because the bike must stand at the stand). It is also possible to ride melexes, which run every day during the season.

Bright snowdrifts of sand are wonderful, you can move around them within the wooden posts. The summit offers a beautiful panorama of the area, with the jagged peaks of Łącka Góra, the waters of the Baltic Sea and the surface of the lake. You can go back the same way, but I recommend a beautiful and wide beach. You will reach the city itself, but there are also descents from the beach leading to the Rocket Launcher and to the car stop.

Lake Łebsko and other reservoirs

There are numerous aquatic ecosystems in the Słowiński Park. The largest lake is Łebsko (7,140 ha), which is the third largest lake in Poland! It picturesquely spills over a short distance from the Baltic Sea, creating the coastal lakes famous in Poland with LakeGardno (2400 ha).

Are you wondering if this tank carries fresh water or salt water? During storms, mainly in winter, seawater mixes with the waters of the lake. This is the so-called reverse phenomenon, when salt sea water is poured through the estuary section of the river into the reservoir and creates variable salinity of the waters and periodic raising of the water table. In some places, the salinity may reach the value of 10 radii.

Due to the protection of bird breeding sites, the shores of the lake are available only in selected places and on designated paths. Several observation decks were created, but some did not survive the test of time, such as the one in Żarnowska or Rąbka. The main rivers of the region are: Łeba, Łupawa and Pustynka. In addition, there are the mid-forest water reservoirs of Dolgie Wielkie and Dolgie Małe.

Museum Rocket Launcher

On the way to the dunes, the former Rocket Launcher hid in the forest. In the 20th century, the Nazis had a secret testing ground here, where they tested Rheintochter anti-aircraft missiles and Rheinbote (V4) battlefields. After the war, the area was taken over by the Russians, and later the Polish meteorological missile "Meteor" was tested here. 

It was a completely Polish structure that reached a ceiling of at least 92 km. According to the American nomenclature, it has reached the limit of space. As a nation, we could mean a lot in space exploration, but the project was suddenly closed. 

Today, on the premises of the paid Museum, you can see this equipment, both German and Polish, available in the hangar. The whole is well described on the information boards.
Address: red trails, Rąbka

Observation tower, Rąbka

The construction is free and offers an interesting panorama of the largest lake in these areas. It is located behind the toll collection point to the SPN. You can return to the car directly from under it through a special gate. There is also a bridge under the tower, but it is inaccessible to visitors because it is in poor technical condition.

Czołpińska Dune

It stretches to the west of the famous Luck Dune and is a very good alternative to it. Because here it is much quieter, almost without people, parking is cheaper and the road is much shorter. It is wonderful here, and there is a lot of sand around. 

A trail with a length of about 2.5 km leads from the parking lot to the sandy area of the sand dune. From the dunes, you can go down to the beach and return to the parking lot, creating a loop of 8 kilometers.

Czołpino Lighthouse

Returning to the beach, you can enter the lighthouse in Czołpina, which is surprisingly located in the forest! This building dates back to 1875 and is available for tourists for a fee. You can climb it to admire the sea view from the terrace. The lighthouse can also be reached by a shorter route from the parking lot, following the direction of the Museum.

SPN Museum in Czołpin

The Museum of the Słowiński National Park has been inviting visitors to the car park for several years. Previously, it was based in Smołdzina, but now it is located in the former lighthouse keepers' settlement. Here, in a modern multimedia setting, you will learn many interesting facts about the natural heritage of these areas. In addition, the exhibitions talk about the lives of lighthouses and the operation of lighthouses.
Address: Czołpino 34

Museum of the Słowińska Village in Kluki

The most inaccessible, wetlands along the Gardno and Łebsko lakes became the mainstay of the Słowińc culture. These are the north Kashubian people, who were mainly engaged in fishing, but also in shepherding. Over time, he was completely Germanized and deported to Germany. Today, there would be no trace of it, but in the town of Kluki, the longest inhabited by the indigenous population of this region, an open-air museum was created as a souvenir of Słowińce. 

This is the Museum of the Słowińska Village, where old wooden cottages stand, built here even in the 18th century. You can enter the houses and see their furnishings.

An interesting fact is that Slovenian fishermen got up at three in the morning and went fishing. They took a bottle of vodka with them, and when they returned, they sat down with "schnapps" and snuff. At least that is what Hieronim Rybicki wrote about them.
Address: Kluki 27, Smołdzino

Observation deck at the mouth of the Łeba River

Between Gać and Izbica, you will find a beautiful walking causeway that leads to the observation deck. It is very impressive and at the same time available free of charge. It offers a wonderful landscape over the vast waters of Łebsk - the largest lake in the area, as well as the main river of this area that flows into it. On the opposite side of the reservoir there are drifts of bright sand on the sea shore.

Izbice Marshes

Izbickie Marshes is a beautiful nature reserve located in the south of the Park. In the past, a high peat bog grew here, and today it is overgrown with moors. They are also valuable, and they look phenomenal. Especially in autumn. This unique feature can only be admired from the viewing platform. Here you will find numerous protected plants, such as heather, sundew or sedge.

Rowokół Mountain

Near the village of Smołdzino, there is a post-glacial hill clearly visible in the area, with a height of over 114 m above sea level. Although it lies 6 km from the shore, it is clearly visible from the waters of the Baltic Sea and is a nautical navigation point, recorded on the oldest sea charts. Formerly, bonfires roasted at the top of the hill facilitated night sailing. There is a viewing platform at the top.

Did you know that the Elbe Spit with dunes is the youngest part of our country? 7,000 years ago it did not exist yet. The rising water level at that time resulted in the creation of coastal lakes separated by this noble, sandy strip of water with a width of up to 2 kilometers.

In terms of terrain, the lowland area of the Słowiński National Park is clearly distinguished from the neighboring regions, whose landscape is dominated by numerous moraine hills intersected by river valleys. The headquarters of the Park Management is located in Smołdzina, at the foot of the Rowokół hill. The red-marked Seaside Trail runs through Słowiński PN.

The most beautiful national parks in Poland - see our ranking!

Symbol of Słowiński PN

What animal do you think is the symbol of this area? It could not be otherwise, it was a seagull, or more precisely a silvery seagull. First of all, it is known from the Stone Island in Gardno. It was here that some of the first broods of this species were discovered in our country. Have you ever wondered how many seagulls live? One of the silver seagulls, ringed in this area as a chick, reached 33 years of age in 2022. This is quite surprising!

Nature of SPN

The flora and fauna of these areas is quite specific, as are the habitats that exist here. More than 280 species of birds can be found here, including more than 160 breeding species. A very interesting bird here is the collar. When you see it near the beach, be careful, because this bird lays eggs in the open, in small holes and can be easily trampled, all the more so because they resemble pebbles.

More than 60 species of fish live in the waters, including salmon, trout and eels. On the beach, you can also be surprised by a seal or even a porpoise.

Forests are mainly made up of pine, but birches, alders and spruce also grow here. A valuable curiosity are the glacial relics, i.e. the remains of the last glaciation. Among them, you can name a raspberry or black marlberry. As many as 990 species of vascular plants were counted here.

Our video

We invite you to our film report from this beautiful corner of Poland!

Walk through selected parks

Planning a visit to the SPN will certainly be helped by the "Walker", which you can download here. Here you will find many interesting ideas for excursions. The stroller also deals with several other parks in Poland, such as Biebrza National Park, Wigry National Park or Świętokrzyski National Park.

The article was written in cooperation with PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna, which supports Słowiński PN.

SPN on our social media

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Practical information

Every day from dawn to dusk
Tickets: normal PLN 8, reduced PLN 4
With a Large Family Card free of charge
Meleksy in Rąbka: PLN 20 for dunes, PLN 16 for the Museum, with KDR 50% of the price
Parking in Rąbka: PLN 8/h
Parking in Czołpin: PLN 20/day
Museum SPN: PLN 16, with KDR 1 PLN
Lighthouse Czołpino: PLN 8, with KDR 1 PLN

Słowiński National Park - Directorate
ul. Bohaterów Warszawy 1A, Smołdzino
http://slowinskipn.pl

What's worth seeing in the area?

If you are looking for more ideas for interesting places to visit, we have it for you some options in the area. There are several attractions within a radius of 100 kilometers, that are worth adding to your travel plan.

• Łeba, distance: 8.1  km
• Jastrzębia Góra, distance: 56  km
• Puck, distance: 62.5  km
• Władysławowo, distance: 62.9  km
• Rzucewo Castle, distance: 66.3  km
• Rewa, distance: 70.3  km
• Puck Bay, distance: 70.3  km
• Hel, distance: 89.1  km
• Gdansk, distance: 90.2  km
• The most beautiful cities in Poland. Top 10, distance: 90.3  km