Pilica on SUP section Białobrzegi - Warka

Pilica is a long (over 340 km) river and of course you can sail it and sail it…….

Since I don't have time for several-day camping trips at the moment, I chose the recommended Białobrzegi - Warka section for the rafting trip.

This section of the Pilica is about 28 km long and we had to set the alarm for 7.00 on Sunday :-)

The Kajaki Warka kayak rental company www.kajakiwarka.pl has scheduled a meeting point in Warka at 9:00 AM.

Fortunately, there are no traffic jams at this time on Sundays and after an hour's drive from Warsaw I was there.

Despite the cloudy weather and forecasted light rain, many people interested in rafting showed up at the Kajaki Warka base.

My SUP Starboard iGo ZEN 11'2” tested on the Marycha River (see report) attracted a lot of attention.

The sedentary lifestyle (kayak) is still prevalent, but interest in SUP is growing.

Compared to the Liwiec or even the Wkra, the Pilica is wide, and the current is quite fast. However, it's a shallow and easy river. Along the way, there are many sandy beaches, perfect for resting. Since I had a considerable distance to cover and wanted to get home before the afternoon traffic jams, I only stopped twice to replenish my calories. Regarding fluids, during multi-hour summer kayaking trips, hydration is essential. A backpack with a Camelbak or a water bottle with a strap are the best solutions. Stopping to retrieve a water bottle from a bag or sack carried on board is inconvenient and time-consuming. As a result, you don't drink enough, which quickly leads to fatigue. In hot, sunny weather, an hourly water bottle should be the norm.

I used a standard fin because it makes the board faster. On the Pilica River, the current flows under one bank, then the other, and I just have to use it to go faster and avoid hitting the bottom with my fin. I had to dismount the board two or three times and tow it a few meters from the shallows to deeper water, but it wasn't particularly troublesome.

The Białobrzegi-Warka section is very beautiful, with little civilization along the banks. Numerous reed-covered islands dot the riverbed. Along the way, there are one or two organized campsites with small catering options. I didn't use it because I had a small catering option in my Aquapac bag, which I always take on board.

After reaching the town of Warka, we pass under a railway bridge and immediately to the left, a marina where several companies pick up and launch kayaks. On the shore, a blue tin hangar is unmissable.

Since SUP is not a heavy rental kayak, I did not wait for the transfer to the Kajaki Warka parking lot, but took a 400 m walk with the SUP :-)

Practical information:

Equipment :

I recommend a Touring board or a longer Allround due to the distance and wide river without tight turns

at low water levels, a practical shorter fin


a very practical waterproof bag attached to the deck


Camelbac or water bottle holder strap

Logistics along the river:

There are numerous kayak rental companies operating on the Pilica River; it is worth arranging the details in advance

It's best to leave the car in Warka and transfer to Białobrzegi (a shorter option from Budy Michałowskie is also possible)

Difficulty:

average by distance

technically easy and safe river

I recommend it to the collection of Mazovian rivers :-)!

Paweł Jędrzejewski