SUP on the Czarna Hańcza River and the Augustów Canal

Czarna Hańcza on SUP

After a very successful rafting trip down the Biebrza River (described in the previous article), I decided to go to the Suwałki region with a SUP board.

My choice on the first day was, of course, the Czarna Hańcza, the most famous of the rivers in this region.

I chose to sail the section from Głęboki Brod to the Mikaszówka lock.

It's quite a long distance, over 27 km, but the river current helped, the weather was very good and it was a long June day.

I was also very curious how my Starboard DSC 12'6" touring board would handle the rather narrow, meandering river.

I started from the kayaking marina "U Bociana" https://kajakiubociana.pl in Głęboki Brod.

The Czarna Hańcza River is deep enough throughout the season and practically nowhere does the stabilizer catch on the bottom.

For most of the route, the river flows through forests. This keeps it cooler on hot days. However, you need to keep a close eye on the current, as there are many fallen trees underwater. For me, this adds variety to the trip and a bit of extra adrenaline because the water is still cool...

Of course, you can overcome more difficult sections by kneeling and then it should not pose any difficulties even for beginners.

Attaching your luggage to the board and fastening the leash to your ankle is recommended :-)

The entire time you are paddling through beautiful natural surroundings, and the real highlight is the section from Dworczysko to Jałowy Róg.

There are numerous places to stop and camp along the route.

Before the bridge in the village of Rygol, turn right towards the Augustów Canal.

After covering a few hundred meters and reaching the Canal, turn right again towards Augustów.

The first lock on the route is Sosnówek. If you want, you can enter the lock with your kayaks, but you can easily grab a board and walk around the lock. This saves at least a few minutes.

A little over a kilometer further we reach the Mikaszówka lock where our trip ends.

The lady operating the lock suggested we use the lock, but it was faster to just take the board out of the water and walk the 50m on the grass.

Many kayaking companies pick up their clients in Mikaszówka, but it is worth arranging a transfer in advance.

Just as I finished my trip, I met a car taking a kayaker to Głęboki Brod.

The SUP board went on the kayak trailer without any problems.

SUP-er have a great day!

Augustów Canal

The next day I organized the logistics myself.

From Podmacharce on Lake Serwy, where I lived, I drove to the Mikaszówka lock.

Then, on the bike I'd taken with me to the bus, I returned to Serwy. A morning ride of about 15 km through a beautiful forest was a great warm-up before a day on the board.

From Podmacharce, I paddleboarded across Lake Serwy with its cormorant island to Sucha Rzeczka. From there, a narrow canal of the same name leads through a beautiful old forest to the Augustów Canal. This section of the route is quite shallow, so I unscrewed the fin. My Starboard Touring DSC sailed steadily, even without the fin, and after about fifteen minutes, I reached the shore at the campsite where Sucha Rzeczka meets the Augustów Canal.

From here, it's 9 km to Augustów, but I naturally turned left towards Mikaszówka. There's cell phone and GPS coverage everywhere. With my phone in a waterproof Aquapac case, I can navigate and take photos in real time. I check the distance and time on my Garmin wristwatch during SUP activities. In short, 21st-century technology on a 19th-century canal.

Ahead of me on the route are the Gorczyca, Paniewo, and Perkuć locks. All are operational and recently renovated, yet retain the unique atmosphere of old, manually operated technical devices. The two-chamber Paniewo lock is especially impressive. The Augustów Canal also passes several lakes along this section, including Lake Krzywe with the Perkuć nature reserve. The clear, cool water in the lakes invites swimming, while on the canal, which runs through a tall, old forest, the heat isn't as oppressive. There are plenty of camping spots along the route, and for those hungry, the iconic Karczma Starożyn (Old Man's Inn) sits right on the water before the Paniewo lock. In short, there's no shortage of attractions. And the rowers are cheered on by the winged inhabitants: swans, herons, ducks, and cormorants. After over four hours, I reach my destination: the Mikaszówka bridge and lock, where my bus awaits.

Another SUP-er day completed!

I recommend it to everyone. The Augustów Canal route is technically very easy. Carrying the board past the locks isn't tiring either. And above all, this region is within a 3-3.5-hour drive from Warsaw. Tourist infrastructure is increasingly developed. The lakes, rivers, and canals are very clean and uncrowded. In short, it's worth planning one of your SUP trips there.

Practical information on what to take with you on a rafting trip:

- sun protection: glasses, cap, sunscreen, UV lycra

- protection against mosquitoes (they don't bother you on the water, only a little at stops)

-a leash is a must, sometimes a mooring line is practical

-charged phone in an aquapac case

-lots of water, 1 bottle, preferably in a holder fastened to the waist or simply a Camelbak backpack

-some bars, fruit or other provisions to eat during the trip, as it is a waste of time to look for a shop

It is best to pack all these items into a waterproof bag or Aquapac bag and attach them to the net on the nose of the board.

I will be happy to provide more details and information in person at Fun Wind on Wał Miedzeszyński.

Paweł Jędrzejewski

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