Kayaking in the Drawa

The Drawa runs quick and narrow through Drawieński National Park, with fallen trees to duck under and enough current that a moment of inattention puts you in an alder.

It is the most technically interesting of the classic Polish kayak routes and the least crowded, and the forest is thick enough that you can go most of a day without seeing a road.

The Drawa runs quick and narrow through Drawieński National Park, with fallen trees to duck under, low branches, and enough current that a moment's inattention puts you into an alder.

It is the most technically interesting of the classic Polish kayak routes and the least crowded — the forest is thick enough that you can go most of a day without seeing a road.

Water levels change the run completely: high water is fast and lively, low water turns the good stretches into dragging over gravel. Over about eighty kilometres and four days it rewards some paddling experience and a willingness to read moving water. Camping is at designated sites only.

Buy a park ticket for the national-park section, and check river levels before you commit — low water turns the fun parts into a slog of dragging.

Go between May and September; this is intermediate-to-advanced water, so come with basic moving-water skills and the confidence to handle strainers and tight bends. Rentals are available locally, and camping is restricted to designated sites within the park, so plan overnight stops around them.

Start on the upper river for the liveliest sections. Pack dry bags and expect to get wet — the mix of current and overhanging timber keeps you working the whole way.