Lakes
Lake Stęszewskie
Stęszewko, Greater Poland
Highlights
- The largest lake in Puszcza Zielonka Landscape Park – 78.4–86 ha
- 2.4 km long, up to 13 m deep
- Start of the Puszcza Zielonka kayak trail
- Tuczno–Złotniczki paddle: about 8 km and 3 hours
- Western part also known as Lake Kołatkowskie
About this place
Lake Stęszewskie near Tuczno and Stęszewko is a long, narrow ribbon lake with high, wooded shores – the largest body of water in the Zielonka Forest Landscape Park. It lies in the municipality of Pobiedziska, about 20 km north-east of Poznań. It draws above all canoeists, as the Zielonka Forest canoe trail begins here, but also anglers and cyclists looking for peace by the water.
The lake in numbers
Depending on the source, the lake covers 78.4 to 86 ha. It stretches about 2.4 km in length and up to 0.5 km in width. Its average depth is 4.2 m, its maximum 13 m, and the surface lies at 94.7 m above sea level. The shoreline is well developed, with bays and peninsulas best seen from a canoe. The lake belongs to the Główna river basin, and in 1997 its water was rated as class II purity.
A curiosity for map readers: the official name is Jezioro Stęszewskie, but on some topographic maps the western part appears as Jezioro Kołatkowskie. That is why both names show up in descriptions.
The Zielonka Forest canoe trail
According to the Greater Poland Landscape Parks authority, the canoe trail runs from Lake Stęszewskie through Lakes Wronczyńskie Duże and Małe to Lake Biezdruchowskie in Pobiedziska – the last stretch lies outside the park. The popular Tuczno – Złotniczki section is about 8 km long and takes about 3 hours of paddling through Lakes Stęszewskie, Wronczyńskie Duże, Małe and Jerzyńskie. Organisers describe it as calm and easy, suitable for families and beginners.
Swimming and recreation
The landscape park lists a supervised bathing area at Lake Stęszewskie, but the lake does not appear on the official 2026 list of bathing areas in the Warta water region. Assume that swimming here is unsupervised and at your own risk. The nearest bathing area on the 2026 list is Kąpielisko Pobiedziska on Lake Biezdruchowo, open from 27 June to 31 August.
Tripto tips
- Canoeing: equipment and transport are easiest to arrange with operators running trips around Pobiedziska – book ahead for summer weekends.
- Time needed: plan half a day for a canoe trip, 2–3 hours for a walk along the shore and a rest.
- By bike: two cycling rings and a network of link routes cross the Zielonka Forest, so the lake fits easily into a longer ride.
- Nearby: Pobiedziska with Lake Biezdruchowskie, and Lake Kamińskie with its bathing area in Kamińsko.
Plan your visit
Getting there
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