Kashubian Landscape Park

Kashubian Landscape Park (Kaszubski Park Krajobrazowy, roughly "kah-SHOOB-skee PAHRK krah-yo-brah-ZOH-vee") is the heart of the Kashubian Lake District in northern Poland: 34 lakes larger than 10 hectares, including Lake Raduńskie Górne and Lake Raduńskie Dolne, and moraine hills near the village of Szymbark. Beech woods, glacial valleys and the Radunia kayak trail make it one of the best things to do near Gdańsk for water lovers, cyclists and anyone who likes gentle hills and quiet lakes without crowds.

Where it is and how to get there

The park lies in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, west of Gdańsk, in the historic region of Kashubia. Fly to Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport and drive onward; Kartuzy is the nearest main town. A car is the easiest option, since rural public transport is limited, so check timetables before you go. Parking is available at the lakes but fills early in summer.

What makes it special

The park was established in 1983 by a resolution of the Voivodeship National Council in Gdańsk and covers 332 square kilometers (about 128 square miles), with a 32,494 ha buffer zone. It lies in the municipalities of Kartuzy, Chmielno, Stężyca, Sierakowice, Somonino, Linia, Kościerzyna and Nowa Karczma. The landscape was shaped by glaciers, leaving end moraines, including the Szymbark Hills, which exceed 260 m, a broad outwash plain and glacial channels filled with lakes. The main rivers are the Radunia and the Łeba. Kashubs are a West Slavic ethnic group with their own language and culture, so you may see bilingual signs.

What to see and do

• Lake Raduńskie Dolne – the largest lake in the park, 737.2 hectares.
• Lake Raduńskie Górne – the deepest, at 43 m, with the village of Borucino on its shore.
• Lake Ostrzyckie – visible from the hill of Wieżyca.
• Szczyt Wieżyca nature reserve – beech forest with a narrow path up the hill near Szymbark.
• Other reserves – lake and forest reserves, including Jezioro Lubogoszcz, Szczelina Lechicka and Żurawie Błota.
• Radunia kayak trail – a popular water route, listed on the park's website.
• Viewpoints and a scenic car route – also listed on the park website.

Nature

The park has 12 nature reserves, 42 natural monuments and 8 landscape-nature complexes covering 13,054 hectares, or 39.3 percent of its area. About 40 percent belongs to the Natura 2000 network. Beech forest dominates the moraine areas, though pine and spruce have been planted in many places. Researchers have recorded 190 protected or rare plant taxa and 135 bird species, 77 of them breeding, plus around 43 mammal species including 10 species of bats.

Climate and best time

The average July temperature is around 16 °C (61 °F) and January around −3.5 °C (26 °F), with about 660 mm of rain a year. The growing season lasts 200 to 210 days. Visit from May to September for the water and until October for the autumn woods.

How to explore

Plan a full day for the lake and kayak trail, or half a day for the forest around Wieżyca. Is it worth visiting? Yes, if you like lakes and quiet paths. The website also lists cycling routes, Nordic walking routes and hiking trails. Signs are in Polish, and English is limited.

Practical information (as of October 2026)

The park is open year-round. The administration is at Kaszubski Park Krajobrazowy, ul. Wejherowska 22, 83-328 Staniszewo, tel. +48 727 660 063, kpk@pomorskieparki.pl, within the Pomeranian Landscape Parks Complex. The park website describes water safety rules, including the Ratunek app. Prices in Polish zloty (PLN) for marinas, rentals and attractions in Szymbark are set by their operators.

Nearby

Nearby are Wdzydze Landscape Park, Kościerzyna and the Tricity.