Ruchome wydmy w Słowińskim Parku Narodowym

The moving dunes of Słowiński National Park, near the Baltic resort of Łeba ("WEH-bah") in northern Poland, are the closest thing Europe has to a desert by the sea. Walls of pale sand up to about 40 meters high creep inland every year, burying pine forest as they go, with the Baltic on one side and the vast Lake Łebsko on the other. The walk to the Łącka Dune is one of the great outdoor experiences of the Polish coast.

Where the dunes are

The dunes sit on the Łeba Spit, a narrow barrier of land between the sea and Lake Łebsko just west of Łeba, about 110 km (around two hours by car) west of Gdańsk. According to the national park, the field of actively moving dunes is about 5 km long and 1 km wide, part of a mobile dune complex of more than 500 ha that the park describes as unique in Europe.

The star is the Łącka Dune ("WONTS-kah"), also called Łączka. Its height changes with the seasons, from 30 to 42 meters above sea level, and it is generally considered the highest moving dune in Poland. Before 1945 the area was German and the dune was known as Lontzken Berg.

How a dune walks

The Łącka Dune is crescent-shaped, with a long, gentle western slope and a short, steep eastern face. Once the wind passes about 5 m/s, sand grains roll up the windward side and tumble down the lee side, so the whole dune migrates east – by up to a dozen or more meters a year, according to the park. In spring and summer it grows taller; storms in fall and winter make it lower but faster. On windy days you can watch sand "smoking" off the crest and hear the dune "sing."

What to see

• The view from the crest – open sea to the north, Lake Łebsko to the south.
• The buried forest – dead tree trunks sticking out of the sand at the dune's southern edge.
• Sand patterns – ripples, wind-scoured hollows and grass-anchored mounds.
• White-tailed eagles often hunt over the lake; you may spot one from the top.

How to get to the Łącka Dune

Start in Łeba. Drive or cycle to the national park parking lot at Rąbka, then continue on foot through the forest past the former rocket launch site museum. From central Łeba it is roughly 8 km each way. The park's loop trail from Old Łeba along the beach to the dune and back through the forest takes about three hours of walking. In summer, private electric carts shuttle visitors from Rąbka toward the dune. The boats on Lake Łebsko are currently not running.

Budget 4–5 hours including time on top. Bring water, a hat and sunglasses – there is no shade, and the sand gets everywhere. Strollers are impractical on the sand.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

• Trail fees apply May 1–September 30: 10 PLN standard, 5 PLN reduced; under-7s free. No fee off-season.
• Rąbka parking costs 40–50 PLN per day in season.
• The trails are open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset; stay on marked paths.
• Dogs are banned on most park trails.

Is it worth visiting in fall or winter?

Yes, if you dress for wind. The dunes are open year-round and almost empty off-season, and the light can be spectacular. The Rąbka observation tower is closed October 12–23, 2026 for construction work, and the electric carts run only in season.

Best time to go and practical tips

May, June and September offer the best balance of mild weather and smaller crowds; in July and August arrive early, before the parking lot fills and the sand heats up. Late afternoon light makes the ripples and dune edges stand out for photos. The walk is flat but long, and much of it is on loose sand, so it is not suitable for wheelchairs; families with small children should consider a carrier rather than a stroller. There are no shops or toilets on the dune itself, so stock up in Łeba or at Rąbka.

Combine it with

In Łeba, see the ruins of St. Nicholas Church, the start of the loop trail, and stroll along the harbor. On a second day, head to the western side of the park for the Czołpino lighthouse and dune, the open-air museum at Kluki and the Rowokół hill.