Seven Lakes Stream (Struga Siedmiu Jezior)

The Seven Lakes Stream (Struga Siedmiu Jezior, roughly "STROO-gah SHYED-myoo YEH-zhor") is a short, winding waterway in Bory Tucholskie National Park in northern Poland. Over 13.9 km it strings seven glacial lakes together like beads before flowing into Lake Charzykowskie at the hamlet of Bachorze, near the town of Chojnice. Marked footpaths follow it past clear lakes, alder woods, boardwalks and a 600-year-old oak, making it one of the loveliest walks in the Tuchola Forest.

What makes the Seven Lakes Stream unusual

The stream leaves Lake Ostrowite, the largest lake in the park, and passes through Zielone, Jeleń, Bełczak, Główka, Płęsno, Skrzynka and Mielnica lakes. Here is the twist: of its almost 14 km, only about 1.9 km is actual flowing stream; the connecting channels between lakes range from a few dozen meters to around 400 meters. The rest is lake, lying in long troughs carved beneath the ice sheet at the end of the last Ice Age.

It has no tributaries and is fed by groundwater and rain, yet it carries about 25 million cubic meters of water a year out of the national park. Roughly 85% of its catchment lies within the park, which explains the remarkable water quality.

Wildlife along the way

Alder swamps and pine forests line the banks. Look for protected plants such as round-leaved sundew, a small carnivorous plant, and stands of rare great fen-sedge along Ostrowite, Zielone and Jeleń. The lakes hold large freshwater mussels, and white-tailed eagles, goldeneyes and cormorants are regular sights.

How to hike the Seven Lakes Stream

In the national park you must stay on marked trails, on foot or by bike:

• The green "Seven Lakes Stream" trail runs from Charzykowy to Chojnice; inside the park it passes Bachorze and the Bartuś oak and follows the stream from Lake Płęsno up to Ostrowite.
• The red Kashubian Trail follows the stream from Płęsno to Lake Jeleń.
• For a shorter outing, the "Piła Młyn" nature path (about 5.2 km, around three hours) links Bachorze, the Bartuś oak on Lake Płęsno and Małe Swornegacie.

Allow half a day to walk a good section. Picnic spots are set up at Jeleń and Główka lakes and next to the Bartuś oak.

Can you kayak it? No. Park rules ban water sports, swimming and sailing, and the stream is not open as a canoe route. If you want to paddle, the nearby Brda River is the classic choice.

Tickets and practical tips

The stream lies in the fee-paying part of the park. As of October 2026 (prices may change), a day ticket costs 6 PLN, reduced 3 PLN. Buy it at the Nature Education Center in Chociński Młyn (weekdays 8 am–3 pm) or pay by bank transfer. The park is open year-round from dawn to dusk. Dogs are not allowed except on the Bachorze–Owink road.

Getting there

Bachorze is the natural starting point, reached from Chojnice via Charzykowy; Gdańsk is around two hours away by car. Free parking areas are at the mouth of the stream on Lake Charzykowskie, at the Bachorze mooring and at the viewpoint. The Piła Młyn path begins by the bus terminus in Bachorze.

In winter

The trails stay open through winter 2026/27, for walkers and, when there is snow, cross-country skiers. Moving water keeps the ice thin and uneven, so never step onto the lakes.