The Odra River Bicycle Trail

It is a must for every bike lover. Designated in 2005 in the form of a long (300 km) linear blue trail, it is currently (as of 2020) mostly poorly marked and, what is worse, not updated. Those inefficiencies are particularly inconvenient now as new bridges were built and tens of kilometres of perfectly level roads were laid out on the embankments. We have, therefore, prepared ten easily accessible loops allowing you to get to know the beautiful Odra river wilderness. They are 40 to 76 km long and, apart from two, can be successfully divided into shorter sections, so that you can get to know the Odra river in 30km stretches. Our proposal encompasses the entire Odra River Bicycle Trail (except for a few impassable sections) and we added some excellent new sections. It is 423 km in total and all starting points are accessible from train stations.

Lipki – Kotowice loop

It is an outstanding loop with great landscape values and giving you the possibility of an intensive contact with nature. In the section closer to the railway tracks, it runs on quiet asphalt roads, while by the river you cycle in 80% on paved dirt roads. Only about 4km is a slightly uneven narrow path along the embankment, which is sometimes overgrown. The recommended starting point is the iconic shop in Kotowice close to the railway station. Right next to it, there are smooth roads on the embankments running as far as Siedlce. In Olawa, we suggest changing to the asphalt road towards Lipki. There, you cross the Odra river via a weir and a sluice (you need to carry your bike) and return on the other side of the river to Olawa where you change again to asphalt roads. The loop can be divided into two parts in different ways as both Olawa and Lipki are easy to reach by train.

Kotowice chain

These are dozens of small and tiny ponds that you pass while cycling along the embankments to Siedlce. Even though I have been there many times, I always take out my smartphone.

Ryczyn and Natura 2000 Reserve

Ryczyn can truly capture your imagination. During the times of the Silesians and the Piasts this settlement was as important as Wroclaw. It so happened that the latter grew into today’s metropolis and there is an archaeological and biological reserve in the place of the former. Ryczyn does not function in the collective consciousness either. If you think about it, it is a perfect legitimization of our return to Silesia (or the so-called Lower Silesia). There is no complicated history, no successive layers, it is just our homeland. It definitely deserves a few more than just two educational boards which you can find at the stand. The density of the reserve does not allow you to look around more, only the ‘shading’ layer (i.e. lidar) in the Geoportal app gives you a wider picture of the area. The second reason why I like this area, are its undoubted natural values as you cycle through beautiful dense oak-hornbeam forests.

Forest in Winna Gora

When you get bored with the polished asphalt roads on your way back, it is worth turning west into the forest near Winna Gora and ride parallelly to the route. There are a few sandy hills and we must thank some nameless forerunners for marking the MTB paths leading across them.

More information about routes in this area can be found on the website : szlakodry.pl