Kayaks and canoes - Salcia trip

Floating down the southern edge of the Rudniki Forest, it flows into the Mereczanka near the village of Walkininkai. The current is distinct, though not too strong, and increases as you approach the mouth. The depth and width of the river are highly variable. The riverbed meanders strongly, often with protruding or submerged rocks and overturned trees, which sometimes require carrying or pulling the kayaks. For the most part, the river flows through dense forests in a fairly deeply incised valley, rarely emerging onto open meadow areas.

0.0 km – the trip is best started from under the bridge near the village of Gerviskes, although this place is not very good for launching kayaks. You can drive down before the bridge on the left side of the road and unpack your gear here. Be careful of the wooden poles from the old bridge protruding from the water, especially since the water current is relatively strong. Salcia is 5-8 meters wide and flows through a marshy valley in a fairly rare alder forest. The water features numerous stumps, so depending on the water level, they may pose a risk of capsizing. As you move away, the forest becomes denser and coniferous trees appear.

2.4 km – after a sharp turn of the river to the left, we pass the buildings of a small settlement of Rudnia on the right bank. Salcia is very fast and up to 10 meters wide. Near the village, there are elements of a pontoon bridge, which is periodically lowered onto the water. RUDNIA A little further on, there is a very low wooden bridge.

2.8 km – a good place for a camp or a short rest on the left, higher bank in a pine forest. Salcia meanders strongly in the forest all the time.

4.5 km – a possible place for a camp or rest in a pine forest, easily accessible firewood. Further on, there will be several such places. The river does not change its character and is always very winding, with a large number of stumps, overturned trees, and overhanging branches. Sometimes, it is necessary to carry or pull the kayaks. In combination with the strong current, the obstacles require constant attention from kayakers. We then pass by long sandy slopes, but the exits are difficult.

5.9 km – a very good place for a camp on the right, low bank in a pine forest. A large clearing can accommodate even a large number of tents. Signs of camping and campfires.

7.1 km – a low wooden footbridge over the river near the village of Kalitonis. Regardless of the water level, a simple and short carry of the kayaks is necessary, best on the right bank. 150-200 meters before, as well as after the bridge, the riverbed splits, so-called cut-off meanders. By choosing a narrow, fast stream, you can save several dozen meters. Not far from the bridge, there is a left-bank tributary of the Solczyca River.

7.9 km – a right-bank mouth of a drainage system. Salcia meanders for a long time near the village of Kalitonis, and there are several places to exit or even set up a camp. The best place, however, is at the end of the village on a very large meadow under the wall of the forest.

9.9 km - a fairly low concrete bridge. You can take shelter from the rain here -;). 400 meters earlier, we pass through another cut-off large meander of Salcia, saving about 200 meters.

13.3 km – a large bay on the right and a nice campsite. Relatively easy exit from the kayak, plenty of firewood, and space for tents. Earlier, we pass by several attractive and pleasant places for camping on the forested Salcia, but it's hard to find a convenient exit to the bank.

13.9 km – a decent campsite on the right bank in an alder-pine forest with a fairly good exit. The place is located on the right bank on a bend of the river to the left.

14.9 km – the first buildings of the tiny settlement of Popiszkes. On the hill on the left bank, a gazebo and a few meters before it, a wooden building that houses a sauna! You can get out to the hosts, rent a sauna and a gazebo for a small fee. Plenty of space for tents and firewood.

15.3 km – a wooden, low bridge. Depending on the water level, it may be necessary to carry the kayaks along the bank.

16.2 km – a good place for a rest on the left bank. Gentle exit and a large meadow. The banks have been slightly gentler for some time, and we have passed several places where you can exit to the bank.

17.1 km – an excellent place for a camp on the right bank, on a bend of the river to the left, near a steep slope. Before the slope, there is a gentle exit to the bank onto a large clearing with a pine forest and a place for a campfire. A few dozen meters further on, there is a wooden, low bridge, but it is usually possible to pass under it.

18.2 km – a wooden footbridge near the village of Tetervinai, located on the left bank. With a bit of luck, you can stumble upon a traveling shop. A carry of the kayaks is necessary here, best on the left bank. This is also a good place for a rest or a camp.

19.7 km – a wooden footbridge in the forest. It is necessary to carry the kayaks, best on the left bank. 100 meters further on, there is a sandy slope and a pleasant place for a rest or a camp. It's quite easy to pull the kayaks out, and there's a good place for a bath.

21.1 km – another good campsite on the left bank on a bend of the river to the right. Gentle bank and plenty of space for tents and firewood. On this section, Salcia is rich in pleasant places for rest or camping. Salcia has a relatively constant width of 10-14 meters.

22.1 km – a good place to stop on the left bank. A place for a campfire, although the exit from the kayaks is not very convenient. It's best to stop at the end of this clearing.

22.6 km – a right-bank tributary of the Wisińcz River. From here, Salcia is slightly wider and has a width of 15-20 meters.

25.0 km – a good place for a camp in a dense pine forest on the left bank on a bend of the river to the right. Plenty of space for tents. The bank is not very gentle, but at the end of the clearing, you can pull the kayaks out.

25.4 km – a low wooden footbridge. It is necessary to carry the kayaks, best on the left bank.

27.1 km – a good place for a camp on the left bank on a bend of the river to the right. In the next few kilometers, there will be several excellent campsites.

27.7 km – another, even better campsite, also on the left bank. A pine forest on a gentle slope. You can stop the kayaks both before and after this place.

28.1 km – an excellent, very large campsite on the left bank.

28.8 km – another excellent place for a camp, a campfire, and a bath.

31.6 km – a decent place, this time on the right bank on a bend of Salcia to the left. A large meadow and a forest nearby.

33.6 km – another campsite on the left bank. A large clearing surrounded by a forest. There are many campsites in this area, and even demanding tourists will easily find something interesting.

35.6 km – a very good campsite on the right bank with a gazebo and a place for a campfire. A lot of space for tents on a large clearing by the forest. Half a kilometer further on, there is another good place on the left bank.

37.0 km – a large steel-concrete bridge near the village of Zygmantiskes. About 400 meters earlier, on the left bank, you can see individual buildings, a pier, and steps to the water. A good place to stop for a rest.

38.1 km – a recreation center on the right bank with benches, tables, and a sauna. The area is nicely developed. You need to agree on and pay for a possible camp.

41.6 km – an excellent place for a camp in a pine forest. A low, sandy slope and a relatively easy exit to the bank. Be careful of underwater logs. The place may be crowded during the peak season. For the next few kilometers, Salcia becomes increasingly fast and rocky, and despite its greater width, reaching 25-30 meters, overturned trees across the entire riverbed are more frequent, forcing kayakers to exert themselves and perform acrobatics to overcome them. You also need to watch out for any water whirlpools, as they usually indicate rocks or stumps just below the water's surface. You paddle all the time in an increasingly beautiful forest.

49.2 km – we pass a house made of logs on the left bank with a campfire site, benches, and tables. On the right bank, there is also a campsite with gazebos. For a fee, you can stop here for a rest or a camp. A few dozen meters further on, there is a hanging footbridge over the river.

49.5 km – a large concrete bridge near the town of Valkininkai. By stopping the kayaks on the right bank before the bridge, you can go shopping to a store located about 1.5 km away.

51.4 km – the mouth of Salcia into the Mereczanka. From the town, the river has changed slightly. The forest has partially receded, and open meadows with clusters of trees appear on both banks. Immediately after the confluence of Salcia with the Mereczanka, there is a good place for a camp on the left bank. Gentle exit and a large clearing overgrown with pines. The Mereczanka is quite wide, about 40 meters, and has a strong current.

57.3 km – a right-bank tributary of the Spengła River.

57.9 km – a decent place for a camp on the left, high bank overgrown with a pine forest. The exit is not the easiest, but from above, there is a beautiful view of the river.

58.9 km – a low wooden and steel bridge in the forest, but passing under it should not be a problem. There are no buildings in the immediate vicinity. 250 meters further on, on the right bank, there is a good campsite. A relatively gentle exit from the kayak.

59.9 km – a private campsite on the left bank. A little further on, on the right bank, there is a similar place. You can see that the Mereczanka area is already better developed for tourism. The visible buildings belong to the village of Kukiskes.

61.0 km – a private, very well-developed campsite on the right bank at the end of the village. You can see arbors and campfire sites. There is a possibility to rent kayaks.

61.6 km – a left-bank tributary of the Warsaka River.

65.3 km – a good place for a camp on the right bank. On the last section, there are relatively few places to stop due to steep, densely overgrown banks.

65.9 km – a good place for a camp on the right bank in a small bay just behind a large sandy slope. Nearby, there is a pine forest and plenty of space for tents, although the exit from the kayak is not very convenient. In a short distance, there are two more places with slightly easier access.

67.3 km – a hanging wooden footbridge in the village of Pamerkys.

68.2 km – a railway bridge near the village of Biekszos. The strange lattice structure gives the impression that it has been turned upside down during assembly.

70.3 km – an excellent place for a camp on the left bank on a very sharp bend of the Mereczanka to the right. A bay and a gentle bank just before a high, sandy slope overgrown with a pine forest.

72.1 km – a wooden footbridge on steel cables near the village of Bartalai, located on the right bank. With a strong arc, it hangs low over the water in the middle of its length, but fortunately, there is no problem getting under it with a kayak.

73.1 km – a campsite on a gentle right bank on a bend of the river to the left. The place is surrounded by a forest with easily accessible firewood and a large clearing for pitching tents. For several kilometers, it has been quite difficult to find a good place, as apart from the villages, the Mereczanka flows through a gorge surrounded by dense forests on steep and inaccessible banks. The river has not changed its character, still having a strong current and a width of about 30 meters.

74.3 km – a campsite on the right bank on a bend of the river to the left on a 3-4 meter sandy slope. There is a spruce-pine forest around and easily accessible firewood for a campfire. The exit to the bank is not the best, but it's worth considering this point when planning a stop.

79.4 km – another campsite on the right bank on a bend of the river to the left on a high slope overgrown with a pine forest. The exit is steep, but the place is attractive in terms of views and good for setting up a camp.

81.2 km – the next place for a camp on a bend of the river to the left. A high, sandy slope with a pine forest on the right bank. The place to stop is about 30 meters before this slope, where there is a grassy bank exit that facilitates getting out of the kayaks

83.0 km – another wooden footbridge suspended on steel cables. On both sides of the river, you can't see any buildings. Then, while paddling, you pass by the buildings of a small settlement of Smalninkai. Individual buildings, mostly on the right bank, look very remote. Along the way, there are places to exit to the bank and even a place with a tourist bath, but these points are not particularly attractive.

87.0 km – the Mereczanka approaches the A4 road on the right bank, where you can see stone reinforcements protecting the road embankment from erosion. Be careful not to get too close to the right, rocky bank.

88.7 km – Upiu labirinto – a private campsite in the forest with gazebos, benches, tables, and a tourist bath. Unfortunately, the exit to the bank is not very convenient.

89.6 km – stone abutments of an old bridge. This is also a good place for a camp on the right bank. 20 meters before the abutment, the bank is flat and easy to stop the kayaks.

93.6 km – a large road bridge in the city of Varena. Before the bridge, there is a right-bank tributary of the Varene River. On the right bank, 20 meters behind the bridge, you can stop and go to one of the two stores located on the right bank, near a clearly visible white church.

93.9 km – the second bridge in the city of Varena. A kilometer further on, still in the city's buildings, we pass by a not very nice private campsite.

97.7 km – a nice place for a camp on a high slope on the left bank in a pine forest. You can see the skeleton of a gazebo, which can be covered with foil for protection from the rain.

101.0 km – a pedestrian bridge. You can see individual buildings of the village of Salovarte on the right bank and Moliadugnis on the left. 500 meters behind the bridge, on the right bank, there is a private campsite, and a little further on, another one. The Mereczanka is clearly more commercialized than Salcia. There are few wild campsites here, so it may be necessary to use one of the organized fields.

104.8 km – a private campsite on a high right bank. The Mereczanka is very fast and rocky here.

106.8 km – a pedestrian bridge with a steel, ribbed structure supported by two pylons near the town of Perloja. On the left bank, there is a sauna. The Mereczanka near the town is very wide (about 60-70 meters), rocky, and shallow. The current is strong with local rapids and whirlpools. There are many protruding and submerged rocks. At the end of the village, there is a small stone threshold.

108.1 km – a left-bank tributary of the Darażna River. Over the next 5 kilometers, there are private campsites on both banks of the river from time to time. Most often, however, these are places in depressions without forests, unattractive in terms of landscape, and located near farms. Moreover, the bank is usually difficult to exit with kayaks.

113.0 km – a hanging bridge over the Mereczanka near the village of Miloniskes. Near the village, there are campsites, including at least one with a bath, so-called kubilai.

118.1 km – a right-bank tributary of the Uła River, also a very popular kayak route in Poland.

118.7 km – a campsite below the mouth of the Uła River on the left bank. The signage for this place is visible before the bend of the river to the left, but it is practically impossible to exit the kayak here. Therefore, you need to go around this bend, where on the left, there is a bay and a gentle exit. Interestingly, right after the exit, there is a campfire site, but it is marked with a ban on camping and campfires. The actual campsite is 100 meters further on. Below the Uła, the current of the Mereczanka is even stronger, with numerous whirlpools.

125.2 km – a campsite on the left bank of the Mereczanka.

125.5 km – a left-bank mouth of the small Gruda River. The Mereczanka, until its mouth into the Niemen, is increasingly less forested, and open meadows and buildings appear more frequently. The campsites you pass are mostly private, but even there, the banks are quite steep.

128.8 km – a left-bank tributary of the Skroblus stream. Further on, there are few places to stop and camp, and if there are any, they are mostly organized and paid.

131.2 km – on the left bank, you can see a glass dome that looks like an astronomical observatory…

137.2 km – a large road bridge on the A4 route. 200 meters earlier, there is a public campsite on the right bank. You can end the trip here.

140.3 km – the mouth of the Mereczanka into the Niemen. At the mouth, on the right bank, there is a hill – a point with easy access and a great view of the Niemen.

140.6 km – a large road bridge on road No. 133 near Merecz. 30 meters behind the bridge, there is a very good place on the right bank to end the trip and pull out the kayaks. Right next to it, there is a parking lot that you can drive into directly from the main asphalt road and pick up the equipment and kayakers.