Stare Jablonki

Stare Jablonki (Stare Jabłonki) combines a marked circular trail by Lake Szeląg Mały with forest, waterways and the Elbląg Canal. During your stay, you can choose between a walk, a kayaking trip and regional experiences on the canal. The Way of St. James also passes through the village.

On foot around the lake

The yellow trail, Around Lake Szeląg Mały, is 8.9 km long. The circular route passes through Stare Jabłonki and Buńki, goes around the lake and returns to Stare Jabłonki. It starts and ends at an intersection near a shop in the village centre. The trail runs mostly through forest, offering a specific way to experience the lake’s surroundings on foot.

There are several ways to get to the trailhead: by car, you can park at Stare Jabłonki railway station; the trailhead is also accessible nearby by train. This makes it possible to include the walk in your travel plans without having to drive to the starting point. The stated distance of 8.9 km describes the entire circular route.

Lakeshore, relaxation and kayaking

Stare Jabłonki has a recreational beach on the lake, considered a leisure spot for residents and tourists. Keep in mind when planning your visit: there is no designated bathing area there. However, the beach has a landing pier for boats, yachts and smaller watercraft. The area offers different ways to enjoy the water; the pier and the question of swimming should not be treated as the same thing.

The PTTK Stare Jabłonki water station is located on the shore of Szeląg Mały, amid the Taborskie Forests, and serves as a starting point for kayaking trips. If you would like to combine your stay with an outing on the water, this offers a distinct focus for activities alongside the yellow hiking trail. Its lakeside setting among the forests also defines the landscape surrounding this offering.

Elbląg Canal: a regional excursion highlight

The Elbląg Canal begins in Stare Jabłonki. One of its three main routes runs from Miłomłyn via Ostróda to Stare Jabłonki. The canal thus connects the village to a larger regional route; however, the boat trips and technical features belong to the wider region and should not be confused with the circular trail at Szeląg Mały.

The Upper Elbląg Canal includes five inclined planes that are unique in the world: Buczyniec, Kąty, Oleśnica, Jelenie and Całuny. On them, watercraft are transported on special carriages powered by water. Regular boat trips operate on the canal every year from the beginning of May to the end of September. If you would like to plan your stay around one of these trips, this seasonal period is a useful guide for your planning.

Hiking trails and tourism history

Another route with its own focus is the Way of St. James, which passes through Stare Jabłonki. This adds pilgrimage routes to the lakeside circular trails as another topic to consider when planning your trip. These routes offer different ways to experience the village; their descriptions do not indicate that they form a single route.

During the 20th century, Stare Jabłonki developed into a tourist centre with guesthouses, holiday resorts and restaurants. This history is part of the village’s identity as a destination. The canal boat trips have a different geographical and seasonal context from the trails that pass through the village or around the lake.

More places to discover: Jurki, Słonecznik, Gil Mały, Morąg, Pojezierce, Grunwald, Żabi Róg and Kątno.

For the broader travel overview: Ostróda County.