Stare Jablonki

• The yellow “Around Lake Szeląg Mały” hiking trail is listed as 8.9 km long and leads via Stare Jabłonki and Buńki back to Stare Jabłonki.
• The trail runs mostly through the forest. Its starting point is at a crossroads by a shop in the village center.
• The recreation beach has a landing pier for boats, yachts and smaller watercraft, but no designated bathing area.
• The Elbląg Canal begins in Stare Jabłonki; the Way of St. James also passes through the village.

The yellow trail is described as a circular route: it goes around Lake Szeląg Mały, passes through Stare Jabłonki and Buńki, and returns to Stare Jabłonki. Its listed length is 8.9 km. The trail runs mostly through the forest.

The start and end point is at a crossroads by a shop in the village center. To get to the trailhead by car, you can park at Stare Jabłonki railway station; the trailhead is also accessible nearby by train. These details make the route easier to plan: you can take its length, forest sections and described access into account before adding it to your itinerary.

The recreation beach on the lake is described as a leisure spot for residents and tourists. An important point for planning is the distinction between this designation and a designated bathing area: there is no such area there. At the same time, the beach has a landing pier for boats, yachts and smaller watercraft. If you are interested in activities on the water, Stanica Wodna PTTK Stare Jabłonki also offers a starting point for kayaking trips. The station is located on the shore of Szeląg Mały, amid the Taborski Forests.

The Elbląg Canal begins in Stare Jabłonki. One of its three main routes runs from Miłomłyn via Ostróda to Stare Jabłonki. The wider regional area is also home to the five globally unique inclined planes of the Oberland–Warmia Canal: Buczyniec, Kąty, Oleśnica, Jelenie and Całuny. On these planes, watercraft are transported on special carriages powered by water power. This is a different type of canal operation from traveling through an ordinary lock, and a distinctive feature for visitors interested in engineering and waterways.

Regular boat trips on the Oberland–Warmia Canal run every year from early May to the end of September. This seasonal information helps you choose when to visit the canal region. It is worth distinguishing these trips from experiences right in the village: the canal begins in Stare Jabłonki, while the five inclined planes and regular boat trips are part of the wider regional area.

The Way of St. James passes through Stare Jabłonki, adding a pilgrimage route to its nature and water-related attractions. In the 20th century, the village developed into a tourist center with guesthouses, holiday resorts and restaurants. This describes its development at the time; it does not indicate whether any individual guesthouses or restaurants are operating today. If you are looking for accommodation, you can first consider Stare Jabłonki in light of your trip’s main focus: the forest trail, water activities or the canal region.

For another comparison of villages, you can also visit the pages for Florczaki, Grunwald, Kalbornia, Pelnik, Jurki, Samborowo, Zabi Róg and Morag.

How long is the hiking trail around Szeląg Mały?

The yellow hiking trail is listed as 8.9 km long. It goes around the lake via Stare Jabłonki and Buńki and returns to Stare Jabłonki.

Where does the hiking trail start, and is it possible to get there by train?

The trail starts and ends at a crossroads by a shop in the village center. You can park your car at Stare Jabłonki railway station; the trailhead is also accessible nearby by train.

Is there a designated bathing area at the recreation beach?

No. The recreation beach does not have a designated bathing area. It does have a landing pier for boats, yachts and smaller watercraft.

When do boat trips run on the Oberland–Warmia Canal?

Regular boat trips run every year from early May to the end of September.

For the higher-level travel overview: Ostródzki.