Szczecin Lagoon Cycle Route


Szczecin Lagoon Cycle Route is an international circular cycle route in Poland and Germany, running around the Szczecin Lagoon and through the Wkrzańska Forest and the Goleniowska Forest. It was previously described as route R-66.
Depending on the adopted variant, sources have reported different lengths for the route, including,, and . Tourism services for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern have also reported lengths such as and . Promotional materials for West Pomerania likewise describe the route as an international loop around the Szczecin Lagoon.

Characteristics

The route offers landscapes, nature and monuments around the lower Oder estuary and the islands of Usedom and Wolin. Most sections run on cycle paths, unpaved roads and low-traffic paved roads; only some fragments have heavier car traffic. A 2015 press report noted weak signage and recommended preparing supporting materials before setting out.
The West Pomeranian cycling portal gives a distance of, total ascent, total descent, and a division into seven daily sections of about to. For this variant, the reported surface composition is: asphalt 64%, gravel 23%, cobblestone 5%, concrete slabs 4%, and unpaved roads 4%. Reported road-traffic types along the route are: cycleways 62%, general traffic 31%, and forest/field roads 7%.
In this variant, the description highlights the shores of Dąbie Lake and the Szczecin Lagoon, numerous marinas, and the possibility of visiting the beech forests of Wolin National Park and an archaeological reserve in the Wolin area.
Tourism descriptions for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern emphasise the cross-border “loop” nature of the route, including scenic sections such as a start in Ueckermünde with a detour to the town harbour; segments between lagoon beaches and the forests of the Ueckermünde heathland; floodplain meadows near Anklam ; and the Otto Lilienthal Museum in Anklam. They also describe crossing the Zecherin drawbridge to Usedom, then taking a ferry to Wolin and continuing along the cliff coast towards Międzyzdroje. Further highlights include the eastern shore of the lagoon towards Stepnica, and views over the Oder estuary near Szczecin; the final stage is described as running through the Wkrzańska Forest with a ferry crossing over Lake Neuwarp.

Route

Szczecin – Tanowo – Trzebież – Nowe Warpno – Altwarp – Ueckermünde – Anklam – Usedom – Ahlbeck – Świnoujście – Wapnica – Wolin – Stepnica – Goleniów – Lubczyna – Szczecin.
In the West Pomeranian portal’s variant, the loop can be shortened by taking a cruise from Trzebież to Kopice.

Signage and navigation materials

The West Pomeranian cycling portal provides GPX files for the overall route and for individual stages. In the description of the German-side stage, signage is described as good on the Anklam–Warsin section; however, Stettiner Haff-Rundweg signs are said to appear only sporadically, and part of the route overlaps with the Oder–Neiße Cycle Route . A 2015 trip report noted that signage on the German side used Rundweg Stettiner Haff rather than “R-66”. Tourism materials for route planning on the German side remind riders that border crossings are within the Schengen Area and that an identity document should be carried while travelling. The tourism service also notes access by public transport to, among others, Ueckermünde, Anklam, Ahlbeck and Szczecin.

Development status

A 2021 report by the Polish Tourism Organisation stated that the “route around the Szczecin Lagoon” was then in a planning phase: an alignment had been set and a description and GPX file were available, but the route was not yet signposted.
The Marshal’s Office cycling portal gives a distance of and notes that the eastern part of the route fully overlaps with the Blue Velo route. In the description of a Blue Velo stage, a new cycleway section is described as running along flood embankments.
In 2022, local authorities reported the publication of a fold-out bilingual map of the route, showing the route alignment, surface types and cyclist-oriented infrastructure and services. The same communication stated that the route was about, with on the Polish side. In the English version of the West Pomeranian portal, some sections are labelled “currently being designed / under construction”. Communications from 2020 to 2022 also pointed to the development of digital tools for cyclists as a continuation of the project work.

Tourist attractions

Ferries and engineering structures

Tourism descriptions highlight, among others, the following crossings and structures along the route: the Zecherin drawbridge on the road to Usedom; ferry crossings between Usedom and Wolin near Świnoujście; and a ferry crossing over Lake Neuwarp near Nowe Warpno.