Green Velo

The Around Lake Sajno Bike Trail runs, as its name suggests, on both banks of the lake. It starts in the Augustów centre, runs through the locality of Sajenek and ends in the locality of Białobrzegi located on the banks of the Augustów Canal. It is 21 kilometres long, and runs mainly on good, forest dirt roads and bicycle paths of the Green Velo trail. It is signposted in yellow.

Together with return trip from the locality of Białobrzegi along the Augustów Canal, a trip around the lake will be approximately 25 kilometres. This is an easy recreational route, leading near the rivers and lakes of the town of Augustów and the edge of the Augustów Primeval Forest. The trail is quite well-signposted and equipped with resting places. There are numerous bars and food courts on the route.

The general course of the trail is as follows: the city of Augustów, the building of the old post office (0.0 km) - the Netta River bridge (0.8 km) - the turn into the forest road to Lake Sajno (1.0 km) - the bicycle lane running next to provincial road no. 664 (3.3 km) - the end of the bicycle path, turn to the locality of Sajenek (8.2 km) - Sajenek (9.8 km) - provincial road no. 664 (11.3 km) - turn to the forest road on the southern shore of Lake Sajno (12.2 km) - Białobrzegi (21.4 km).

The trail starts in the city of Augustów, near the marina, next to the old post office building. The historical centre is nearby. In the historic buildings of the Port Authority there is a museum exhibition devoted to the history of the Augustów Canal. The city has a white fleet marina, gondolas, catamarans, numerous water equipment rentals, hotels and resorts, and a sanatorium.

The trail runs along the Augustów Canal and in the eastern part of the city runs deep into the forest, crossing two artificial canals, the Augustowski and the Bystry. The Netta River, which flows through Augustów, with the length slightly exceeding 100 kilometres, consisting basically of three watercourses. The upper section, above Lake Necko, the Netta River is called Rospuda, while the middle course to Lake Sajno is the Bystry Canal, and only the lower, rapid section is called the Netta. Along the river the artificial Augustów Canal flows from the city of Augustów. Both rivers flow into the Biebrza near the locality of Jasionów, forming part of the extensive hydrographic system of the Biebrza River Valley marshes.

From the bridge over the Bystry Canal, the trail runs along the provincial road. Near the eastern shore of Sajno Lake, the trail turns into the village of Sajenek, lying by the lake of the same name. In principle, Sajenek Lakewas once part of Lake Sajno, but between the reservoirs over 100 years ago, a causeway was built on which the road and the railway line were built. The trail goes around the lake, and after covering less than a kilometre on the provincial road, enters the depths of the forests on the southern shore of Lake Sajno.
Located south of Augustów, Lake Sajno is the largest of the ribbon lakes of the Augustów Primeval Forest. Its area is about 520 hectares, and the depth reaches 27 metres. The small Sajownica river flows through it, connecting Sajno with the Netta River. The name of the lake is probably derived from the Yotvingian word "sõia" meaning “river, river current”. There are campsites on the shores of Lake Sajno, and numerous hiking trails nearby. Similarly to other lakes of the Primeval Forest, it is almost entirely surrounded by pine forests.

The trail runs along a high, southern shore of the lake for about 10 kilometres, along a dirt road, to the village of Białobrzegi. There is one of the locks of the Augustów Canal and an old watermill. From this place you can go back to Augustów on the bike trail along the Augustów Canal.

Points of interest along the trail:

1. Augustów - a health resort, monuments, the Augustów Canal and the Museum of the Augustów Canal
2. The Bystry Canal and the Augustowski Canal - artificial hydrotechnical structures
3. Lakes - Sajno, Sajenek
4. The Augustów Primeval Forest
5. The locality of Białobrzegi - lock

The trail uses solely roads with no motor vehicle traffic allowed or local roads with a low and very low vehicle traffic; no dangerous intersections.  A recreational trail.

Starting point:

Augustów, parking lot at the music school in front of the old post office

Finishing point:

Białobrzegi