Szczecin Lagoon Cycle Route (Polish: Szlak rowerowy WokÃ³à  Zalewu Szczecià Âskiego; German: Stettiner Haff-Rundweg) is an international circular cycle route in Poland (the West Pomeranian Voivodeship) and Germany (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), running around the Szczecin Lagoon and through the Wkrzaà Âska 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 (a 2014 concept for SzczecinâÂÂs cycling network; a similar length was also given in a 2015 trip report), (the cycling route portal of the MarshalâÂÂs Office of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship), and (a list published by the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing SocietyâÂÂs cycling commission; as of 15 March 2022). Tourism services for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern have also reported lengths such as (split into five stages) and (route-planning variant). Promotional materials for West Pomerania (in German) likewise describe the route as an international loop around the Szczecin Lagoon.
The route offers landscapes, nature and monuments around the lower Oder (Odra) 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 (especially on the Polish side) and recommended preparing supporting materials (notes and route information) before setting out.
The West Pomeranian cycling portal (variant labelled âÂÂSzczecin Lagoon Cycle RouteâÂÂ) 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 DÃÂ bie Lake and the Szczecin Lagoon, numerous marinas, and the possibility of visiting the beech forests of Wolin National Park and an archaeological reserve (Slavic and Viking settlement) in the Wolin area.
Tourism descriptions for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern emphasise the cross-border âÂÂloopâ 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 (described as bird nesting sites); and the Otto Lilienthal Museum in Anklam. They also describe crossing the Zecherin drawbridge to Usedom, then (via à Âwinoujà Âcie) taking a ferry to Wolin and continuing along the cliff coast towards MiÃÂdzyzdroje. 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 Wkrzaà Âska Forest with a ferry crossing over Lake Neuwarp (Nowowarpieà Âski Lagoon).
Szczecin (Ducal Castle) â Tanowo â Trzebieà ¼ â Nowe Warpno â Altwarp (if the ferry connection is unavailable: variant via Myà Âliborka and Rieth) â Ueckermünde â Anklam â Usedom â Ahlbeck â à Âwinoujà Âcie (city centre) â Wapnica â Wolin â Stepnica (including via Czarnocin) â Goleniów â Lubczyna â Szczecin (Ducal Castle). In the West Pomeranian portalâÂÂs variant, the loop can be shortened by taking a cruise from Trzebieà ¼ to Kopice (omitting the ride through Szczecin).
The West Pomeranian cycling portal provides GPX files for the overall route and for individual stages. In the description of the German-side stage (UeckermündeâÂÂTrzebieà ¼), signage is described as good on the AnklamâÂÂWarsin section; however, Stettiner Haff-Rundweg signs are said to appear only sporadically, and part of the route overlaps with the OderâÂÂNeiÃÂe Cycle Route (D-12). A 2015 trip report noted that signage on the German side used Rundweg Stettiner Haff rather than âÂÂR-66âÂÂ. 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 (rail) to, among others, Ueckermünde, Anklam, Ahlbeck and Szczecin.
A 2021 report by the Polish Tourism Organisation stated that the âÂÂroute around the Szczecin Lagoonâ 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 MarshalâÂÂs 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 (ModrzewieâÂÂSzczecin), a new cycleway section (ModrzewieâÂÂLubczynaâÂÂCzarna à ÂàkaâÂÂSzczecin-Dàbie) is described as running along flood embankments.
In 2022, local authorities reported the publication of a fold-out bilingual (PolishâÂÂGerman) map of the route (Interreg VA project), showing the route alignment, surface types and cyclist-oriented infrastructure and services (rest areas, shelters, campsites, bicycle repair points). The same communication stated that the route was about , with on the Polish side (nearly completed at that time). In the English version of the West Pomeranian portal, some sections are labelled âÂÂcurrently being designed / under constructionâÂÂ. Communications from 2020 to 2022 also pointed to the development of digital tools for cyclists (including an app linked to an online platform) as a continuation of the project work.
Tourism descriptions highlight, among others, the following crossings and structures along the route: the Zecherin drawbridge (Zecherin) on the road to Usedom; ferry crossings between Usedom and Wolin near à Âwinoujà Âcie; and a ferry crossing over Lake Neuwarp (Nowowarpieà Âski Lagoon) near Nowe Warpno.