Łącka Dune (Wydma Łącka) is basically a kind of moving desert. Interestingly, this area migrates and moves several meters per year. And everything on the way of sand is destroyed. You can’t mess with nature and for sure that’s why this area is so fascinating!

Łącka Dune (Wydma Łącka in Polish) you see this year will not be the same dune you will see next season. This is because the mountain of sand moves. You can see it as soon as you arrive at its foot, because when you enter the path, a careful eye will notice that the information signs are mostly covered with sand. And no, this is not a marketing gimmick. The signs were firmly placed in the ground. But the shifting sand dune simply covered them. Take a look at this photo.

Then I took the path to the main part of the dune. And then I was totally surprised because the area looked like the site of an environmental disaster. This is because the dune, as it moves, absorbs everything on its path. In this case it is a forest. So do not be surprised if you enter the dune from the side of the golf cart parking lot and see the stumps of dried trees. The sand covering the trees cuts them off from the water and causes them to die.

At the top of the sand dune

When I arrived at Łącka Dune, it was a cloudy morning with a light drizzle and a gusty wind. Believe me, these are not the best conditions to admire this natural wonder. The best time is when the weather is sunny with light clouds adding to the charm. And as I wanted to see Łącka Dune in the best possible light, I decided to wait.

So I had enough time to admire the surroundings while standing on the dune. And there is a lot to see, with the sea in the distance on one side and Lake Łebsko on the other. The dune is about half of its length.

While I was waiting for the weather to improve, I saw with my own eyes how the wind moved the grains of sand, covering my footprints as well as those of the school trip that had come here in the meantime. To be honest, there aren’t many visitors in the morning, around 9 a.m. People start to arrive around 11 a.m.

At last, the weather cleared and the sky opened up, letting the sun shine down on everything. It was like nature was having its own little party, as the sand under my feet glowed a beautiful yellow, and the trees in the background turned a lush green. Even the lake and the sea, which had been looking a bit dull, suddenly brightened up. So, if you’re planning a visit, just bear in mind that the weather can make a big difference to how nice it is!

Łącka Dune and what does it mean that the dune is moving?

If you are wondering what it means that the dune is moving, let me explain. Nature has its own rules, and by the sea we have the advantage of winds blowing from west to east. The wind blows the grains of sand that occupy new areas of land. A dune can move up to several meters per year. The movement of the sand begins when the wind starts blowing at a speed of 5 meters per second (this is about 18 km/h). The slope of the dune on the windward side (the side from which the wind blows) is gentle, while on the leeward side (the western side) the dune is steep. And here you can clearly see how it absorbs everything in its path. Currently, it is an alder forest that is slowly disappearing under thousands of tons of sand. The dune is also slowly swallowing Lake Łebsko, which is losing its surface to the sand every year.

The highest point of the dune is about 42 meters high, as you can see, its top is higher than the tallest trees. Nothing grows on the main ridge of the dune; there is simply no place for anything to take root. The sand is constantly moved by the wind. Vegetation appears only at the edges of the dune.

It is important to note that the Łącka Dune is a part of a huge area of shifting dunes, covering about 500 hectares. It also includes the Czołpińska Dune.

It is also worth knowing that the authorities of the Słowiński National Park have made only a small part of the shifting dunes accessible to visitors. All this is to protect this unique area. Thousands of visitors to the Łącka Dune have a huge impact on it (so-called anthropopressure). Therefore, in order to protect nature, the walking area is fenced with poles and ropes. And even in this example you can see how the sand moves and absorbs the poles driven into it. Also, the signs telling you not to go any further are slowly disappearing into the sand.

But don’t be alarmed by the limitations of the available space. Trust me, it’s still big enough that you won’t trip over other people walking on the shifting dunes. The only thing to know is that the climb is not effortless at all, but it is absolutely worth it to climb as high as you can. The panorama of the sea and the lake against the background of endless sand is phenomenal!

Finally, you might be wondering where the name “Łącka Dune” comes from. Well, a long time ago, the dune swallowed a village called Łączka. In memory of this buried village, the dune was named “Łącka”.

Łącka Dune with a dog

I should mention that it is forbidden by law to enter the Łącka Dune with a dog. It is not allowed to enter the whole Słowiński National Park with pets, so you cannot take your cat here either. However, as the driver of the minibus told us, people can put small dogs in their backpacks and pass through the park gates.

There are also people who come to Łącka Dune with their dog, just walking along the coast from Łeba. Admittedly, it is about a 9 km walk. Of course, this is illegal because it is also part of the National Park, where it is forbidden. However, a dog on the beach does not surprise anyone, especially since there are almost no people on the beaches in the off-season.

And while we’re on the subject of beaches, there’s also a wide sandy beach near Łącka Dune, which is much less crowded than those in Łeba or Ustka. And if you walk a few dozen meters, you can have the whole beach to yourself. In fact, it is comparable to Zatopiony Las (Sunken Forest), where there are also almost no people.

Łącka Dune – how to get there

The dune is not accessible by car. However, there are several ways to get there:

• on foot
• by bike
• by a golf cart

The easiest and fastest way to get there is from Łeba. First of all, you should take a Melex, which will take you to the ticket office of the Słowiński National Park. (The price is 11 PLN one way). You can also walk about 2.5 km.

Then you buy a ticket to the park and you can either walk (about 5 km) or take another melex (one way ticket costs 20 PLN).

If you have a bicycle, there is a comfortable path through the forest that can be used by melexes and bicycles. Pedestrian traffic is separated. At the end of the trail, just below the dunes, there is a parking lot with bicycle racks. The parking is free and unguarded.

You can also choose to walk the entire length of the route. But in total it will be about 10km from the park ticket offices and 5km (in total) to the ticket offices “from the city”.

However, I recommend a different configuration. Take the electric cart to the dune and walk back. On the way back to the ticket office you can visit the „Launch Pad”, a former secret test site where the Germans tested rockets during World War II. There is a separate entrance fee for this site. But if you like military history, it’s worth it.

Łącko Dune – practical information

• You cannot drive your own car to the dune.
• You can get there by electric cart.
• Dogs and other pets are not allowed.
• Parking is available at the park’s ticket office. It costs 10 PLN per hour.
• The entrance fee to the Słowiński National Park costs PLN 10 (regular ticket) and 5 PLN reduced fare.

More information about Slowinski Park Narodowy and the Łącka Dune on the official website.