Winter route
White Białowieża: a winter walk to the European bison
From the Palace Park via Żebra Żubra to the reserve. Snow, silence and steaming bison.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Route lines are based on OSM data; on the ground, follow the trail markings.
In winter the Forest speaks in a whisper. Snow muffles everything except the creak of boots and the tapping of woodpeckers. On the Żebra Żubra boardwalk you can read the tracks: here a fox passed, there a marten ran, and that big print is probably an elk. In winter the bison keep closer to people, because food is harder to find in the forest. In the reserve they stand with frost on their manes, steaming like locomotives.
The route step by step
Palace Park
Start in the park. The frozen ponds look like a fairy tale in the morning.
Żebra Żubra
The boardwalk over frozen wetlands. Watch your step; the planks can be icy.
European Bison Show Reserve
The finish. Return by minibus, taxi or the same way.
Practicalities
Surface
paths and boardwalks, slippery in winter
Best time
December–March
Start / Finish
Palace Park → European Bison Show Reserve
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter the strict protection area with a guide in winter?
Yes, guided entries are possible all year round. In winter it is an exceptional experience.
See also
By bike from Hajnówka to the European bison
A Forest classic: 20 km along a forest trail from the station in Hajnówka to the European Bison Show Reserve.
20 km1.5–2 hrs one wayeasyRoyal Oaks Trail
A short wooden boardwalk, under a kilometre, among oaks that remember the Jagiellons.
0.6 km30–45 mineasyŻebra Żubra
A boardwalk through a swamp forest from Białowieża towards the bison reserve. Wet, green and very wild.
2.7 km1–1.5 hrs one wayeasy
The guide on your phone
Add the guide to your home screen. It works like an app: maps, routes and descriptions even without signal.
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Your base: Klejniki
Every route in this guide starts within an hour of our house. After a day out, a tiled stove, a kitchen with a wood-fired range and silence are waiting for you.