Hajnówka – Białowieża
Hajnówka – W. Szafer reserve – Zwierzyniec car park – European Bison Show Reserve – Białowieża
Source →Themes
❖ PTTK hiking trails
Coloured stripes on the trees: from Hajnówka to Białowieża, Narewka and Topiło.
Waymarked hiking trails in Poland share one system, run by PTTK, the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society: a coloured stripe between two white ones, painted on trees and posts. Red usually marks a main trail, blue a longer one, and green, yellow and black local links. In the Białowieża Forest the trails start in Hajnówka and Białowieża and lead through the forest to Narewka, Topiło, Siemianówka and Masiewo. No hiking trail passes through Klejniki or Czyże, so you drive about 20 minutes to Hajnówka to start.
Practicalities
Take water and food: there are no shops in the forest between villages. In spring and after rain some stretches are wet. The strict reserve of Białowieża National Park can only be visited with a licensed guide. In reserves and in the park dogs must stay off the trail or at home, so check the rules first. Some trails are closed temporarily because of falling trees or forestry work; current notices are published by the Hajnówka Forest District and the national park.
Where to start
For a first time, the green Hajnówka–Białowieża trail is best: 25 km through the Forest, past the European Bison Show Reserve. Walk it all or split it by driving to the car park at the bison reserve. From Białowieża you return by bus or arranged transport.
For a shorter outing choose the nature paths: the Royal Oaks Trail, the Bison’s Ribs or the Tsar’s Path. We describe them as separate routes with a map and GPX.
Waymarked trails
As of 1 Nov 2026. Routes and waymarking change, so check the source before you set off.
Hajnówka – Narewka (Partisan Battles Trail)
Hajnówka – Lipiny and Szczekotowo reserves – Krynoczka chapel – Lipiński Trakt – Świnoroje – Narewka. The forest district has reported it closed due to damaged trees; check before you go.
Source →In the Footsteps of the January Uprising
Hajnówka – Orzeszkowo – Tsar’s Oak – near the Głęboki Kąt reserve – railway route – Hajnówka. No bridge over the Chwiszcza; wet in spring.
Source →Białowieża – Topiło
Białowieża – Podcerkwa, Berezowo, Olszanka Myśliszcze and Michnówka reserves – Topiło
Source →Białowieża – Narewka
Białowieża – Pogorzelce – Stara Białowieża – Janowo – Narewka
Source →Białowieża – Siemianówka
Białowieża – Pogorzelce – Stara Białowieża – Gruszki – Babia Góra – Siemianówka
Source →Białowieża – Czerlonka – Zwierzyniec
Białowieża Towarowa – Podolany – “Jagiellońskie” forest education centre – Jagiellonian Track – Czerlonka – Zwierzyniec settlement
Source →Places of National Remembrance
Białowieża – Białowieża Towarowa – “Jagiellońskie” – Podolany – Białowieża
Source →Wolf Trail
Kosy Most – Głuszec forest – Masiewo (Masiewo Glade). A shorter loop from Masiewo via Głuszec is 6.5 km.
Source →Place of Power and Tsar’s Path
Short paths: to the stone circle of the Place of Power and from the tower at Kosy Most.
Source →Our house in KlejnikiOrthodox churches and sacred sitesNatureWaterOn foot
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Route lines are based on OSM data; on the ground, follow the trail markings.
Our routes with GPX
Royal 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 wayeasyThe Tsar’s Path to lunch
A walk from the Palace Park to the former tsarist station, where a restaurant now stands.
3.1 km45–60 min one wayeasyHoly Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, Hajnówka ★★
One of the most extraordinary Orthodox churches in Poland, built from the 1970s to the 1990s. Its form recalls a tent, and inside the eye is drawn to great stained-glass windows and icons. Every year it hosts a festival of Orthodox church music.
Step in during a service and listen to the choir. The acoustics are impressive.
European Bison Show Reserve ★★★
Large enclosures where you can see European bison, Polish konik horses, bison-cattle hybrids and other animals of the Forest. More certain than meeting one in the wild, and great with children.
It is calmest in the morning, before the coaches arrive. Check the hours at bpn.gov.pl.
Palace Park, Białowieża ★★
A park around the vanished hunting palace of the tsars. Ponds, old avenues and buildings of the former residence. This is where most Białowieża outings begin.
For sunset over the ponds, bring a blanket.
Royal Oaks Trail ★★★
A short wooden boardwalk among oaks several centuries old, named after Polish kings and Lithuanian princes. The trunks are so thick that it takes several people to put their arms around them.
It is under a kilometre, so combine it with the bison reserve. Entry may be ticketed; check current rules at bpn.gov.pl.
Żebra Żubra ★★
A boardwalk through a wet, boggy forest between Białowieża and the bison reserve. Wooden planks lead over the water, among alders and ferns.
After rain the boardwalk can be slippery. Wear shoes with good soles.
Place of Power ★
A clearing in the forest by the trail from Topiło to Białowieża, wrapped in a local legend of extraordinary energy. Legend aside, it is a lovely spot to rest.
It lies on the green Dubicze Cerkiewne–Topiło–Białowieża cycle trail, so it is a natural stop by bike.
Topiło ★
A settlement in the heart of the forest, the railway’s terminus. Ponds, wooden houses and silence. The green cycle trail from Dubicze Cerkiewne to Białowieża passes through Topiło.
In the evening by the ponds you can hear beavers and frogs.
Narewka ★
A village on the Narewka River, on the northern edge of the Forest. A kayak landing, a tourist information point and the start of two Green Velo loops.
This is where you rent a kayak for the Narewka trip.
Siemianówka Reservoir ★★
A large reservoir on the Narew near the Belarusian border and one of the most important refuges for waterbirds in Podlasie. Herons, terns, cormorants, and in spring hundreds of ducks.
Bring binoculars. The most birds are there in the morning and evening.
Frequently asked questions
Does a PTTK trail pass through Klejniki?
No. The nearest waymarked hiking trails start in Hajnówka, about 20 km from the house. Around Klejniki, unmarked field tracks make good walks.
Which trail for the first day?
The green Hajnówka–Białowieża trail (25 km) or its section by the bison reserve. For 2–3 hours, the Royal Oaks Trail and the Bison’s Ribs are better.
Are trails near the border open?
The buffer zone along the Belarusian border excludes villages and tourist trails, but it is regularly extended and changed. Check the Border Guard notice before going east of Białowieża.
Sources
- PTTK: Białowieża Forest hiking trails
- Tourist trails of Hajnówka (hajnowka.pl)
- PTTK Białowieża (guides)
As of 1 Nov 2026. Routes and waymarking change, so check the source before you set off.
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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.