Green Velo (Eastern Cycle Trail)
Białystok – Supraśl – Gródek – Siemianówka – Narewka – Białowieża – Hajnówka – Dubicze Cerkiewne – Kleszczele – Czeremcha – Grabarka – Mielnik
Source →Themes
◎ Green Velo and cycle trails
Poland’s longest cycle trail, the red trail through Czyże and loops through the Forest.
Green Velo, the Eastern Cycle Trail, is almost 2,000 km long and runs through five provinces along Poland’s eastern edge. About 590 km of it is in Podlasie. From Białystok it goes through Supraśl and Gródek to Siemianówka Reservoir, then through Narewka and the Forest to Hajnówka, and south through Dubicze Cerkiewne, Kleszczele and Czeremcha to Grabarka and the Bug at Mielnik. It is waymarked with metal signs bearing the trail logo on an orange background.
Practicalities
Klejniki is not on Green Velo itself. The nearest points are Hajnówka (approx. 20 km) and Dubicze Cerkiewne (approx. 25 km). The nicest way there is the red Hajnówka–Piaski trail, which passes through Czyże, 7 km from the house. Self-service bike repair stations stand in Hajnówka, Kleszczele, Białowieża, Czeremcha and at Bachmaty Reservoir, among others. Bike shops and repairs are in Hajnówka. Along the Belarusian border there is a buffer zone: villages and trails are excluded from it, but check the current Border Guard notice before heading east.
Green Velo near Klejniki
From Kleszczele the trail heads west on asphalt; past Czechy Orlańskie it turns north to Bachmaty Reservoir and the village of Dubicze Cerkiewne. From there a separate asphalt cycle path runs to Hajnówka alongside provincial road 685. In Hajnówka the trail goes through the centre, past the railway station, and turns into the Forest towards Białowieża and Narewka.
Between Dubicze Cerkiewne and Kleszczele, for about 6 km, Green Velo shares the road with the red Hajnówka–Piaski trail. That makes an easy loop from Klejniki: Czyże, Stary Kornin, Dubicze Cerkiewne, the cycle path along road 685 to Hajnówka and back via Nowoberezowo and Czyże. About 60 km, all flat.
The red trail through Czyże
This is our doorstep trail. It is 81 km long and runs from Hajnówka through Nowoberezowo, Czyże, Zbucz, Stary Kornin, Dubicze Cerkiewne, Kleszczele and Czeremcha to the crossroads before Piaski. About 58 km is asphalt, 12 km gravel and 11 km dirt roads. The land is flat but open, so the wind can tire you more than any climb.
- Białystok
- Supraśl
- Gródek
- Zalew Siemianówka
- Narewka
- Białowieża
- Hajnówka
- Klejniki7 km to Czyże, then the red trail: 13 km to Hajnówka or 18 km to Dubicze Cerkiewne
- Dubicze Cerkiewne · zalew Bachmaty
- Czechy Orlańskie
- Kleszczele
- Czeremcha
- Grabarka
- Mielnik
- on to Lublin Province →
Waymarked trails
As of 1 Nov 2026. Routes and waymarking change, so check the source before you set off.
Hajnówka – Piaski
Hajnówka – Nowoberezowo – Czyże – Zbucz – Stary Kornin – Dubicze Cerkiewne – Kleszczele – Czeremcha – Wiluki – Piaski
Source →Dubicze Cerkiewne – Topiło – Białowieża
Dubicze Cerkiewne – Bachmaty Reservoir – Werstok – Topiło – Place of Power – Białowieża (palace park). Forest roads, wet in places.
Source →Hajnówka – Białowieża
Hajnówka – the Forest – European Bison Show Reserve – Białowieża
Source →Hajnówka – Topiło – Hajnówka
A loop through the Forest to the Topiło settlement and back. Asphalt and gravel.
Source →Royal Cycle Trail of the Białowieża Forest Region
A loop from Hajnówka through Białowieża, Narew, Kleszczele, Policzna, Wiluki, Czyże, Dubicze Cerkiewne and the Repczyce and Bachmaty reservoirs. About 10 hours’ riding; map and GPX on bialowieza.travel.
Source →Our house in KlejnikiOrthodox churches and sacred sitesTowns and villagesNatureWaterBy bike
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Route lines are based on OSM data; on the ground, follow the trail markings.
Our routes with GPX
To Green Velo and Bachmaty Reservoir
From the doorstep to the nearest water. Flat roads, Orthodox churches along the way and a swim at the finish.
30 km2–2.5 hrs one wayeasyBy 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 wayeasyThe Land of Open Shutters loop
From Klejniki through Narew, Trześcianka, Soce and Puchły and back. The prettiest villages of Podlasie in one day.
56 km4–5 hrs with stopsmoderateAround Narewka: Siemianówka and Masiewo
A loop from Narewka to Siemianówka Reservoir and back along the edge of the Forest via Masiewo. Birds, water and woods.
37 km3–3.5 hrsmoderateCzyże ★
The seat of the municipality, on the red Hajnówka–Piaski cycle trail. The Orthodox Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, shops, and the starting point for trips south.
By bike from Klejniki you are here in 20 minutes.
Dubicze Cerkiewne ★
A village on the Green Velo trail, with an Orthodox church and Bachmaty Reservoir in the forest right next to it.
A good spot for a picnic lunch halfway along the route.
Bachmaty Reservoir ★★
A reservoir in a pine forest, with a beach and a swimming area in season. In summer the nearest water for swimming from Klejniki.
On hot weekends arrive before noon.
Kleszczele ★
An old small town on the highway from Brest, today a sleepy place with a market square, an Orthodox church and a Catholic church. It lies on the Green Velo trail.
A good coffee stop on a longer bike ride.
Holy 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Grabarka Holy Mountain ★★★
The most important Orthodox shrine in Poland: a hill with a church, a convent and thousands of crosses brought by pilgrims. At the foot of the hill is a spring whose water is credited with healing power.
Dress modestly; women should cover their heads. In mid-August the great pilgrimage takes place.
Mielnik ★★
A small town on hills above the Bug. At the foot of Castle Hill stand the ruins of a Gothic church, and nearby a chalk mine lays bare white slopes.
Climb Castle Hill for sunset over the Bug.
Frequently asked questions
Does Green Velo pass through Czyże?
No. The red Hajnówka–Piaski cycle trail runs through Czyże. Green Velo passes through Hajnówka and Dubicze Cerkiewne, and the red trail links Czyże with both.
How far is it from Klejniki to Green Velo?
About 20 km to Hajnówka: 7 km to Czyże and 13 km on the red trail. About 25 km to Dubicze Cerkiewne.
Can I cycle into Belarus?
No. The Białowieża border crossing is closed, so the Białowieża Cross-Border Trail can only be ridden on the Polish side.
Sources
- Green Velo – general information
- Green Velo in the Białowieża Forest region (bialowieza.travel)
- Grabarka–Hajnówka section (zm.org.pl)
- Hajnówka–Piaski trail (podlaskie.travel)
- Dubicze Cerkiewne–Topiło–Białowieża trail (greenvelo.pl)
- Cycle trails from Hajnówka (hajnowka.pl)
- Royal Cycle Trail (Hajnówka County)
- Self-service bike repair stations (Hajnówka County)
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.