Tuchola Forest National Park

TL;DR: Tuchola Forest National Park (Bory Tucholskie) is Poland’s best-kept secret – a stunning 46-square-kilometer wilderness featuring ancient pine forests, crystal-clear lakes, and some of Europe’s oldest yew trees. Perfect for hiking, kayaking, and digital detoxing, it’s surprisingly accessible yet blissfully uncrowded.

Why Tuchola Forest Should Be Your Next Adventure

Picture this: you’re standing beside a 600-year-old oak tree, listening to nothing but birdsong and rustling pine needles, while crystal-clear lakes stretch out before you. Welcome to Tuchola Forest National Park (Park Narodowy Bory Tucholskie) – where time moves slower and your Instagram feed will thank you later.

Established in 1996, this 46-square-kilometer slice of paradise covers forests, lakes, meadows and peatlands in the heart of Poland’s largest woodland complex. The region is included in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve spanning 3,195 square kilometers, making it one of Europe’s most significant protected ecosystems.

But here’s what makes Tuchola Forest special: it feels like discovering a secret that somehow millions of people haven’t figured out yet. While crowds flock to more famous European destinations, you’ll find yourself practically alone with nature in one of the continent’s most pristine environments.

What Makes This Place Absolutely Magical

Europe’s Most Ancient Forest Treasures

Tuchola Forest is home to the largest grove of yew trees in Europe – think living fossils that were here when Romans were building their empire. The star attraction? A 600-year-old oak called “Bartuś” near Lake Płęsno, with a 7-meter circumference and standing 25 meters tall. This tree was already mature when Columbus was discovering America!

Crystal-Clear Lakes That’ll Make You Forget About the Beach

Forget crowded coastlines – Tuchola’s lakes are where the magic happens. The park features peculiar crystal water lakes such as Wielkie Gacno, Małe Gacno, Nierybno and Głuchawe. Lake Ostrowite is the biggest (280 hectares) and deepest (43 meters) among the park’s reservoirs, surrounded by rare plants and home to cranes, great cormorants, and grey herons.

Pro tip: Kacze Oko Lake is a stunning dystrophic lake with distinctive brown water and minimal vegetation – it’s a nature reserve you can observe from wooden platforms.

Wildlife That’ll Make Nature Documentaries Jealous

The park hosts 144 bird species including cranes, eagle owls, white-tailed eagles, and Eurasian grouse, plus 43 mammal species like deer, wild boar, fox, marten, otter, badger and hare. You might even spot the rare wolf – though they’re more camera-shy than most visitors!

Epic Adventures Waiting for You

Hiking That Actually Doesn’t Suck

The park offers 5 hiking trails totaling 45.6 kilometers, 3 biking trails covering 25.5 kilometers, 1 horse riding trail of 5.4 kilometers, and 4 educational paths spanning 18 kilometers. According to AllTrails users, the best trail is Małe Swornegacie – Tuchola Forest National Park, with a 4.7-star rating and 8.3 miles of gorgeous scenery.

Must-do trails:

• Blue Educational Trail “Piła Młyn”: 5.7km route taking 2.5 hours, leading through the most interesting park areas from Bachorze to Charzykowskie Lake viewpoint
• Green “Seven Lakes Stream” Trail: 48km trail from Charzyków to Chojnice through Zaborski Landscape Park
• Red Kashubian Trail: Part of a 59-kilometer trail, with 10km running through the park starting at Bachorze

Kayaking Paradise (Seriously, It’s That Good)

The Brda River is one of Poland’s best-known kayak trails, and canoe routes here are considered the most beautiful in Poland, and according to many, in all of Europe. Whether you’re searching for challenging rapids or slow family-friendly waterways, you’ll find routes matching your skill level.

The Brda River winds through the park creating numerous bends with asymmetrical valley cross-sections and visible erosive bank undercuts. The river’s gorge, called Piekło (Hell), is particularly picturesque.

Unique Attractions You Won’t Find Anywhere Else

The Roman-Style Aqueduct: Located in Fojutowo, this 75-meter-long structure is the only one of its kind in Poland, where two waterways cross at different levels with an 11-meter height difference.

Stone Circles of Odry: These archaeological wonders were built between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD and are the biggest stone rings in Poland and second largest in Europe, serving as ancient cemetery of family tombs.

Mylof Dam: This village houses the beginning of the Great Brda Canal system and features Poland’s only stair dam, making the river reach 12 meters high.

Where to Stay (From Budget to Bougie)

Luxury Forest Retreat

LoveLaski Village: Exclusive adults-only (15+) cottages with private saunas and hot tubs in the heart of the forest, just 40 minutes from A1 motorway. Perfect for couples seeking a romantic nature escape with modern amenities.

Traditional Options

Small hotels, guesthouses, camping and tent sites are available throughout the region. Agritourism is extremely rich and extensive, with accommodation in private homes, tourist apartments, or richly furnished hotel complexes with spas.

Charzykowy Area: The main tourist hub with the oldest sailing club in Poland (founded 1922) and headquarters of Bory Tucholskie National Park.

Getting There & Getting Around

Transportation

You can arrive via Gdańsk or Bydgoszcz from the east, or via Poznań or Szczecin from the west. The park is just 40 minutes from the A1 motorway, providing easy access from major cities like Gdańsk, Bydgoszcz, and Toruń.

Practical Info

• Park established: July 1, 1996
• Size: 46.13 square kilometers of protected area
• Location: Chojnice County in Pomeranian Voivodeship
• UNESCO status: Part of Tuchola Forest Biosphere Reserve designated in 2010
• Entrance fees: Required for the national park area
• Accessibility: Botanical educational path designed for persons with disabilities available at the park’s headquarters

Best Time to Visit

Spring (April-May): Perfect for wildflower blooms and bird watching as migrant species return.

Summer (June-August): Ideal for kayaking, swimming, and camping. Lake Charzykowskie offers excellent yachting conditions. Expect the most visitors but still far from crowded.

Fall (September-October): Mushroom foraging season and stunning autumn colors. The forest undergrowth impresses with mushroom richness.

Winter (November-March): Peaceful snow-covered landscapes, perfect for those seeking solitude and winter photography.

Pro Tips for Your Visit

What to Pack: Waterproof hiking boots, insect repellent (summer), layers for changing weather, and a good camera – the photo opportunities are endless.

Don’t Miss: The Trzebciny Observation Tower, built where a powerful tornado swept through in 2012, offers spectacular forest views.

Local Culture: Visit the Neo-Baroque parish church of Saint Barbara and Kaszubski Dom Rękodzięła Ludowego (Kashubian House of Folk Handicraft) in Swornegacie village.

Hidden Gem: Wirty Arboretum at Borzechowskie Lake features hundreds of coniferous and deciduous species from Europe, Asia, and America, including Poland’s only walnut specimen and trees nearly 200 years old.

Why This Beats Other European Nature Destinations

While everyone’s fighting for space in Plitvice or the Swiss Alps, Tuchola Forest offers:

• Zero crowds: You can cover 30 kilometers of forest trail without meeting another human being
• Authentic wilderness: One of the most beautiful and virgin regions in Poland and Europe, undefiled by human activities
• Rich biodiversity: A world of plants and animals which in many cases can only be found here
• Cultural depth: Ancient archaeological sites mixed with medieval history
• Adventure variety: From gentle family walks to challenging multi-day expeditions

Bottom line: If you’re tired of selfie sticks and tourist traps, Tuchola Forest National Park delivers the authentic nature experience you’ve been craving. It’s accessible enough for weekend warriors but wild enough to feel like genuine exploration. Plus, your travel stories will actually be unique – because hardly anyone knows about this place yet.

Pack your sense of adventure and prepare to discover why Poland’s hidden wilderness might just be Europe’s best-kept secret.

Ready to escape the crowds and discover real wilderness? Tuchola Forest National Park is waiting – but probably not for long once word gets out about this incredible place.