A new chapter in conservation has just begun with the creation of three new nature reserves in Lower Silesia. The newly designated areas — Wild Gorge, Forest Slopes at Bolczów Castle, and Wetlands on the Wilka River — cover nearly 85 hectares in total. These protected sites are rich in forest types, wetland ecosystems, amphibians, birds, mammals, and striking geomorphological features. Part of the national “100 Nature Reserves for the 100th Anniversary of the State Forests” programme, they highlight the strong commitment of the State Forests and the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Wrocław to safeguard Poland’s natural heritage.

Locations & Highlights

• Dziki Wąwóz (Wild Gorge) – gmina Lubomierz, powiat lwówecki, about 36.57 ha. The reserve protects well-developed forest stands: beech woods (buczyny), slope forests of maple and lime (zboczowe lasy klonowo-lipowe), and grąd forests, along with the geomorphological and landscape values of the Maciejowicki Potok gorge.
• Leśne Zbocza przy Zamku Bolczów (Forest Slopes at Bolczów Castle) – gmina Janowice Wielkie, powiat karkonoski, about 17.10 ha. It safeguards natural forest communities: fertile and acid beech woods, mountain sycamore forests, springwood, and rocky vegetation on the slopes of Sucha Góra surrounding the ruins of Bolczów Castle.
• Mokradła nad Wilką (Wetlands on the Wilka River) – gmina Olszyna, powiat lubański, about 31.14 ha. It protects the valley of the forested stream Wilka with its wetlands and floodplains, shaped by the engineering work of beavers. The area provides important habitats for amphibians, birds, and mammals.

Each of these nature reserves in Lower Silesia also has a protective buffer zone (otulina) that helps safeguard the surrounding landscapes from outside pressures. They were created as part of the nationwide programme “100 Nature Reserves for the 100th Anniversary of the State Forests” (100 Rezerwatów na 100-lecie Lasów Państwowych). This initiative, launched in 2024, aims to establish at least one hundred new nature reserves across Poland to celebrate the centenary of the State Forests and leave a lasting ecological legacy.

Dziki Wąwóz (Wild Gorge)

How to access:

From Wrocław, it’s about 150 km (around 2.5 hours by car) via the A4 motorway and national road DK30 towards Lwówek Śląski and Lubomierz. The reserve is reached from Maciejowiec village, with a small parking spot between Pokrzywnik and Maciejowiec. Public transport is possible (train to Jelenia Góra, then bus to Lubomierz), but the car journey is much faster.

What to do:

• Walk the yellow-marked trail along the Maciejowicki Potok gorge.
• Visit the small waterfall called “Dziki Wodospad.”
• Explore rocky cliffs, small caves, and the mausoleum of the von Kramst family.
• Great for birdwatching, quiet forest photography, and relaxation.

Leśne Zbocza przy Zamku Bolczów (Forest Slopes at Bolczów Castle)

How to access:

Located in Janowice Wielkie, about 120 km (around 2 hours by car) from Wrocław. The route runs via Jawor and Bolków or through Jelenia Góra. Trains from Wrocław Główny to Janowice Wielkie take about 2.5 hours, with several daily connections. From the station, hiking trails lead directly to the reserve and Bolczów Castle ruins.

What to do:

• Visit the atmospheric ruins of Bolczów Castle hidden in the forest.
• Hike the slopes of Sucha Góra, enjoying panoramic views and rock formations.
• Explore the “Janowice-Bolczów” educational trail, linking geological and cultural landmarks.

Mokradła nad Wilką (Wetlands on the Wilka River)

How to access:

This reserve is in gmina Olszyna (powiat lubański), about 160 km from Wrocław (2.5–3 hours by car) via the A4 and DK30 roads. You can also take a train to Olszyna (around 3.5–4 hours with changes in Węgliniec or Lubań Śląski). From the town, short walks or drives lead into the Wilka stream valley.

What to do:

• Watch wetlands shaped by beavers—spring is best for amphibians, while dawn or dusk favors birdwatching.
• Enjoy peaceful nature walks; this is the least developed of the three new nature reserves in Lower Silesia, offering solitude and quiet.

Other Natural Gems Nearby

Beyond these three, many other nature reserves in Lower Silesia are worth visiting:

• Rudawy Janowickie Landscape Park: full of hiking trails, rock formations, and panoramic views, ideal to combine with a trip to Leśne Zbocza.
• Bóbr Valley Landscape Park: near Dziki Wąwóz, offering scenic river valleys, historic villages, and forest hikes.
• Other reserves in the region include peat bogs, springs, and unique mountain forests, many of them part of the Natura 2000 network.

Protecting Lower Silesia’s Green Heart

These three new nature reserves in Lower Silesia are more than beautiful landscapes—they are vital ecosystems. They protect rare forest communities, regulate water flow, offer habitats for amphibians and birds, and preserve unique geomorphological forms like gorges and rocky slopes. Surrounding buffer zones provide further defense against human activity.

Planning Your Next Nature Escape

Whether you’re drawn to the forested gorge of Dziki Wąwóz (Wild Gorge), the atmospheric ruins of Bolczów Castle surrounded by Leśne Zbocza (Forest Slopes), or the quiet Mokradła nad Wilką (Wetlands on the Wilka River), these new nature reserves in Lower Silesia are excellent day-trip destinations from Wrocław.

Come prepared—good shoes, water, and patience for trails without much infrastructure. What you’ll find in nature reserves in Lower Silesia is authenticity: beaver ponds, bird songs, forest silence, and a glimpse of Poland’s natural treasures.