Camping near the Bialowieski National Park means pitching your tent in the last primeval forest of its kind in Europe.
Two friends trekked across Poland and into Slovakia finding some insane spots to camp. Throughout the country there is ancient forest that is the only remnants of the the prehistoric forest that once covered huge swaths of Europe. It is not wonder that parks such as the Bialowieski National Park is protect and as such is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the confines of the National Parks you aren’t allowed to camp, so it’s important to plan to route very carefully. The area is a popular summer destination, as tourists come from all over to hike the endless trails or rent bikes and take day trips through the forests.
These ancient lands hold a flora and fauna like nowhere in Europe. It is common for hikers to spot Eurpean Bison (found within the Bialowieski National Park), bears towards the north of the country with Wolves, Deer and Lynx being found all over.
In recent years there has been a very real threat of logging, as conservationists fight with governments in an effort to save this last great bastion of ancient woodland. It’s forest contains its main unique feature; dead wood. This provides a platform for an astonishing amount of flora and fauna, yet recent legislation has led to greater accessibility to state-sponsored logging.
The Bialowieza National Park.
This should not be confused with the State Forest, this forest is managed by humans, yet Bialowieza National Park is just pristine forest and humans don’t have anything to do with it. This basically means its completely wild and you’re going to have to get a licensed guide and permit to enter.
The biggest group of European bison in the world are found in the park. The best chance to see them is if you wake up really early or come out in the winter months when the Bison are easily visible as they feed.
The Carpathian Mountains
After Hiking through the Bialowieski National Park, they made their way to the Carpathian Mountains. The Tatra mountain to be specific straddles the border with Slovakia. These steep slopes are home to Wolves and Brown Bear.
The stunning Tatra mountains.
Camping Near the Bialowieski National Park
Using a hammock, certainly in a forest is much easier than a tent. Also considering the roots and undergrowth, it makes harder to get comfortable in a tent. Setting up with plenty of light to spare, allowed for the friends to find a decent spot and time to start a fire (Flint started).
Looking for dead wood is really important, in case it falls during the night. The hammock they used for this trip is the DD Hammock
Camping Site Just Outside The Park
Visitors aren’t strictly allowed to camp within the National park, you’ll even be fined if caught. So it’s best to find a spot near the outskirts of the park. This can be done at the Camping U Michala It’s located 15 minutes from the park. There are also options for rooms and caravans to rent. The campsite is also situated 4 kilometers from the Bison reserve.
Other Cool Trips You Can Do
Kayaking
The Kayaking on the Narewka river is nice way to gently ease through the forest. You also can discover places which are inaccessible by road. During the second part of the route, the river takes you through old Polish Villages with mostly wooden architecture. There is also a good chance you could see a Bison grazing on the river bed. For more information check here.
Cycling tours through the forest
Lots of people do this via a few bike rental places. The size of Bialowieza is substantial so bikes are a great way of seeing more in a shorter time. The terrain helps as well as it’s mostly flat. You’ll ride for a couple of hours and suddenly you’ll see a cute village (which by the way each village speaks a slightly different dialect due to the immensity of the forest), where you can stop to take a well deserved break!
The trails winds around deep woodland – Photo Responsible Travel
