Dolina Rurzycy Nature Reserve

The Dolina Rurzycy landscape reserve covers 554.68 ha in the Wałcz municipality, about 12 km north-east of Wałcz, right by the border with the Greater Poland Voivodeship. It protects a meandering river in a deep valley, a chain of clean glacial channel lakes and forests on steep slopes.

What the reserve protects

The reserve was established in 2005. It comprises the forests of the Płytnica Forest District, the lakes Krępsko Górne, Krępsko Średnie and Dąb and a section of the Rurzyca River. The most valuable part is a complex of springs and low peat bogs, in which ten types of natural habitat occur, among them calcareous springs and alkaline fens. On the other bank of the river a twin reserve, Wielkopolska Dolina Rurzycy, was established in 2008.

Canoe trail and the Papal Stone

A canoe trail runs through the valley along the John Paul II Rurzyca River, 25 km long, from Lake Trzebieszki through lakes Krępsko Małe, Krępsko Duże and Krępsko Średnie to Lake Dąb. Halfway along the route, on the northern shore of Lake Krępsko Średnie, stands the Papal Stone, a monument of 1979 commemorating the camp at which in July 1978 Cardinal Karol Wojtyła spent his last holiday in Poland before being elected pope.

Walking and cycling trails

A marked trail WK-3501-y, 82.5 km long, runs through the area and passes Lake Krępsko Średnie and the Papal Stone. By this lake there is also a junction of trails, and a trail of its own has been laid out around lakes Krępsko Górne and Krępsko Średnie. The reserve has strict, active and landscape protection, so the rules of a nature reserve apply here.

Practical information

• Location: Wałcz municipality, about 12 km north-east of the town.
• For canoeing and the current rules of using the reserve, check with the manager of the area and the organisers of canoe trips.
• Nearby lies the Smolary reserve, about 1 km to the south-east.