Wkrzańska Forest

Wkrzańska Forest is an extensive forest complex on the Szczecin Lagoon, lying on both sides of the border: in Germany, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and in Poland, in Police County and partly in Szczecin. The whole covers about 1550 km², of which 337 km² (22%) lies on the Polish side. The forest is a Natura 2000 area, and since 2004 it has been part of the “Szczecin Forests” Promotional Forest Complex.

Nature

Pine and pine-beech forests dominate, and there are few lakes and rivers. The most valuable in the Polish part is the Świdwie reserve with Lake Świdwie and marshes, protecting among others cranes, orioles and harriers. In Bolków one of the two ornithological stations around the reserve operates. Within Szczecin the forest forms the forest parks: Arkonka, Głębokie and Mścięcino.

Trails

Many walking trails lead through the forest, among them the red Wkrzańska Forest Trail, the green Ornithologists' Trail and the yellow Police Trail. The red cycle route “Wkrzańska Forest” forms a loop from Szczecin-Głębokie through Dobra, Stolec, Bolków, Nowe Warpno, Trzebież and Police back to Głębokie. Along the way it passes among others the ruins of the monastery in Jasienica.

Practical information

• The forest is a popular place of weekend recreation for residents of the Szczecin agglomeration.
• Part of the forest lies in Germany, and the Polish trails are laid out on the Polish side.
• The trails begin among others in Szczecin-Głębokie and in Police.