The Słupia Valley Landscape Park is a place where you can truly breathe freely.
A stunning natural environment, unique flora and fauna, and a network of hiking, cycling, and kayaking trails make this park a perfect destination for active outdoor recreation.
Słupia Valley Landscape Park was established in 1981 and covers an area of 37,040 hectares (and 83,170 hectares including its buffer zone). It is the only valley-type landscape park in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, encompassing the middle and lower course of the Słupia River and its catchment area from Soszyca. Together with six other regional parks, it forms part of the Pomeranian Landscape Parks Complex.
Discover the Słupia Valley Landscape Park
The park's landscape is shaped by undulating postglacial moraines. Height differences between surrounding hills range from 60 to 80 meters, creating a terrain that in some places resembles a submontane region. The Słupia River, the park’s central feature, runs for 138.6 km, with its source near Sierakowska Huta. In its upper course, the river flows through lakes, but after exiting them, it speeds up due to the steep gradients and rocky riverbed – giving it the dynamic character of a mountain river.
Throughout history, the Słupia Valley has been a desirable area for settlement. Traces of early human presence are still visible today, including burial grounds, fortified settlements, churches, manor parks, and traditional village layouts – many of which are now considered valuable cultural heritage. The park was established to protect both these natural treasures and the region’s rich cultural legacy, while preserving the harmony of their coexistence.
Richness of Flora and Fauna
The park is heavily forested, with woods covering around 72% of the area. Among the most common are blueberry-rich coniferous forests, popular among berry pickers. Mushroom foragers will find the acidic and fertile beech forests especially rewarding. The park is also home to peat bogs – rare and often inaccessible areas that provide ideal conditions for protected plant species, such as insect-eating sundews and stunning orchids.
Lakes of various sizes, origins, and shapes are another key feature of the landscape. Of particular interest are the rare Lobelia lakes, home to relict vegetation. The largest lakes include Lake Jasień (590 ha) and Lake Głębokie (107 ha). The waters of the Słupia River are known for supporting ecologically and economically valuable species like Atlantic salmon and sea trout – attracting anglers year-round, especially during the traditional New Year fishing competition.
The park also provides important habitats for a wide variety of bird species. You may hear chiffchaffs, robins, or blackbirds singing, and if you look up, you might spot birds of prey like the white-tailed eagle or red kite near meadows and fields. Riverbanks are home to kingfishers, grey wagtails, common sandpipers, and dippers, while white storks nest on rooftops and roadside poles. The area also serves as a refuge for cranes and a wintering spot for mute and whooper swans. In tree hollows, goldeneyes and goosanders build their nests. Because many protected bird species nest within the park, the entire complex has been recognized as one of 154 Important Bird Areas in Poland and is protected under the EU Natura 2000 network.
Nature Reserves in the Słupia Valley Landscape Park
There are eight nature reserves within the park’s boundaries:
In addition, several other reserves lie within the park's buffer zone, including: Bukowa Góra nad Pysznem, Gogolewko, Jeziorka Chośnickie, Jezioro Cechyńskie Małe, Jezioro Głęboczko, Las nad Jeziorem Mądrzechowskim, and Lisia Kępa. There are also over 70 natural monuments, 10 ecological sites, and 9 natural-landscape complexes.
Active Tourism in the Słupia Valley Landscape Park
The park offers excellent conditions for outdoor enthusiasts and lovers of active holidays. Hikers can explore 4 marked PTTK trails and 6 nature paths, which lead through the most scenic areas of the valley. Cyclists can ride along two designated bicycle trails, while those looking for adventure on the water can embark on a kayak trip down the Słupia River.
A particularly fascinating attraction is the hydroelectric power plant trail, showcasing preserved examples of early 20th-century engineering. Many of these hydroelectric stations have been operating continuously for over 100 years, standing today as remarkable monuments of industrial heritage.
Distance from Saltic Resort & SPA to Słupia Valley Landscape Park – approximately 70 km.
