Drawa National Park

Lore & Background

Drawa National Park was established in 1990, initially covering 86.91 km² before being enlarged to 113.42 km². The park takes its name from the River Drawa, which flows through deep valleys and hollows, with 40 km of the river within park boundaries. The Drawa flows at a fast pace, resembling mountain rivers, and its kayaking trail is among the most picturesque in Poland. The park's soil is predominantly poor-quality sand, and over 80% of the area is forested, mainly with beech and pine trees. The highest hill, at 106 meters, is located near Martew lake in the northern part of the park.

Reader's Guide

Drawa National Park is significant for its role in protecting the riverine and forest ecosystems of the Drawsko Forest region. Its creation addressed the need to safeguard the valuable areas along the Drawa and Plociczna rivers, which feature deep valleys, water channels, lakes, and peat-bogs. The park hosts diverse fauna, including 129 bird species, 40 mammal species, and notable populations of Eurasian otter and beaver, with occasional moose and gray wolf. Flora includes 210 species of mushrooms and oak trees up to 400 years old, with 40% of forested area covered by trees older than 81 years. The park's meromictic lake Czarne (3.7 km²) is a notable water body. Historically, the area was considered unsuitable for settlement until the 17th century. Today, the park attracts increasing numbers of tourists via four walking and kayaking trails, with camping sites and hotels nearby.

Did You Know?

• The park was created in 1990 and initially covered 86.91 km² before being enlarged to 113.42 km².
• The Drawa River flows at a fast pace, making it similar to mountain rivers.
• The park contains a meromictic lake called Czarne, covering approximately 0.37 km² (37 ha).
• Trees older than 81 years cover 40% of the forested area of the park.

Geography & Landscape

Nestled along the tri-voivodeship boundary of Greater Poland, Lubusz, and West Pomeranian in north-western Poland, Drawa National Park sits within the sprawling Drawsko Forest that blankets the vast Drawsko Plain. The park borrows its name from the River Drawa that threads through its heart. Established in 1990 with an initial footprint of 86.91 square kilometres, it was later expanded to 113.42 square kilometres, of which 96.14 square kilometres are dominated by woodland and 9.37 square kilometres by open water. A further 3.68 square kilometres carries the status of strictly protected reserve. More than eighty percent of the territory is cloaked in the monumental Drawa Forest, a tapestry of beech and pine that stretches from the Drawa Lake District all the way to the Noteć River. The terrain is far from flat: in certain stretches, elevation shifts by as much as thirty metres over just five hundred metres of distance, while the park's highest point rises to 106 metres near Martew Lake in the northern reaches. Beneath the canopy, the ground is predominantly sandy and of notably poor agricultural quality, a fact that has paradoxically helped preserve the wilderness.

Waterways & the Kayaking Trail

The very reason Drawa National Park came into existence in 1990 was to shield the remarkable riverine landscapes along the Drawa and Plocziczna waterways. Forty kilometres of the Drawa River flow within the park's borders, carving out deep, picturesque valleys and hollows that give the terrain a dramatic, almost alpine character. What makes the Drawa especially striking is its pace: the current runs at a speed that evokes mountain streams rather than the sluggish lowland rivers one might expect in this part of Europe. This quality has made the Drawa kayaking trail one of the most visually rewarding paddling routes in all of Poland. Beyond the main rivers, the park is laced with numerous smaller water channels, scattered lakes, and extensive peat-bogs that add layers of wetland complexity to the ecosystem. Among the lakes, Czarne stands out both for its size at 3.7 square kilometres and for its unusual meromictic nature, meaning its water layers do not fully mix seasonally. Together, these water features account for roughly 9.37 square kilometres of the park's total area, forming a vital hydrological network that sustains the surrounding forests and wildlife.

Biodiversity & Ancient Woodland

The biological richness of Drawa National Park is staggering across every taxonomic group. Ornithologists have recorded 129 species of birds, while mammals number 40 species, reptiles seven, and amphibians thirteen. The excellent water quality in the park's lakes and rivers supports a thriving diversity of fish. On the forest floor, mycologists have identified 210 species of mushrooms, and the canopy hosts oak trees that have stood for as long as four hundred years. The oldest specimens receive the highest level of protection within the Radecin Preserve. Remarkably, trees exceeding eighty-one years of age blanket forty percent of the park's forested area, a testament to the long periods of undisturbed growth. Among the mammals, roe deer, red deer, and wild boar are everyday sights, while the park sustains notably high populations of both the eurasian otter and the eurasian beaver. On rarer occasions, visitors may glimpse a moose or even a gray wolf moving through the deep woods, reminders that this is still a landscape where large predators and megafauna find room to roam.

A Wilderness Reclaimed & the Growing Visitor

For centuries, the land that now forms Drawa National Park was considered inhospitable to human settlement. Situated on the historical border between Poland and Western Pomerania—later Prussia—the sandy, forested expanse offered little incentive for permanent habitation. It was not until the seventeenth century that communities began clearing the forests to make way for villages and farmland. Today, the park's administrative headquarters are based in the town of Drawno, within Choszczno County. The area has become a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts: four dedicated tourist trails wind through the landscape, designed for both walking and kayaking, and camping sites are available for those who wish to spend the night under the pines. Hotels within a short distance cater to those preferring more comfort. Year after year, the number of visitors to the park has been climbing, drawing people who want to experience one of Poland's most intact lowland wildernesses without leaving the country.

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