Narew National Park

Narew is a unique river. Between Suraż and Rzędziany, it does not flow in one channel but several which merge and branch. The arms of the Narew River form a real water maze. Such rivers are called anastomosing, i.e. multi-channel. This unique section of the Narew, called the “Polish Amazonia”,” is protected by the Narew National Park. Due to the multi-channel system, the valley is wet all year round, and during spring thaw, a large part of it disappears under water. In combination with the lush rush vegetation (reeds, sedges, reed maces, etc.), this makes the Park difficult to access. Thanks to this, it has become an important refuge for animals. Among about 200 species of birds found here, over 150 are breeding ones, including some endangered and many rare species. An interesting fact is that the Narew National Park is one of the least forested of all Polish national parks. It is dominated by open areas – reed rushes and sedges. The best way to visit the park is by water, canoeing. Another possibility is the use of educational footbridges which allow you to reach places inaccessible by other means.

The logo of the Narew National Park is a silhouette of a flying western marsh harrier (Lat. Circus aeruginosus). This bird of prey with long wings (span of approx. 1.2 m) and a grand tail is more slender than the buzzard. It is not difficult to distinguish the sex of representatives of this species due to the strong dimorphism. Females are slightly larger, have brown plumage with a pale head. Males are brown with a grey tail and gray and black wings. Marsh harriers are the only feathered predators which nest on the ground, in dense reeds. For this reason, the areas of the Narew are an ideal place for them to live. A pair of adult birds takes turns in flying around their territory, with a characteristic V-shaped wing lift, which can be seen on the logo of the NNP. Western marsh harrier feeds on small mammals, eggs and nestlings of other birds. It is a migratory species listed in the Birds Directive. According to the latest inventory, the population of the western marsh harrier in the Park amounts to 48 pairs. The number of this species does not change significantly, it is stable. Western marsh harrier, like many water and marsh birds, is very vulnerable to climate change. The greatest threat to these species is the diminishing amount of water in the valley. Due to the lack of snow or its limited amount, the spring flood waters have a limited range and last for a much shorter time. This has a huge impact on the disappearance of nesting sites, as well as the loss and deterioration of their quality. Desiccation of wetlands also increases their availability, thus making exploration by invasive species, such as American mink or raccoon dog, easier.

Waniewo - Śliwno footbridge (nature path)




1.25 km Waniewo - Śliwno




The path runs along the footbridge across the Narew valley, connecting Waniewo and Śliwno. It leads through the marshy area and allows you to reach the “heart” of the Park without the need to use a boat or a kayak. The largest attraction is crossing 4 river beds with the use of floating piers. Next to the footbridge, there are two ornithological observatories and a look-out tower in the middle of the valley which facilitate bird observation. In early spring, migrating herds of geese and ducks can be met here, and black-tailed godwits, lapwings and redshanks nest here when the water subsides. Terns, black-headed gulls and many small singing birds appear above the Narew River bed. In the evenings, you can hear the voices of rails. During spring migrations, you can observe tooting ruffs, and in autumn - flocking cranes in the meadows.

The area of the Park is limited to the river valley itself. Therefore, the shape is a few dozen kilometres long and narrow – has a maximum of several kilometres. Due to this specific lay of the land, the area of the Park serves as a migration route for large mammals (including elk). In spring, from the side of Śliwno, on a warm, sunny day, you can hear numerous amphibians (e.g. moor frog, European fire-bellied toad). It is also worth paying attention to the loud sounds of European tree frogs in the evening. Next to the footbridge, we can observe reeds, sedges, aquatic and meadow vegetation. When the water levels in the Narew are too low, the floating piers are closed and it is not possible to get to the other bank over the footbridge.