Ujście Warty Park Narodowy

Warta Mouth National Park (Park Narodowy Ujście Warty) is one of the most important wetlands for birds in Europe and the youngest national park in Poland. It lies in the Lubusz Voivodeship, where the Warta river flows into the Oder, and covers floodplain meadows, oxbow lakes and riverside thickets.

What is Warta Mouth National Park?

The park was established on 1 July 2001 and covers roughly 8,074 hectares across three municipalities: Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Słońsk and Witnica. The area was earlier protected as the "Słońsk" nature reserve and then as a landscape park. In 1984 the reserve was added to the Ramsar list, which protects wetlands important for waterbirds.

Why visit?

Birds are the main draw. Around 260 species have been recorded here, and more than 170 of them breed in the park. With some luck you may spot rarities such as the spoonbill and the red-breasted goose, along with great flocks of ducks and whooper swans. During spring and autumn migration, the number of geese alone can exceed 100,000.

The landscape changes with the seasons. In spring, floodwater spreads over the meadows and forms wide shallow lakes; summer brings damp grasslands and nesting birds; autumn sees migrating flocks return.

How to explore

Most visitors explore on foot or by bike along marked paths and observation points. Among birdwatchers the best-known route is the "Betonka", a concrete-slab road running across the meadows. The "Ptasim Szlakiem" (Bird Trail) nature path links the villages of Przyborów and Słońsk with the Postomia river, a left tributary of the Warta. Observation towers let you scan the floodplain without disturbing wildlife. The park headquarters stand in Chyrzyno, beside national road 22 near Kostrzyn nad Odrą, and an educational centre with a nature museum is being built in Słońsk.

Practical tips

• Bring binoculars. Many species are hard to identify at a distance.
• Spring and autumn migration offer the best experience.
• Wear muted colours, keep quiet and stay on the trails. This is a bird sanctuary and part of it is under strict protection.
• Pack mosquito repellent, especially in summer when floodwater lingers.
• Check current water levels and access restrictions on the park's website, as the Warta's level affects which routes are open.

Frequently asked questions

When was the park established? On 1 July 2001, making it Poland's youngest national park.

How large is it? About 8,074 hectares.

Which birds can I see? Around 260 species have been recorded, including the spoonbill and geese that gather in huge flocks during migration.

Where is it? In the Lubusz Voivodeship, where the Warta meets the Oder, near Kostrzyn nad Odrą and Słońsk.