Szklarka Valley in Poznań

The Szklarka Valley is a wooded corner of eastern Poznań right next to the New Zoo, where a stream flows towards the Cybina River and Lake Malta. The valley's best-known feature was the timber treetop walk – but since 31 December 2025 the walkway has been out of use, and according to the city's latest announcements it remains closed. The valley is still good for a forest walk, just without access to the boardwalk.

A stream in the eastern green wedge

The Szklarka is a right-bank tributary of the Cybina that divides the Antoninek district in two. Meadows and orchards stretch along both sides of the stream, and the valley is an ecologically valuable part of Poznań's eastern green wedge. In 2008 the City Council began work on a zoning plan under which the valley was to be closed to housing development and set aside for recreation and nature education. The land belongs to the Zieliniec-Antoninek forest district, managed by the Poznań Forests Authority.

The treetop walk – current status

The walkway opened in April 2020 as the second facility of its kind in Poland, after the observation tower in Krynica-Zdrój. It is about 250 metres long and at its highest point runs 13 metres above the ground, with benches and a shelter along the way. At the end of 2025 the Poznań Forests Authority closed it to investigate worrying signs of fungal decay in the timber and plan the replacement of some parts. Until there is official news of reopening, respect the barriers.

What to do in the valley

A Szklarka Valley trail is marked with wooden posts. In the same forest district, in the Cybina valley, there are other new features: a boardwalk of about 100 metres on stilts across marshland and a floating jetty on Browarny Pond. You can plan your walk so that you do not need to cross the closed walkway.

Tripto tip

Access is from the New Zoo car park, the Tor Regatowy Malta bus stop or Czekalskie Street. The zoo car park has its own charges, so check them before you arrive. Allow 1–1.5 hours for a forest walk. If you want a guaranteed attraction, combine the valley with the zoo or a walk around Lake Malta, and check poznan.pl before you go to see whether the walkway has reopened.