Waniewo–Śliwno Footbridge over the Narew

Between Waniewo and Śliwno the Narew does not flow in a single channel – it splits into a maze of branches, oxbows and reed beds. A wooden boardwalk cuts straight across this marshy valley, and you cross the open water yourself on floating platforms that you haul from bank to bank with a chain. It is the best-known trail in Narew National Park and one of the few ways to reach the heart of the "Polish Amazon" without a kayak.

A path across an anastomosing river

Narew National Park was created on 1 July 1996 and covers about 6,810 ha of the Narew valley between Suraż and Rzędziany. Here the river has a character that is rare in Europe: it is anastomosing, dividing into many equal channels that separate and rejoin. The park has no strictly protected zone, and its symbol is the marsh harrier. The Waniewo–Śliwno footbridge links the two sides of the valley; the park gives its length as about 1 km, while the description of the 2017–2019 modernisation project speaks of 1.2 km, with two bird hides and an observation tower. The footbridge won the "Ambassador of the East" award as tourist discovery of the year.

Floating platforms – how they work

The highlight of the route is crossing the Narew channels. According to the park director, quoted by TVN24, there are four floating platforms along the boardwalk. They are self-service: at each crossing you look for the chain attached to the boardwalk at one end and to the platform at the other, pull the platform towards you, step on and close the gate, then use the chain on the water side to pull yourself across. Depending on the size of the platform, it can carry 10 people (850 kg) or 5 people (425 kg) at a time. The ropes above the railings only keep the platform on course – don't pull on them. Never tie a platform to the boardwalk after crossing, as that blocks it for everyone else.

What to see along the way

• The maze of channels and oxbows, seen from water level without a boat.
• Bird hides and an observation tower – in spring and summer the valley is full of life, and it is easier to watch water and marsh birds from cover.
• Reed beds and sedge marshes – wetland vegetation dominates the whole park.

Tripto tip

Always check the tourist notice on the park website (npn.gov.pl) before you go. The crossings depend on the water level: in droughts the platforms run aground and the park closes the trail – as happened when the water at the crossings dropped by almost 2 metres after April. In the notice from June 2026 the Waniewo–Śliwno footbridge was listed as closed, and the park warns that using a closed trail is at your own risk. Entry to the park requires a ticket, available online through the eParki system and at the Młynarzówka Nature Education Centre in Kurowo, which also runs a tourist information point. Bikes must be pushed on the boardwalk, the planks can be slippery after rain, and children may only use the crossings with an adult. You return the same way, so allow 1.5–2 hours for the walk with crossings – longer if you want to watch birds, ideally in the morning.