Suwałki Landscape Park

Suwałki Landscape Park (roughly "soo-VOW-kee") is Poland's oldest landscape park and one of the most striking pieces of scenery in the country's far northeast. Within about 63 km² (24 sq mi) you'll find steep glacial hills, fields scattered with boulders and 24 lakes, including Hańcza, the deepest lake in Poland. If you're looking for things to do in the Suwałki region beyond the town itself, this is where to head for hiking, cycling and big views.

Where it is

The park lies in Podlaskie province, just north of the town of Suwałki and close to the borders with Lithuania and Russia's Kaliningrad region. The village of Szurpiły is about 14 km (9 miles) from Suwałki. From Warsaw it's roughly a three-and-a-half to four-hour drive via the S8 and S61 expressways; Vilnius in Lithuania is also within reasonable driving distance. Public transport in the park is sparse, so plan on a car or bike.

A landscape shaped by ice

The park was created on January 12, 1976, as the first of its kind in Poland, so 2026 marks its 50th anniversary. Around 60 percent of the area is farmland and less than a quarter forest, which keeps the views wide open. The Ice Age left moraines, kames and deep tunnel valleys here. Medieval history adds another layer: the area was home to the Yotvingians, a Baltic people, and later to a community of Old Believers, Russian Orthodox dissenters who settled in the region.

Top things to see

• Lake Hańcza ("HAHN-chah"): 108.5 m (356 ft) deep, the deepest lake in Poland and the whole Central European Plain. The village of Błaskowizna is a good access point.
• Bachanowo boulder field: several thousand glacial erratics carried here from Scandinavia, most up to 3 m in circumference, the largest up to 8 m.
• Mount Cisowa (256 m): a cone-shaped hill nicknamed the "Fuji of Suwałki." Steps lead to the summit and a view over almost the entire park.
• Smolniki viewpoints: platforms overlooking Lake Jaczno and neighboring lakes; the best known, "U Pana Tadeusza," is privately run and charges a small fee.
• Szurpiły and Castle Hill: a Yotvingian hillfort from the 9th–13th centuries above Lake Szurpiły, reached on a marked trail from the village.

Planning your visit

The park's educational paths and hiking trails total more than 60 km. In one day you can comfortably combine Mount Cisowa and Smolniki in the morning with a loop around Lake Szurpiły in the afternoon. Many roads are gravel and some climbs are steep, so wear proper shoes. The long-distance Green Velo cycling route passes through the area. May to October is the best season; winters here are among the coldest in Poland.

Practical information

As of October 2026:

• Admission: free – the park is open countryside.
• Park office and tourist information: Malesowizna 24 (Turtul), 16-404 Jeleniewo; phone +48 87 569 18 01.
• Information point hours: September–June Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–3 p.m.; July–August Mon–Fri 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Bring some cash in PLN (Polish złoty) for private viewpoints and rural cafés.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you enjoy quiet landscapes. It's far from the main tourist routes, crowds are rare and the scenery is unlike anywhere else in Poland. Pair it with nearby Wigry National Park for a long weekend.