Myślibórz Gorge and the Little Organs of Myślibórz

A wooded ravine carved by the Jawornik stream and the basalt Organs of Rataj hill — two chapters of one volcanic story in the Land of Extinct Volcanoes. The area belongs to the Chełmy Landscape Park and lies near Myślibórz, a few kilometres south-west of Jawor in Lower Silesia.

The Wąwóz Myśliborski reserve

The reserve was established on 21 April 1962 to protect geological forms, rare plants and natural forests. It covers 9.72 ha, including 0.90 ha of strict protection around the site of the hart's-tongue fern — a species that grows here as the only one in Lower Silesia. The rocks reveal basalt pillows, evidence of an underwater eruption some 500 million years ago. The ravine reaches several dozen metres in depth, the Jawornik, a tributary of the Nysa Szalona, meanders along its floor, and salamanders live in the woods. An educational trail runs through the gorge; the loop from the Myślibórz car park is about 6.5 km and takes two to three hours.

The Little Organs of Myślibórz

About a kilometre in the opposite direction, on Rataj hill (c. 350 m), rises a nek — a solidified volcanic conduit from 30 million years ago. Erosion has exposed slender basalt columns up to 30 cm in diameter, almost vertical in the central part and over 20 m tall. The slope preserves traces of an early medieval stronghold and a 13th-century castle that functioned until the 15th century. The red trail leads to the Organs.

Practical information

The starting point is the car park in Myślibórz, paid in season and filling up quickly in the afternoon. The terrain is forested, with roots and uneven ground in places — sturdy shoes are essential. By car: motorway A4, then voivodeship road 363 towards Jawor and local roads to Myślibórz.