Dulowska Forest

The remnants of an ancient forest that stretched between the Przemsza River and Krakow in the Middle Ages cover an area of about 2600 ha. This forest complex is located in Lesser Poland, in the Kraków district at the bottom of the Krzeszowice Valley. The closest residents to the forest are those from Krzeszowice and Chrzanów. It is a great place for cycling, Nordic walking, hiking, and in winter, for cross-country skiing.

Some practical information

• In the forest, you will find several parking areas; unfortunately, due to its popularity, parking spots fill up quickly. If you want to enjoy solitude, it is worth coming in the morning.
• Right next to the parking areas, you will find convenient paths, making a walk in the forest a good solution for families with strollers. The paths are quite wide, and the terrain is minimally sloped.
• There is a ban on motor vehicle and other vehicle traffic (except for bicycles, of course) on the asphalt paths.
• By following the marked trails, we can reach Trzebinia, Dulowa, and Wola Filipowska.
• For those in need of rest – there are wooden tables with benches along the trails. Entrance to the forest is free.

Interesting places in the Dulowa Forest and nearby
The two charming ponds – Czarny and Wroński deserve special mention. The first is quite well hidden, so it is worth entering these GPS coordinates into Google Maps: 50°06’07.4″N 19°37’27.1″E, which will lead us right to the shore. Czarny Pond is an incredibly atmospheric place, distanced from the main trails. There, we will find wooden benches. Wroński Pond is an extremely popular spot, especially since its reconstruction, which introduced pedestrian and bicycle paths, information boards, piers, and gazebos. By the pond, we find parking and even a small food point. An experienced eye may look for turtles and ducks near the pond. While in the Dulowa Forest, it is definitely worth visiting the ruins of Tenczyn Castle in Rudno, which are within reach. The castle viewing points offer excellent views of the surroundings. Another important point on the map is the Chechło Reservoir, which is the endpoint of the blue trail leading from Rudno. At the reservoir, a renovated beach and a recreation center await us, with facilities, a pier, playgrounds, and food points. In the north-western part of the forest, we can find an interesting Nature-Forest Trail.     

Fauna and flora

In the forest, we can find many species of animals. Beavers are particularly noteworthy, as their activity is evident on tree trunks. The lodges and dams they build give the forest a fairy-tale appearance. Thanks to them, floods and wetlands are formed, over which a mysterious fog lingers in the morning. In these places, we also find magnificent ferns and mosses. Some ferns can reach incredible heights. Additionally, we can find wild boars, deer, elk, and the previously mentioned turtles.

Author of the photos and text: Ewa Bandyk