Świętokrzyski National Park in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-25. Check linked official notices before travel.

Świętokrzyski National Park protects forested ridges and exposed stone fields in the Łysogóry range of south-central Poland. Two useful starting points are Święta Katarzyna for Łysica and Huta Szklana for Łysa Góra. Choose the approach before setting out: mountain trails, an asphalt ascent, and seasonal education paths have different conditions. The nature museum at Święty Krzyż is closed.

Forest climbs and the gołoborze stone field

• Łysica: the route from Święta Katarzyna climbs through fir and beech forest. It suits visitors prepared for a mountain walk rather than a level stroll.
• Łysa Góra: the Huta Szklana approach uses an asphalt road, with a gentler ascent than the rougher mountain paths.
• Gołoborze viewing gallery: a designated platform provides a view over the quartzite sandstone block field. The viewing gallery has its own admission charge.

Choose an approach and check seasonal restrictions

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Plan for ice, uneven ground, and falling branches

Check the forecast and select a route that matches the group's ability. Trails are not cleared of snow or ice. Use suitable footwear and consider traction equipment in winter. Strong winds and storms create risks from falling branches and lightning; postpone a forest hike when conditions are unsafe. Remain behind barriers at the stone field.

Keep to routes and observe the dog restrictions

Do not collect plants or mushrooms, disturb wildlife, or leave food scraps. Dogs on leashes may use the asphalt Huta Szklana–Łysa Góra route and the foot-and-cycle path beside road 752 between Święta Katarzyna and Podgórze. The park prohibits dogs on its other hiking and education paths and in visitor buildings. Check the designated dog routes before bringing a pet.

Keep admission separate from arranged activities

Purchase park tickets through the authority's linked online channel or an operating ticket point. Keep a paper or mobile copy available for inspection. Contact the park in advance for an arranged educational visit, particularly when a participant needs access assistance. Buying admission does not book an educational program.

Start at the trail village, not the administration office

The park lies in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. Its administration is in Bodzentyn, while the main mountain approaches begin elsewhere. Use Święta Katarzyna for the Łysica route, Nowa Słupia for an eastern approach to Łysa Góra, or Huta Szklana for the asphalt ascent. Consult the official route information and current notices together before choosing a start and return route.

Nearby landscape parks

Sieradowicki Park Krajobrazowy is a nearby option on the Bodzentyn side of the mountains. Jeleniowski Park Krajobrazowy offers another protected area toward Nowa Słupia and the eastern part of the range. Both are separate landscape parks reached through the local road network; choose the one nearer your planned trailhead.

Match the mountain walk to the time you have

The published Święta Katarzyna–Łysica education route is 2.5 km one way, with about 252 m of ascent. Its guide rates the walk as difficult and gives about one hour for the outward leg. Add time for stops and the return. The route introduces forest ecology and the effects of erosion on busy mountain paths.

At Łysa Góra, use the gallery to examine the gołoborze without entering the protected block field. The underlying sandstone is much older than the field of loose blocks: repeated freezing and thawing helped break the rock into the landscape visible today.

Access varies sharply between mountain paths

Benches and shelters provide rest points on designated routes. The park identifies the roughly 2 km Huta Szklana–Łysa Góra asphalt approach as a more accessible option, including for some wheelchair users. Other mountain terrain can be difficult or impassable for a wheelchair. Confirm the gradients, assistance needs, and access to the upper viewing area with the park before deciding. The Bodzentyn office is an administration contact, not an indoor replacement for the closed museum.

A protected part of the Łysogóry forests

Protection developed before the national park

The national park was established in 1950. Earlier reserves protected Chełmowa Góra and parts of the Łysica and Święty Krzyż forests. The protected area later expanded, including an enlargement in 1996.

Living forests include dead wood

Fir and beech forests support wildlife both above and below the canopy. Fallen trunks and standing dead trees provide food, shelter, and nesting places for fungi, invertebrates, and other forest organisms. Foxes, roe deer, and squirrels are among the mammals described in the park's trail guide. Watch quietly from the path; a species record does not guarantee a sighting.

Contact Świętokrzyski Park Narodowy

Administration: ul. Suchedniowska 4, 26-010 Bodzentyn. Call +48 41 311 51 06 or email [email protected]. Use the official park website for current services.