Białowieża Site Guide

The hamlet of Topiło forms the focal point of the southwest of Białowieża Forest. Its reservoir, the only water body in the Polish side, makes for a refreshing change, and the boughs of the old-growth reflect in its waters. Nearby are many nature reserves, replete with ancient bog, deciduous and coniferous forests.

In summer there’s also a café and shop to refresh yourself. An alternative start point is the hamlet of Sacharewo, near a magnificent series of nature reserves. By parking in either of these places, you’ll be well-positioned to pick one of the trails below.

Topiło Reservoir

The hamlet of Topiło is buried deep in the forest just 3 km from the Belarusian border. Its name originates from the Polish word topić, meaning to drown. German forest workers established the hamlet during WW1. They also built the narrow-gauge railway that now functions as a tourist attraction.

After the war, Polish foresters settled in the village. In 1933, they dammed the Perebel River to create a reservoir for storing logs prior to export. The lake retained its function for a few years after the war, but lost its purpose by the 1960s after modern transport infrastructure was developed.

Mode of Transport

Park in Topiło or Sacharewo, from where you can walk or cycle.

How to Get There

You’ll have to drive, as both Topiło and Sacharewo are far from the main accommodation centres. Sacharewo is a kilometre off the Białowieża–Hajnówka highway. Whereas Topiło is a roundabout route through Hajnówka and Orzeszkowo — expect it to take an hour from Białowieża.

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Trails

Lesser Spotted Eagle Educational Trail

Time	Distance	Mode	Difficulty
1–1.5 h	4 km	🚶 Walk	Easy

A short but sweet trail with many educational noticeboards en route, teaching you everything about the lesser-spotted eagle. Head north out of the village around the reservoir. After entering the woods, you’ll pass through typical Białowieża bog forests. Visit the bridge over the Perebel River, spanning a picturesque boggy valley.

Then head southwards into oak-lime-hornbeam forest. As you turn westwards, you’ll pass a surprising number of elm trees, not yet killed by Dutch elm disease. It’s the perfect walk if you’re just stopping by for a short while.

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Sacharewo Trail

Time	Distance	Mode	Difficulty
3 h	8 km	🚶🚲 Walk / Cycle	Easy

A nice circular walk around a selection of nature reserves. The forest here has seen some logging in the past — notice how there are few really old trees. It seems the fattest, oldest trees were selectively logged at some point. Still, here you’ll find well-preserved boggy alderwoods and deciduous oak-lime-hornbeam forest. One of the major benefits is that it’s a quiet area. I’ve never seen another tourist here.

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Go Off-Piste

The southeast is ideal for designing your own route. Accidentally stumbling upon an ancient wilderness is one of the finer pleasures of exploring Białowieża Forest. This area is full of well-preserved old-growth woodland, criss-crossed by a dense network of forest tracks.

One option is to head east from Topiło to the vast nature reserves straddling the Leśna River. Michnówka, Sitki, Berezowo and Starzyna nature reserves are easily accessible and showcase different varieties of old-growth.

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Other Activities

🚂 Narrow Gauge Railway

An old steam train travelling between Hajnówka and Topiło, along tracks originally laid by German forest workers during WW1. It runs a regular schedule during the holiday season or by private appointment during the rest of the year.

🍽️ Lunch Spots

Ostatni Grosz (‘the last cent’) in Topiło — a tourist restaurant open during holiday season. In Hajnówka: Babuszka for tasty regional food, and Pizza Vera for the best pizza in the region.

The Topiło area and the forest's southwest are outstanding for beavers and river ecology, a key topic on our 5-day old-growth seminar, where we spend a full day exploring how beavers are rewilding Białowieża's river valleys.