National park · Poland
Drawa National ParkDrawieński Park Narodowy
Go only if you plan to paddle the Drawa: rent a canoe with transport, camp at one of five riverside sites (24 zł/day Jul–Aug, 12 zł Sep–Jun), and buy permits at Drawno before you drive in — there is no public transport to the gate.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
116 km²45 sq mi
approximate
Established
1990
Best months
Jul–Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
- Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
- Poland ↗Poland is in the EU and the Schengen area: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Poland ↗The currency is the Polish złoty (PLN), not the euro: decline dynamic currency conversion.
- Poland ↗Most shops close on most Sundays under the trading law; small convenience stores and station shops are the exception.
- Poland ↗The border areas with Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad region have restricted zones; follow your own government's advice before travelling near them.
At a glance
- Country
- Poland
- Area
- 116 km²45 sq mi
- Roughly 116 km² of forest, river and lakes; boundary figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1990
- Best months
- Jul–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Drawa National Park protects a forested stretch of the Drawa river where Lubuskie, Wielkopolskie and Zachodniopomorskie meet, plus about 20 lakes and mostly beech woodland. It was logged only briefly in the 19th century and had bunkers built in the Second World War, so the valley stayed close to its natural state; the park was established in 1990. Almost everyone comes to paddle downstream between the five riverside campsites. Roads are narrow, fuel and shops are scarce, and large parts of the park have no mobile signal.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1990.
Size and age
116 km²45 sq mi · national park since 1990
Roughly 116 km² of forest, river and lakes; boundary figures vary by source (check).
Why go
- A quiet downstream canoe run through beech forest, with campsites spaced about every 9 km of river.A quiet downstream canoe run through beech forest, with campsites spaced about every 5.6 mi of river.
- One of the oldest working hydroelectric dams in the world, at Głusko, visible from outside.
- Twenty lakes and a river rich in fish, with fishing allowed under a daily permit.
- No traffic on the few roads inside the park, so cycling is calm.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunGo
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanCold, wet; canoe season closed
- FebCold; ice on lakes
- MarThaw; high, fast water
- AprFishing opens on some lakes; cold nights
- MayGreen forest; water still high
- JunLong days; fewer paddlers than July
- JulFull canoe season; campsites at peak price
- AugWarmest water; busiest weekends
- SepQuiet, cheap camping, stable water
- OctAutumn colour; short days
- NovWet and grey; most rentals shut
- DecCold; no river services
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birds of beech and mixed forestApr–Jun · Dawn is the best hour; the forest is humid and quiet. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Fish in the Drawa and the lakesApr–Nov · Fishing is regulated; salmon may not be taken. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Deer and forest mammalsSep–May · Most often seen at dusk along the valley edges. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Choszczno
PKP Intercity train, then a taxi of at least 20 km to the park boundary.PKP Intercity train, then a taxi of at least 12 mi to the park boundary.
20–30 min by taxi
From Kalisz Pomorski
Polregio train, then taxi to the park boundary.
20–30 min by taxi
From Krzyż Wielkopolski
Served by both operators, then taxi to the park boundary.
20–30 min by taxi
From Berlin or Poznań
Drive; roads to the park are narrow and in poor condition, and there is no fuel inside.
2–4 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Drawno and the park centre | Park Education and Tourism Centre, tickets, small museum and souvenirs. | Open with a ticket; centre open Tue–Sun 08:30–15:00.Open with a ticket; centre open Tue–Sun 8:30 AM–3:00 PM. |
| Upper river and Drawnik | First stretch of the canoe trail from Dubie lake, with the first campsite. | Canoe, bike or on foot; entry ticket. |
| Middle river: Barnimie, Bogdanka, Sitnica | The hardest whitewater section, then calmer water and three campsites. | Canoe; camping ticket. |
| Głusko and Kamienna dam | Village with the only restaurant in the park and the 19th-century hydroelectric dam. | Open; dam visible from outside only. |
Sketch map
- 1Drawno park centre · Headquarters≈53.218, 15.763Tickets, permits and a small museum; Kolejowa 20.Map ↗
- 2Drawnik campsite · Sleep≈53.203, 15.762Map ↗
- 3Barnimie campsite · Sleep≈53.155, 15.807Map ↗
- 4Zatom shop · Village≈53.135, 15.851Well-stocked grocery on the early canoe trail.Map ↗
- 5Bogdanka campsite · Sleep≈53.145, 15.874Map ↗
- 6Sitnica campsite · Sleep≈53.102, 15.919Map ↗
- 7Głusko dam and restaurant · Viewpoint≈53.041, 15.939Map ↗
- 8Kamienna campsite · Sleep≈53.031, 15.943Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | PLN 6–10 | person | 2026 estimate; buy at the Park Education and Tourism Centre in Drawno (check current rate). |
| Campsite, Jul–Aug | PLN 24 | person per day | Firewood included. |
| Campsite, Sep–Jun | PLN 12 | person per day | — |
| Car parking at campsite | PLN 12 | car per day | — |
| Caravan or camper parking | PLN 20 | vehicle per day | — |
| Fishing permit | PLN 20–60 | person per day | Limited number issued per day; rules differ by water (check). |
| Canoe rental with transport and retrieval | PLN 120–200 | canoe per day | 2026 estimate; book ahead in July and August. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry ticket permit or guide
Canoe and camping ticket permit or guide
Fishing permit permit or guide
Swimming permit or guide
Park rules
- Camping
- Only at the five designated riverside campsites; wild camping is illegal.
- Swimming
- Swimming outside a vessel is illegal in the park and needs a permit; do not walk in the water.
- Fishing
- Permit required, limited numbers per day; the river is open upstream of the Kamienna dam January–March, and two lakes April–November from piers only.
- Fires
- Use the fireplaces at campsites; firewood there is free.
- Fuel and supplies
- No fuel stations inside the park and only two small shops; fill up and stock up before arriving.
Where to stay
In the park
Drawnik campsite
First site from Dubie lake; the only one within 1.5 km of a large grocery shop.First site from Dubie lake; the only one within 0.9 mi of a large grocery shop.
In the park
Barnimie campsite
Wooden shelters and fireplaces on a hill above the river; kayaks must be carried up. No mobile signal.
In the park
Bogdanka campsite
At the Drawa and Korytnica confluence, close to the water and cool at night.
In the park
Sitnica campsite
Calm stretch on the east bank; swampy and cool, no mobile signal. Thefts of money and food have been reported here.
In the park
Pstrąg and Kamienna campsites
The last two sites before leaving the park, both on small hills; Kamienna is near the dam.
Near the park
Zatom and Sitnica rooms
A few private rooms outside the campsites; the nearest hotels are in Drawno and Choszczno.
Safety
Whitewater on the middle Drawa high
No mobile signal medium
Theft at Sitnica campsite medium
Cold, wet weather medium
Accessibility
- The park centre in Drawno and the Głusko dam viewpoint are reachable by car with short walks.
- The canoe trail, campsites on hills and forest paths are not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on the marked river route and use only the five designated campsites.
- Carry out all rubbish; campsites have firewood but no tap water.
- Take only the fish you are allowed and release protected species.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Drawa National Park?
Park entry is a small per-person ticket, about 6–10 zł in 2026 (check the current rate), bought at the Park Education and Tourism Centre in Drawno or from park staff. Camping is extra: 24 zł per person per day in July and August, 12 zł from September to June, plus 12 zł a day for a car or 20 zł for a caravan. Canoe rental with transport and retrieval runs about 120–200 zł per canoe per day.
What are the best hikes in Drawa National Park?
The park is a paddling destination more than a hiking one. Most walking is short: forest paths from the campsites, the marked trail from the river to the Zatom shop, and the Głusko dam viewpoint. The long route is the river itself, about 40 km from Drawnik to Kamienna over two or three days by canoe.
When is the best time to visit Drawa National Park?
July to September for the full canoe season and warm water, with September the quietest and cheapest camping month. May and June give long days and green forest but higher water. Weekends in July and August are much busier on the river, so start midweek if you can.
Do I need a car to reach Drawa National Park?
Yes, in practice. There is no public transport to the park. Trains reach Choszczno, Kalisz Pomorski and Krzyż Wielkopolski, but you still need a taxi of at least 20 km to the boundary. Roads inside are narrow and in poor condition, and there is no fuel station in the park.
Can I camp anywhere in the park?
No. Camping is allowed only at the five designated riverside campsites, spaced roughly every 9 km of river. They have free firewood and some have wooden shelters, but no tap water, so bring your own. Wild camping is illegal.
Is there mobile signal in the park?
Not everywhere. Several stretches and campsites, including Barnimie and Sitnica, have no mobile connection. Tell your canoe rental your route so they can track you and arrange pick-up.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go