Green Velo

The excursion presents the most interesting places in the Knyszyn Forest. History intertwines here with the nature of the forest. You can visit Supraśl and the Museum of Icons, as well as two forest gardens: the Arboretum in Kopna Góra, with its memorials to the participants of the 1863 Uprising, and the Silvarium in Poczopek, also called the forest pharmacy. The crowning glory of the effort required will most certainly be an encounter with Tatar culture and cuisine in Kruszyniany. On the way back, you will commune with Orthodox and Catholic architecture. In Królowy Most, made famous by Jacek Bromski’s films, you should see the Orthodox Church of Saint Anne and the Roman Catholic chapel, and in Supraśl, the Orthodox monastery with the Museum of Icons. And all of it among the slender Supraśl pines, which undoubtedly have medicinal properties.

The meeting with the Knyszyn Forest starts in Supraśl. Cyclists take the green trail towards Kopna Góra. The route goes through Surażkowo, passing the Krzemienne Góry Nature Preserve, and further on the January Uprising Trail. Continuing on, you reach the Arboretum, and farther on to the Silvarium, for about 15 km. When you leave, head to Ostrów Południowy. Follow the route to kilometre 38 of the route and turn right towards Nietupa at the fork at the edge of the forest. The direction is marked by the green trail at the turn by the cross. You can rest here under a shelter. From here on, at kilometre 42 of the route, one turn left in Saniki will take you to kilometre 49 in Kruszyniany. After a rest, you can start out for Supraśl. The route continues on a yellow forest trail. It leads 11.5 km in the direction of the highway running past Gródek and Waliły Stacja. From Waliły Stacja to Supraśl, you should take the Green Velo trail and head towards Załuki and Królowy Most until Kołodno for the next 21 km. This is how you reach Królowy Most. Beginning at the boundary marker obelisk past Kołodno, a dirt road begins and continues until Cieliczanka, from where the bike path leads to Supraśl from the south.

On a road bike or a regular bike, you can take the asphalt Road No. 676 to Krynki. From there, turn south towards Kruszyniany. On the way back from Kruszyniany, road cycling fans have the option of a return through Łużany or Bobrowniki via Road No. 65 to Majówka. Next, turn right and take the asphalt road through Krasny Las to Supraśl. It is worth visiting Gródek, by following the yellow trail through Waliły.

Route:

• Supraśl (0 km)
• Surażkowo (11 km)
• Kopna Góra (15.8 km)
• Poczopek (28 km)
• Ostrów Północny (30 km)
• Ostrów Południowy (32.5 km)
• Nowy Ostrów (34 km)
• Górany (37 km)
• Nietupa (43.6 km)
• Saniki (46.6 km)
• Kruszyniany (50 km)
• Waliły Stacja (65.8 km)
• Załuki (75.2 km)
• Królowy Most (81.5 km)
• Kołodno (84 km)
• Cieliczanka (90.5 km)
• Supraśl (95.4 km)

Surface:

• To Kruszyniany: approx. 55% asphalt, 35% gravel/sand tamped road
• The most difficult sections: approx. 10% are paths, where forestry work has been done and a short section of a rocky surface
• Kruszyniany – Supraśl: hard-surfaced gravel-sand 35%, asphalt 65%
• Initial section after Kruszyniany: loose sand, hindering travel

Partially marked route:

• Majority of route: green trail Kresowe Wędrówki, marked according to PTTK tourist bike trail marking standards
• Ostrówek – Ostrów Północny: Road No. 676
• Waliły Stacja – Supraśl return trip: mostly Green Velo
• Kruszyniany – Waliły Stacja: yellow trail through Gródek municipality, marked according to PTTK tourist bike trail marking standards
• Waliły Stacja – Supraśl: Green Velo, orange

Tourist attractions on the route:

• Supraśl – the capital of the Knyszyn Forest with the Museum of Icons.
• January Uprising Trail – with sculptures presenting the fighters and places dedicated to their memory.
• Arboretum – a beautiful forest garden, where you can take a walk. There is a wooden house stylised into Baba Yaga’s hut, and the Knyszyn Forest Museum. Nearby is a cemetery of the participants of the January Uprising.
• Silvarium – a herb garden, where you can see plants native to the Knyszyn Forest, a megalith park and an interesting museum with a cross-section of an anthill. You can also observe bees at work.
• Kruszyniany – you should visit the wooden mosque, the mizar (Muslim cemetery) and try Tartar delicacies.
• Waliły Stacja – home to the largest boulder in this part of Poland, a glacier erratic with a circumference of 19 metres.
• Królowy Most – a village known thanks to Jacek Bromski’s films.