Green Velo

An excursion for lovers of nature and history. Particularly noteworthy is the valley of the Czarna Hańcza, with precious forest communities: alders, Boreal spruces and swamp forests. The open areas include bogs, covered with characteristic clumps of sedges. In the area of Słupia are the remains of a historic village, a complex of Okrągłe, Długie and Muliczne lakes, as well as the observation tower and deck of Lake Wigry. In Płociczno are historic Wigry Narrow-gauge railway and the Museum of Narrow-gauge Trains.

The excursion begins in Krzywe, where the Tourist Information Centre of the Wigry National Park is located. This is where you can collect maps, guides and get professional information. Available here are: car parking, as well as a bike rental point and a repair shop.

The route goes along the Green Velo trail; after 500 meters it turns right into the forest. The blue hiking trail (Bindasowa Droga), then the black one (Łąkowa Droga) leads the cyclists through the valley of the Czarna Hańcza. Approx. 700 metres of walkways lead through the wetland forests and peat bogs.

Following the green trail, you reach the charming Lake Muliczne, pass the memorial cemetery, and then arrive at the Słupiańska Gulf of Lake Wigry. Further on, the trail leads to Gawrych Ruda close to Wigry and Okrągłe lakes. Here is a shop and a bar U Jawora, hotel and restaurant Nad Wigrami - worth stopping by for a rest.

By the church, the route turns right to the bike trail R11. It then runs through Płociczno to reach Sobolewo after approx. 5 km. Here you leave trail R11, which turns right, and continue on the asphalt. To return to Krzywe, just follow the information signs for cyclists.

Route:

• Krzywe (0 km)
• Bindasowa Droga
• (0.5 km, Green Velo)
• Bindasowa Droga (3 km, hiking trail, blue)
• Łąkowa Droga (4.5 km, hiking trail, black)
• Kładka – Słupie – Gawrych Ruda (15 km, hiking trail, green)
• Gawrych Ruda – Sobolewo (20 km, bike route R11)
• Sobolewo – Krzywe (24 km, local asphalt road, Green Velo)

Route options:
It is possible to start the excursion in Suwałki. Then, you reach Krzywe with the Green Velo Trail (approx. 4 km from the centre of Suwałki). In the area of Słupia runs the educational path of the lake, worth seeing it in its entirety. Following the path, you can see among other things Suchar Wielki - the largest dystrophic lake in the Wigry National Park.

Surface:

• Dirt and forest roads: 50%
• Local asphalt roads
• Walkways over wetlands (we recommend walking with the bike)

The route is marked:
Initial and final parts: 
Green Velo the remaining part of the route: hiking trails of the Wigry NP, marked according to the standards of the PTTK, the international bike route R11, local asphalt road
 

Tourist attractions on the route:

• Valley of the Czarna Hańcza – wetland forests and peat bogs overgrown with characteristic sedges are home to elk as well as a pack of wolves.
• Cemetery in Słupie – a reminder of the historic village.
• Gawrych Rudy – a tower overlooking Wigry and Okrągłe lakes.
• Płociczno – a narrow gauge railway built by the Germans during World War I to transport timber. Today, it is a tourist attraction, together with the Narrow-gauge Railway Museum.
• Sobolewo – the village was founded by Camaldolese monks of Lake Wigry in 1792. Even in the nineteenth century a hammer smithy (smelter) operated here, powered by the waters of the Czarna Hańcza. This is where brass sheets and vessels were made. In the village, there is also a monument commemorating Pope John Paul II, who visited this place during his 1999 homeland pilgrimage.