Czantoria Nature Reserve

Czantoria is a forest nature reserve in Ustroń, established on 12 November 1996 by order of the Minister of Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry. It covers 97.71 ha and is a partial reserve. It lies within the Silesian Beskids Landscape Park, in the north-western part of the Silesian Beskids.

Where it lies and what it protects

The reserve occupies the steep northern slopes of Wielka Czantoria. It includes the upper part of the ridge that descends from the summit northwards towards the Kończyny hill, and adjacent parts of the headwater valleys of the Gronik and Suchy streams.

The protected habitats are natural lower montane forest communities with stands of sycamore, maple and ash. There are three associations: acidophilous montane beech wood, fertile Carpathian beech wood and Carpathian sycamore wood. According to the Complex of Landscape Parks of the Silesian Voivodeship, Wielka Czantoria is 995 m above sea level.

The trail through the reserve

The blue Jan Galicz trail from Ustroń to Wielka Czantoria runs through the reserve. On the other side of the border, in the Czech Republic, lies the Čantoryje national nature reserve.

In the Ustroń area you can combine the walk with a visit to the Jan Jarocki Ustroń Museum, and in the mountains with the Równica Mountain Park.

Practical information

• Location: Ustroń, northern slopes of Wielka Czantoria, within the Silesian Beskids Landscape Park.
• Getting there: by the blue Jan Galicz trail from Ustroń. Check the walking time and current conditions in the PTTK trail description and on a hiking map.
• The reserve’s protection rules apply, so keep to the marked trail.