Rezerwat przyrody Bukowa Kalenica

Bukowa Kalenica is a nature reserve covering roughly 29 hectares across the Sowie Mountains, with elevations ranging from 800 to 960 meters above sea level. The protected area includes the peaks of Kalenica and Słoneczna, both covered in native forest growth.

The reserve was established in 1962 by the Ministry of Forestry to protect the area's native forest ecosystem. This designation marked an early effort by Poland to safeguard important mountain forests from human impact.

This protected space represents Poland's commitment to preserving native forest ecosystems in the Sowie Mountains region. The reserve demonstrates how communities in this area maintain connections with their natural surroundings through protected landscapes.

The reserve is accessible via marked hiking trails starting from Jugowska Pass, which connects to nearby towns including Nowa Ruda and Pieszyce. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and be prepared for mountain conditions, as the elevation and terrain demand careful footing.

The higher elevations support dwarf beech trees and creeping spruce with distinctive twisted forms shaped by the rocky mountain soil. These unusual plant shapes develop as a response to harsh wind and rocky growing conditions found at this altitude.