Poloniny National Park

Poloniny National Park is a protected area in Snina District in Slovakia covering forested mountains along the borders with Poland and Ukraine. The landscape includes extensive beech woodlands and open ridges in the easternmost reaches of the Carpathian range.

The area received national park status in 1997 and gained UNESCO World Heritage recognition in 2007 for its ancient beech forests. The cross-border designation highlights the ecological importance of these largely undisturbed woodland complexes.

The park's name comes from Rusyn and refers to mountain meadows found in the upper parts of the Bukovské Mountains. These open grazing areas alternate with dense woodland and shape the landscape character of this borderland region.

The village of Nová Sedlica serves as a starting point for marked hiking routes through the protected area. Visitors should bring sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate clothing as trails pass through remote terrain.

The protected area is home to Slovakia's only free-roaming European bison population. These animals were reintroduced in recent years and now move through remote woodland sections of the park.

Location: Snina District

Inception: 1997

Operator: S-NP Poloniny

Address: Ul. Mieru 193067 61 Stakčín

Website: https://nppoloniny.sk

GPS coordinates: 49.07139,22.53361

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29