Śnieżnica Nature Reserve

The Śnieżnica Nature Reserve is a forest reserve on the steep northern slopes of the middle summit of Śnieżnica known as Wierchy, in the Island Beskids. It lies in the village of Porąbka in Dobra municipality, in Limanowa County, and the mountain itself is 1006 m above sea level.

What it protects

The reserve was established in 1968 to protect a natural fragment of Carpathian beech forest. Initially it covered 8.57 ha, and in 2004 it was enlarged to 24.92 ha. It also protects rare plant and animal species, soil and waters, and within its area there are ridge rock outcrops. The area lies within the South Lesser Poland Protected Landscape Area, under the management of the Limanowa Forest District.

Plants and animals

On the forest floor grow, among others, stag's-horn clubmoss, interrupted clubmoss, northern wolfsbane, green false hellebore, European wild ginger, snowdrop and martagon lily. Among mammals roe deer, fox, red deer, wild boar and pine marten live here, and among birds common buzzard, hazel grouse and tawny owl.

Nearby

Those interested in the mountains will find next door the summit of Śnieżnica and Ćwilin, which is about 3 km away.

Practical information

• The reserve has no current protection plan; check the rules of entry that apply in reserves with the manager, the Limanowa Forest District.
• Access trails and car parks have not been confirmed here; plan your route using current hiking maps.