The San Valley Landscape Park is one of the wildest and most rewarding natural areas in the Polish Bieszczady Mountains — a pristine buffer zone surrounding the Bieszczady National Park, where ancient forests and rare wildlife coexist in remarkable harmony. Stretching across the Otryt ridge and the upper San river valley from Beniowa to Lake Solińskie, this is a destination that rewards those who seek genuine wilderness.

Around 80% of the park is covered by forest, dominated by Carpathian beech woodland typical of the lower mountain zone — ancient, atmospheric and largely untouched. Nearly half of these trees are over 100 years old, giving the landscape a primeval quality that is increasingly rare in Central Europe. Spring brings lush greenery and abundant wildlife along the riverbanks, summer offers cool shade under towering beeches, while autumn transforms the entire valley into a breathtaking tapestry of gold and crimson. Winter visits are quiet and deeply atmospheric.

The park is home to some of Poland's most elusive large mammals, including European bison, brown bears and lynx, as well as the Aesculapian snake — one of the rarest reptiles in the country.

• From Lesko or Ustrzyki Dolne — travel towards the San valley via Lutowiska or along Lake Solińskie; difficulty: moderate
• From the Bieszczady National Park — the park borders the national park directly, allowing combined hiking itineraries

• The park forms part of the International Biosphere Reserve 'Eastern Carpathians'
• Nature reserves within the park include 'Zakole', 'Krywe', 'Hulskie' and 'Śnieżyca wiosenna w Dwerniczku'
• Protected landscape complexes include the historic villages of Krywe and Smolnik and an old Orthodox church in Hulskie

The Aesculapian snake — the ancient symbol of medicine and one of Poland's rarest reptiles — makes its home in these Bieszczady valleys, making every walk here a potential encounter with living history.