The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Legionowo

Leśniczówka Lake is located in the former Vistula River valley. In the past, this area was a vast wetland known as Chochole Błoto, which formed in the river's oxbow lakes. Over time, due to natural water level decline and human activity (land reclamation and drainage), the wetlands gradually disappeared and became largely overgrown with forest, significantly reducing the lake's size. During World War II, the area around Leśniczówka was the site of tragic events—executions of civilians occurred in the nearby forests, and the area was associated with underground activity and armed conflict.

A grave hidden in the forest. In summer, it's completely invisible from the trail, but very well-maintained. It's worth the drive.

In early June 1943, an airdrop of Allied weapons took place. They were accepted and temporarily stored in the peat bogs near Izabelin. The commander of the 1st "Obroża" region, Major Roman Kłoczkowski, codename "Grosz," decided to transport the weapons to a cache in Legionowo's Bukowiec district. On June 16, 1943, the command of the 2nd Battalion in Jabłonna dispatched a team with a horse-drawn wagon to transport the weapons from the peat bog. The team consisted of the battalion's warehouseman, Sergeant Jan Wiśniewski, "Wilk," the driver, Corporal Sapper Piotr Purso, and—as cover for the transport—two officer cadets, graduates of the secret officer cadet school in Legionowo: Mieczysław Stępnowski, codename "Alfa," 25, and Stanisław Felicki, codename "Delko." "Skiba," 21, was informed by their commander of their participation in the operation. The cadets, informed by their commander of their participation in the operation, went to confession and Holy Communion and, after collecting their weapons, proceeded to the operation site. Around 4:00 a.m. on June 17th, they set off from Izabelin along the Strużańska Road towards Legionowo. The weapons were on a cart, covered with a layer of peat. A few hundred meters before the village of Stanisławów, they were stopped by a German unit. A charge was discovered under the peat. Shots were fired from the cadets' side. In the confusion, "Wilk" and "Delko" managed to get their horses up; they managed to escape, thus saving their weapons. "Alfa" and "Skiba" were killed in the unequal fight. The weapons had to be transported to safe storage as quickly as possible. An armed patrol under the command of Second Lieutenant Jerzy Dudziec "Puchała" was to provide cover for the operation. Its members included cadets Stefan Majewski, codename "Warta," age 24, Jerzy Dąbrowski, codename "Lato," age 21, and Andrzej Zbierzchowski, codename "Zerwikaptur," age 22. They had revolvers and pistols for defense, and in their briefcases they carried partially disassembled Sten guns and ammunition. Passing through a square in Bukowiec, today known as Kościuszko Square, the patrol found themselves in the midst of a German raid. They were searching for those responsible for disarming one of their soldiers. "Puchała" escaped the encirclement. The remaining three were captured after a fight. Cadet "Zerwikaptur" was ransomed for a considerable sum, provided through a special channel by his family. It was helpful that no weapons were found on him; he managed to dispose of them before being captured. "Warta" and "Lato" were captured. During interrogations, they were subjected to brutal torture. They revealed no secrets of the conspiracy. After five days of interrogation, on Saturday, June 25, 1943, both cadets were shot in the forest near the barracks. The Germans took their bodies to an unknown destination. To this day, their whereabouts remain unknown.

The lake has dried up but there are three shelters. A good place for a short stop.

The lake has dried up. But there are three shelters. A very pleasant place for a short stop.

An unusual, sandy area on the Jabłonowska Cross Road. This is supposed to be Warsaw, not a desert or a beach - interesting and original.

I don't know if this lake deserves the title of "lake" - it's a very small pond that seems to be drying up, although there will be more water here after the rain. Anyway, it's a nice place with sand around the lake/pond. There's also a shelter here, so you can rest here and leave your bike for a few moments.

Nice tunnel, smooth surface.