The Crooked Forest – An Unsolved Mystery
The cause of the peculiar bend in the 400 pine trees in the Crooked Forest near Gryfino, West Pomerania in Poland remains a mystery to this day. The trees, planted around 1930 in what was then the German province of Pomerania, have a sharp 90-degree bend at their base, before growing straight towards the sky. Despite this unnatural curvature, the trees are healthy and can reach up to 50 feet tall.
Photo by depositphotos.com
Various theories have been proposed but none have been proven. Some claim that a unique gravitational pull was responsible, but this is not supported by science as gravity pulls downwards, not at a curve. Others suggest that heavy snowfall caused the trees to grow crookedly, but this theory doesn’t explain why other trees in the area were not affected. Some believe that the trees were grown for wooden cartwheels, but the most widely accepted theory is that local farmers manipulated the trees when they planted them in 1930. The trees were around 7-10 years old when they underwent the force that caused their curvature.
Despite numerous attempts, the mystery of the Crooked Forest remains unsolved. The town of Gryfino was largely deserted during World War II, and the people who might have known the truth about the pine trees’ bend are likely no longer alive.
Photo by depositphotos.com
Season 1, Episode 4 of The UnXplained on the History channel, entitled “Unnatural Nature,” featured the forest and first aired on August 9th, 2019.
Getting there
The location is accessible to visitors and is a well-known tourist destination in the area. The Crooked Forest is located near the town of Gryfino in West Pomerania, Poland. The best way to reach the forest would be by road, either by car or by public transportation. You can also fly into a nearby airport and then take a taxi or rental car to the forest. Some nearby cities with airports include Szczecin, Berlin, and Gdańsk. Once you arrive in the area, you can use GPS navigation or a local map to find the exact location of the Crooked Forest.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Krzywy Las (Crooked Forest), Nowe Czarnowo, Gryfino municipality, Poland
- Coordinates
- 53.21395, 14.47584
- Access
- Visit on foot using the marked approach and quest route; motor vehicles are prohibited in the forest. The protected trees must not be climbed, sat on, or damaged. Dogs must remain leashed. The forest authority recommends weekdays, when fewer visitors come.
- Admission
- No separate gate price is published in the municipal or forestry information reviewed. Gryfino’s 2026 announcement describes the optional Crooked Forest Quest as free; check local notices for any separately organized event or parking arrangements.
- Time needed
- The municipal visitor route is about 0.6 km and takes roughly 30 minutes as a planning estimate; allow extra time for the walk in from the road and photographs. The forest authority does not publish an official required visit duration.
- Best season
- No official best season is stated. The Gryfino Forest District recommends visiting on a weekday when possible because the small nature monument has recently been busy. Weather and forestry work can affect the approach.
- Opening hours
- No daily gate hours are published by the municipality or forest district for this natural monument. Access may be affected by forestry safety work or temporary restrictions; check current local notices before setting out.
- Location checked
- 2026-10-10
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-17
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