Distribution of As concentrations in soils in the vicinity of Złoty Stok, a historical centre of gold and arsenic mining and processing, was examined on the basis of two regular nets of sampling sites: in a forested mountain valley affected by mining activities, and in a flat river valley polluted by spills from tailing impoundments. The maps of As concentrations in the 0-15 cm soil layer show extremely high levels of soil pollution, with maximum values of 28,300 and 7,860 mg·kg^-1, in those areas, respectively. Lower amounts of As in forest litter indicate limited arsenic phytoavailability. Extraction and incubation tests confirm that under certain conditions, considerable amounts of As (up to 93 mg·kg^-1) may be released from soils.