In the south of Poland, there is a 500-kilometer thru-hike that encompasses Silezia, Little-Poland, and Podkarpackie. The trail goes from west to east. It starts in Ustroń close to the border with the Czech Republik and ends in Wolosate on the Ukrainian border in the Bieszczady mountains. It is Poland’s longest trail and leads you thru the long mountain range of Beskiden. The mountain peaks are not higher than 2000 meters, however, you should not underestimate this trail. There is a lot of climbing and descending, which makes the trail very demanding. You can complete the trail in 2 to 3 weeks during which you will mostly sleep in Polish mountain huts. In some places, you can pitch your tent at designated campgrounds. So, if you want to cross Poland by foot, do it on the Main Beskid Trail!
Beskid Śląski – Żywiecki
The Main Beskid Trail starts west of the Beskiden in a village called Ustroń. The first 60 kilometers cross Beskid Śląski, where you will encounter the first (of many) mountain peaks above 1000 meters. Barania Góra is the highest point of this part with an altitude of 1220 meters. The first part of the trail ends in Węgierska Górka on the border with Beskid Żywiecki. The second part of the trail is longer, 101 kilometers. The absolute highlight of this part is Babia Góra: the highest peak of the Beskiden. Climb towards 1725 meters and enjoy the views of the Tatra mountains, where the mountains are even higher.
Gorce
Continue on the trail thru the Beskiden in Gorce. This is a mountain range that is part of the western part of the mountains. You will hike in the Gorczański Park Narodowy national park. The highest peak of this area is 1310 meters and after a little over 50 kilometers, you will reach the next region.
Beskid Sądecki – Niski
The next part of the trail leads you thru the Beskid Sądecki. Hike towards the highest point, the Radziejowa, and climb the 20-meter-high tower to enjoy the views of the Pieniny, the Higher Tatra’s, and the Sądecka Dal. On this part of the trail, you pass various spa resorts making it the ideal place to stop for a ZERO and recover from the 200 kilometers you have already hiked. After this break, you are ready to continue with the longest part of the trail. Almost 150 kilometers across the Beskid Niski, which is a tougher part of the Main Beskid Trail. Here you will not find a lot of accommodations or facilities and you will encounter fewer fellow hikers.
Bieszczady
The last part of the trail is almost 100 kilometers and crosses the Bieszczady. This might be the most beautiful, but also the most remote part of the trail. You hike in the national park in the southeast of Poland, close to the Ukrainian and Slovenian border. This mountain range consists of more than 85% forest. With some luck (or not), you will encounter wild animals such as the brown bear, the lynx, and the wolf. After a total of 500 kilometers, the Main Beskid Trail ends in Wolosate.
Good to know
The trails are well-marked with recognizable red-white markings. During most sections of the trail, you can find plenty of accommodations and supplies along the way. The best season to hike the trail is from June to September. Somewhat earlier is also possible, however, keep in mind that temperatures can be low, and there is a higher risk of bad weather. A sleeping bag or a liner is recommended for sleeping in the mountain huts and hiking poles will help you during the many ascends/descents. For a full packing list, find our recommendations here.
More info
Info: Main Beskid Trail
