Sucha Polana - trails from Por臋ba and Kud艂acze

Town: Por臋ba Wielka

check_circle  Slopes
check_circle  Large-wheeled stroller
check_circle  Mainly in the sun

Sucha Polana on Sucha Pass (710 meters above sea level), near Por臋ba, is a picturesque and peaceful place between the ridges of the Beskid Wyspowy: 艁ysina and Lubomir in the south, and Kamiennik in the north. You can organize a family picnic here, have a bonfire in the designated fireplace, and relax under a shelter.

Both in winter:

Sucha Polana between 艁ysina and Kamiennik in winter scenery. Bonfire spot, with a field altar of the Home Army in the background.
Sucha Polana between 艁ysina and Kamiennik in winter scenery. Bonfire spot, with a field altar of the Home Army in the background.

And in summer:

Sucha Polana near Por臋ba. Lubomir and 艁ysina ridge
Sucha Polana near Por臋ba. Lubomir and 艁ysina ridge
Table of Contents

How to get to Sucha Polana?

Several tourist trails and forest access roads intersect at Sucha Polana:

Sucha Polana - trail junction
Sucha Polana - trail junction

The shortest and easiest way to Sucha Polana

The easiest route leads through a forest road from Lipnik (2.5 km):

New black trail to Polana Sucha

Easy
directions_walk child_friendly

New black trail to Polana Sucha

max 710 m min 605 m
straighten 2.5km
timer 1h 3min
north_east 175m
south_east 70m

... or also a wide forest road from Por臋ba (4 km, 300 m elevation gain, accessible for strollers with large wheels and mountain bikes). After the church (parking area), head west towards the "Pod Kamiennikiem" Center, then take the forest road for about 1-1.5 hours of walking to reach the meadow.

From Por臋ba to Sucha Polana via Kamiennik - green trail

A longer walk, but with the opportunity to reach the summit of Kamiennik along the way!

From Por臋ba to Kud艂acze Shelter via Kamiennik

Medium
directions_walk

From Por臋ba to Kud艂acze Shelter via Kamiennik

max 822 m min 402 m
straighten 7.3km
timer 3h 16min
north_east 578m
south_east 263m

From PTTK Kud艂acze Shelter to Sucha Polana

The shortest route from Polana Kud艂acze (parking area just below the shelter) to Sucha Polana is the green trail, but you can also take the red trail to 艁ysina and descend to the meadow on the yellow trail.

Sucha Polana. Descent from 艁ysina, view of Kamiennik.
Sucha Polana. Descent from 艁ysina, view of Kamiennik.

Trails around Sucha Polana

After enjoying a picnic at Sucha Polana, you can take a walk in the area: climb the summit of Kamiennik (on the northern side of the meadow), 艁ysina, or Lubomir. You can also visit the viewpoint, astronomical observatory on Lubomir, or the PTTK Shelter on Polana Kud艂acze.

From Sucha Polana to Kud艂acze

The easiest and fastest way to get there is via the green trail. The shelter offers bar dishes, a playground, and a scenic meadow.

From Sucha Polana to Kud艂acze, the Green Trail

Medium
directions_walk

From Sucha Polana to Kud艂acze, the Green Trail

max 748 m min 690 m
straighten 2.2km
timer 52min
north_east 127m
south_east 111m

From Sucha Polana to Lubomir (observatory and viewpoint)

You can take the yellow trail to reach the summit of 艁ysina, and from there, head to the viewpoint and astronomical observatory on Lubomir:

艁ysina - Sucha Polana, yellow trail

Medium
directions_walk

艁ysina - Sucha Polana, yellow trail

max 882 m min 709 m
straighten 0.9km
timer 13min
north_east 1m
south_east 173m

By using the red or black trail, you can also make a loop: Sucha Polana - Lubomir - PTTK Kud艂acze Shelter - Sucha Polana (8 km, 2 hours and 45 minutes).

Sucha Polana - trail map and points of interest

You can see all the described trails and the location of interesting places around Sucha Polana on this map:

Sucha Polana - facts and trivia

In the past, Sucha Polana was used for grazing sheep and had a shepherd's hut. In the second half of the 20th century, there was a campsite and a forest ranger's lodge here. There were also plans to build a PTTK shelter, which eventually ended up on Polana Kud艂acze, while Sucha Polana has a shelter and a place for a bonfire.

If we run out of water, the nearest spring is located on the slope of 艁ysina along the yellow trail (indicated in the photo on our map).

Sucha Polana: place for a bonfire and shelter
Sucha Polana: place for a bonfire and shelter

Home Army Partisans at Sucha Polana

During World War II, Sucha Polana became famous as a base for Home Army partisan units, and there were partisan observation towers on the 艁ysina hill overlooking the meadow. In the summer of 1944, these areas belonged to the so-called Raciech贸w Republic - an area abandoned by the Germans and controlled by the Home Army.

Today, you can find informational plaques, commemorative boulders, and a field altar here.

Sucha Polana, Home Army partisan units - informational plaque
Sucha Polana, Home Army partisan units - informational plaque
Sucha Polana - commemorative boulders and field altar
Sucha Polana - commemorative boulders and field altar

Furthermore, along the red Kud艂acze - 艁ysina trail, there is a symbolic grave of Home Army soldiers:

Symbolic grave of Home Army soldiers along the red Kud艂acze - 艁ysina trail
Symbolic grave of Home Army soldiers along the red Kud艂acze - 艁ysina trail

AK Anchor Insignia at Sucha Polana

While at Sucha Polana, it is worth finding the original metal insignia placed on the anchor of the Polish Fighting and Independence Organization. It is associated with an interesting story. Initially, it was located on the summit of Lubomir, placed there by Lieutenant Ryszard Mazur, codename Rymsza, as a thanksgiving and a memento of saving his partisan unit from a German ambush on September 15, 1944. After Mr. Ryszard's death, the symbol was torn down and destroyed. It was stored in the Kud艂acze Shelter for some time and can now be seen on the field altar at Sucha Polana.

Partisan badge with the anchor emblem of the Home Army (AK) from the summit of Lubomir - currently displayed at Sucha Polana
Partisan badge with the anchor emblem of the Home Army (AK) from the summit of Lubomir - currently displayed at Sucha Polana

Sucha Polana - closest location of crocuses to Krakow

Apparently, Sucha Polana is the northernmost location of the Spiska saffron, also known as famous spring crocuses, in the Beskids. If you manage to observe them, be sure to send a photo!

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Last Updated: 2023-11-29

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