Beskid Wyspowy
Beskid Wyspowy is a mountain range located in Małopolska, between the Makowski Beskid Mountains to the west, the Gorcze and Rabka Zdrój to the south, and the Sądecka Valley and Sądecki Beskid to the east. The most popular peaks to conquer are the queen of the range: Mogielica (1170 meters above sea level), but also Luboń Wielki (the only peak behind the shelter), Ciecień, Śnieżnica, Zembolowa, Szczebel, Lubogoszcz, and Ćwilin. The main centers and trail junctions are Mszana Dolna and Limanowa. Numerous trails in the Beskid Wyspowy also start from Szczyrzyc, Kasina Wielka, Tymbark, and Jurków.
A characteristic feature of the region is that the individual peaks do not form longer ridges and ranges, but rather they are "separate islands" in the "sea" of valleys.
Beskid Wyspowy with Children
In the Beskid Wyspowy, you will find many short trails that you can take with your whole family. An additional attraction for the youngest (and not only!) will be the opportunity to rest in a shelter (the only one in this range can be found on Luboń Wielki).
...and admiring panoramas from observation towers (Mogielica, Modyń, Skiełek, Jaworz, and soon supposedly also from Kamionna, Cietnia, Lubogoszcz, and Ćwilin).
To start your mountain hiking adventure, we recommend an easy walk to Jaworz:
Easy
Mount Jaworz
from Łętowe to Jasień and Polana Skalna:
Medium
Green trail to Jasień and Polana Skalne
...or a forest trail to Ciecień:
Medium
To Ciecień from Wiśniowa - yellow trail
Beskid Wyspowy - Most Beautiful Views
Beskid Wyspowy is characterized by forested slopes and peaks, but if we search well, we will find many scenic clearings. From the most beautiful Stumorgowa Glade below Mogielica:
...through Michurowa Glade on Ćwilin, Skalne Glade on Kutrzyca, and many, many others!
A beautiful scenic trail is the yellow trail from Przysłop Pass (Lubomierz - Rzeki):
Medium
Jasień, Kutrzycę, and Skalna Glade - yellow trail
The Highest Peak of Beskid Wyspowy - Mogielica
If you want to conquer the highest peak of the range, Mogielica (1170 meters above sea level), you have several trails of different lengths and difficulty levels to choose from. The best compromise between comfort and views is the popular green trail from Przełęcz Rydza-Śmigłego in Chyszówki.
You can read more about the routes to Mogielica here:
Mogielica: trails, routes, and loops
Mogielica is the highest peak of the "Beskid Wyspowy" , part of the Crown of Polish Mountains (1170 meters above sea level). At the prominent and quite steep summit, there is a new observation tower. The nearby Polana Stumorgowa is also famous for its beautiful views. ...
Trails in Beskid Wyspowy
The Mały Szlak Beskidzki (Small Beskid Trail) passes through the Beskid Wyspowy, connecting the Mały Beskid and Makowski Beskid, with its starting and ending point on the summit of Luboń Wielki. We can encounter it, among others, on Wierzbanowska Góra and Lubogoszcz.
During hikes through Beskid Wyspowy (and not only, also in Beskid Makowski, for example), you will surely notice the GSBW markings, which stand for Główny Szlak Beskidu Wyspowego (Main Trail of Beskid Wyspowy).
However, these markings do not form a "big loop," but rather create a "big network" connecting individual peaks. The GSBW sign is always a pretext for us to have fun inventing the most creative expansions of the abbreviation, for example: "górski szlak bez wygód" (mountain trail without comfort), "grube stwory bez wątroby" (fat creatures without a liver), "górski sklep bez warzyw" (mountain shop without vegetables), what will you come up with?
A trail that could claim the title of "Beskid Wyspowy Loop" is the Leopold Węgrzynowicz Green Trail, which covers a distance of about 100 km from Wiśniowa, through Tymbark, Limanowa, and Łukowica, and connects the peaks of Ciecień, Kostrza, Skiełek, Cichonia, Mogielica, Łopień, and Śnieżnica.
Challenging Hikes in Beskid Wyspowy
ATTENTION! When hiking the trails of Beskid Wyspowy, remember that despite the relatively low absolute heights of the peaks, due to deeply incised valleys, you will encounter many steep ascents! Before choosing a trail, be sure to check its profile!
Some of the most difficult ascents include the climb to Szczebel from Kasinka Mała, Perć Borkowskiego, and the red trail to Luboń Wielki, as well as the blue trail to Ćwilin from Przełęcz Gruszowiec.
Beskid Wyspowy - Attractions
The Beskid Wyspowy range is not characterized by a well-developed tourist infrastructure in the valleys. Many tourists only pass through here.
The most "off-mountain" attractions can be found in Rabka-Zdrój, located on the southwestern border of the region (Rabkoland amusement park, Museum of Highlanders and Bandits, spa park), and nearby in Chabówka: Skansen Taboru Kolejowego (Open-Air Museum of Rolling Stock).
In the eastern part of the region, you will find artificial reservoirs on the Dunajec River: Jezioro Czchowskie and Jezioro Rożnowskie, as well as attractions such as Tropsztyn Castle, ruins in Rożnów, beaches, swimming areas, and water sports equipment rentals. To the north of Beskid Wyspowy, Jezioro Dobczyckie awaits, and to the south, Gorczański National Park.
Ps. New boundaries of Beskid Wyspowy
To establish the boundaries of the region, we rely on the latest findings of the Polish Academy of Sciences, namely the monograph "Regional Physical Geography of Poland" published in 2018. Therefore, for accuracy, in the "Beskid Wyspowy" section on our website, you will find routes and places from the mesoregion Beskid Wyspowy 513.49. This means that you will find our Pasmo Łysiny and Lubomir (previously often classified as part of Beskid Wyspowy) in the "Beskid Makowski" section.