膯wilin and Michurowa Meadow - trails, views and trivia

膯wilin (1072 m above sea level) is the second highest peak in the Island Beskid mountain range. It is especially famous for its breathtaking views from the extensive and picturesque Michurowa Meadow.

Michurowa Meadow on 膯wilin. View to the west: Babia G贸ra "hidden" behind Lubo艅 Wielki
Michurowa Meadow on 膯wilin. View to the west: Babia G贸ra "hidden" behind Lubo艅 Wielki

Michurowa Meadow - views

It's for this meadow that we climb 膯wilin! The extensive, once pastoral, meadow, unfortunately slowly overgrowing, pleases the eyes with wide panoramas: from the east, through the south, to the west.

Michurowa Meadow on 膯wilin. View to the south: Gorce and Tatras
Michurowa Meadow on 膯wilin. View to the south: Gorce and Tatras

From here you can see the surrounding peaks of the Island Beskid (including Mogielica), but also the S膮decki Beskid, Pieniny, Gorce, Makowski Beskid, 呕ywiecki Beskid with the dominant Babia G贸ra, far to the west Silesian Beskid. The southern horizon is closed by the Tatra chain.

PS. If you are curious about the view from 膯wilin to the north, descend a few meters through the beech forest: you will see the twin neighbor 艢nie偶nica:

膯wilin - view to the north
膯wilin - view to the north

All trails to 膯wilin

The network of hiking trails on 膯wilin is quite poor, but that doesn't mean we don't have anything to choose from!

The shortest and fastest trail to 膯wilin

The shortest route to the top of 膯wilin leads from the Gruszowiec Pass (blue signs). We only have to cover 2 km, on which we overcome a height difference of about 400 m. So: it will be short, fast... and very steep.

Northern, steep slopes of 膯wilin - view from the trail to 艢nie偶nica
Northern, steep slopes of 膯wilin - view from the trail to 艢nie偶nica

The most popular trail to 膯wilin

The blue trail from Jurk贸w is longer than the one from Gruszowiec, we also have to overcome a slightly greater height difference, but the road is longer, and therefore much gentler.

膯wilin from Jurk贸w - blue trail

Medium
directions_walk

膯wilin from Jurk贸w - blue trail

max 1070 m min 523 m
straighten 4.0km
timer 2h 23min
north_east 555m
south_east 8m
Jurk贸w - 膯wilin, blue trail
Jurk贸w - 膯wilin, blue trail

The most scenic trail to 膯wilin

If you have more time and feel like a longer hike, we highly recommend you to set off to 膯wilin from Mszana Dolna. Along the way, you will pass an innumerable number of scenic meadows - a real rarity in the Island Beskid!

膯wilin via Czarny Dzia艂 from Mszana Dolna - the yellow trail

Medium
directions_walk

膯wilin via Czarny Dzia艂 from Mszana Dolna - the yellow trail

max 1070 m min 397 m
straighten 9.2km
timer 4h 12min
north_east 765m
south_east 96m
View to the west from the yellow trail to 膯wilin
View to the west from the yellow trail to 膯wilin

Alternative, easiest trail to 膯wilin

This is a route without a marked hiking trail (but we are guided by the signs of the yellow bike trail). Along the way, there are several chapels and a waterfall. We have to overcome a height difference similar to that from Gruszowiec, but spread over about 3.5 km. Apart from the need to keep track of the route due to poor markings, this is the easiest (gentlest) route to the top of 膯wilin.

Wilczyce - 膯wilin. Rosary Road and bike trail

Medium
directions_walk

Wilczyce - 膯wilin. Rosary Road and bike trail

max 1070 m min 670 m
straighten 3.4km
timer 1h 56min
north_east 439m
south_east 38m
Yellow bike trail: Wilczyce - 膯wilin
Yellow bike trail: Wilczyce - 膯wilin

膯wilin and Michurowa Meadow - trivia

Numerous stories and quite true stories are associated with 膯wilin and Michurowa Meadow! It's worth getting to know them and remembering them during a picnic on the top.

  • The name of the peak comes from the German word for "twin" (zwilling). Perhaps it was given by German settlers from Tymbark. And who is 膯wilin's twin? Apparently the neighbor: 艢nie偶nica!
  • According to tradition, the name of the Island Beskid range was created here. Apparently at the beginning of the 20th century, the regionalist, Kazimierz Sosnowski, after spending the night on the top of 膯wilin, saw a beautiful view: a sea of fog covering the valleys and single green hills sticking out of it, like islands.
  • Michurowa Meadow (the name comes from the surname of one of the landowners) was ideal for sheep grazing: well sunlit from the south, with a spring (near the southeast border of the forest) and it was used for this purpose until the mid-20th century.
  • On the northwest slopes of 膯wilin, a few caves were discovered and given... fairy-tale names! Among others Cave of Flying Stones, Shelter of Two Snails, Spider Shelter, Shelter in Bushes and Mermaid's Grotto. And how would you name a cave discovered by yourself?
  • On Michurowa Meadow during World War II there was a Home Army drop zone "Sok贸艂".
Information board about the activities of partisans in the 膯wilin and Michurowa Meadow area
Information board about the activities of partisans in the 膯wilin and Michurowa Meadow area
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