The observation tower on Holiczka Hill (761 meters above sea level) in the 呕uk贸w Range near Ustrzyki Dolne is the newest attraction in the region. From the upper viewing terrace, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the surroundings and the Bieszczady Mountains: Tarnica's Nest, Cary艅ska, Wetli艅ska, and Rawka.
- Holiczka - observation tower near Ustrzyki Dolne - practical information
- Observation Tower on Holiczka - directions, all trails and paths
- Getting to the Holiczka Tower by car
- The fastest way to get to the observation tower on Holiczka
- The most comfortable route to the tower on Holiczka
- Ustrzyki Dolne - Holiczka Tower
- Other routes to the Holiczka Tower
- Holiczka Tower - views and panorama description
- Holiczka and 呕uk贸w - interesting facts
Holiczka - observation tower near Ustrzyki Dolne - practical information
The new observation tower on the 呕uk贸w Ridge was opened in July 2023. What should you know about it?
- The tower is 35 meters high.
- Covered viewing terraces are located at 17 and 30 meters in height.
- There are 173 wide wooden steps to climb (to the upper terrace).
- Free admission.
- No entry with dogs and after dark, during storms, and strong winds.
Observation Tower on Holiczka - directions, all trails and paths
To reach the tower now, you have several different routes to choose from: longer and shorter, comfortable and quite steep. There are also plans to build additional paths, including those adapted for people with limited mobility.
Getting to the Holiczka Tower by car
Attention! You cannot reach the tower by car! The road on the 呕uk贸w Ridge visible on maps is a closed forest road accessible only to forest services and bicycles.
The fastest way to get to the observation tower on Holiczka
The shortest walking route to the tower leads from Ustianowa G贸rna. It will take about 1 hour to walk approximately 2 km of forest road. However, be prepared for some steep uphill sections through the forest:
Medium
The shortest route to the tower on Holicy from Ustianowa
The most comfortable route to the tower on Holiczka
If you don't feel like hiking through the forest, you can choose a longer but more comfortable, paved road along the ridge from the parking lot near the Ustianowa Dolna - 艁obozew Dolny road. In one direction, you have to cover 4.5 km, but the ascent is much gentler than from Ustianowa G贸rna.
Ustrzyki Dolne - Holiczka Tower
For the ambitious and those who enjoy longer, full-day hikes, we have a suggestion to start from the Market Square in Ustrzyki Dolne and head straight to Holiczka. In one direction, you have to walk approximately 10 km (over 500 meters of elevation gain).
First, follow the blue trail, pass through Gromadzy艅 to R贸wnia, and from R贸wnia, climb to the 呕uk贸w Ridge. After about 3.5 hours from leaving Ustrzyki Dolne, you will reach the tower from the southeast:
Other routes to the Holiczka Tower
You can also reach Holiczka by taking the mentioned blue trail from R贸wnia (5 km, 1 hour and 50 minutes, 290 meters of elevation gain) or from Dasz贸wka (4.5 km, 1 hour and 40 minutes, 317 meters of elevation gain).
As mentioned, more paths leading to the tower will soon be created - if you discover them, be sure to let us know!
Holiczka Tower - views and panorama description
The main attraction of the tower is, of course, the wonderful panorama visible from the upper viewing terrace in all four directions of the world! Due to the tower's location and height, the visibility is truly impressive! Until information boards are placed on the terrace, we will give you some hints about what you will see.
From the north, you will see Ustrzyki Dolne and the surrounding hills of the G贸ry S艂onne range. To the west of the town, you will see Wielki and Ma艂y Kr贸l, as well as Kamienna Laworta. To the east, there are Gromadzy艅 and Orlik.
However, the most impressive view is to the south! Closer to us, you will find the green ridges of the Sanocko-Turcza艅skie Mountains that surround Lake Solina and Lake Myczkowskie. We won't see the reservoirs themselves, only the Tele艣nica Bay.
The farthest south, you will see all the Bieszczady mountain ranges!
In the farthest background, you will notice Tarnica and Halicz. You will recognize them by the deep saddle - the Goprowska Pass between Krzemie艅 (on the left) and Tarnica (on the right). To the left of Krzemie艅, you will see Halicz and Bukowe Berdo.
To the west of Tarnica's Nest, there is the massif of Cary艅ska Polonyna, followed by the long ridge of Wetli艅ska Polonyna, ending with the characteristic "triangular" Smerek. In the depression between Cary艅ska and Wetli艅ska, you will see Rawki in the far background.
In closer views, from the east: the ranges of Magura Stuposia艅ska, Dwernik, and Jawornik, with the long ridge of Otryt in front of them. Further to the west: the range of 艁opiennik and Durna, as well as Chryszczata.
Ps. Viewpoints on Holiczka for those who do not climb the tower
If there are people among you who, for various reasons, such as health issues, cannot climb the tower from the ridge road, they can still see something! Just below the tower, there is a viewpoint to the north:
...and near the ruins of the glider school - to the south. From there, you will also see Tarnica and the mountain meadows!
Holiczka and 呕uk贸w - interesting facts
While visiting the observation tower on Holiczka, it is worth walking to the extensive panoramic meadow (about 10-15 minutes along the ridge road to the northwest of the tower). Here, you will find a large shelter, a place for a bonfire, numerous tables and benches, educational boards for children:
...and an interesting history of the glider school that was located here in the 1930s:
Glider Airfield and Military Glider School on Holicy
The Military Glider School operated on the ridge of Mount 呕uk贸w from 1933 to 1939. It trained hundreds of pilots, including heroes of World War II. Today, we can only see the ruins of the glider airfield below the summit of Holicy, and there are several information boards that remind us of the incredible history of this place. ...
Ps. 1. You can find more towers with a view of the Bieszczady Mountains here:
3 Observation Towers with the Most Beautiful View of the Bieszczady Mountains
The most beautiful views in the Bieszczady Mountains are, of course, waiting for us on the mountain peaks and open meadows. However, sometimes it's worth looking at the picturesque ridges from a slightly different perspective that the observation towers give us. ...
Ps. 2. In the area, it is also worth stopping at the Uherce Mineralne railway station and going for a ride on a railbike:
Uherce Mineralne - Bieszczady Bicycle Trolleys
Rail trolley rides are an unusual but very interesting attraction. Instead of pushing it manually, we usually have the opportunity to pedal it like a bicycle. Bicycle trolleys can be found, among others, in Uherce Mineralne - an atmospheric railway station at the threshold of the Bieszczady Mountains. ...
Publish Date: 2023-07-29
Last Updated: 2024-05-08