Rysianka (1322 m above sea level) and Lipowski Wierch (1324 m above sea level) are famous neighboring peaks considered one of the most beautiful places in the Żywiecki Beskids. A series of picturesque scenic meadows: from Rysianka, through Lipowska, Bieguńska, Bacmańska, to Redykalna and Boracza are kilometers of relatively easy trails perfect for a hike, during which breathtaking panoramas will amaze us at every step.
What attractions await us here? How to get here and which trails to choose to make a scenic loop?
- Rysianka and Lipowski Wierch - attractions, shelters, views
- Trails to Lipowska Meadow and Rysianka
- The shortest and easiest trail to Rysianka and Lipowski Wierch: blue from Sopotnia Wielka
- To Lipowska Meadow and Rysianka from Złatna Huta
- The most popular trail to Rysianka and Lipowski Wierch: green from Żabnica
- By train to the trail to Rysianka and Lipowski Wierch
- Rysianka and Lipowski Wierch - loop proposals
Rysianka and Lipowski Wierch - attractions, shelters, views
Let's start with why it's worth going to Rysianka and Lipowski Wierch in the Żywiecki Beskids. Both peaks are forested, and their immediate surroundings include the Lipowska reserve (so according to the rules in force here we cannot enter: we would go beyond the designated tourist trail). There's no need to regret: the most important and beautiful things are located below the peaks!
PTTK Shelters on Rysianka and Lipowska Meadow
How did it happen that two shelters are so close to each other, literally within a 15 min. walk? The first one, already in 1931, was opened as a tourist base under Lipowski Wierch, and its creator and owner was the German organization Beskidenverein. The "Polish" competition next door was created in the 1930s, when Gustaw Pustelnik built a private house nearby. In 1937, the Tatra Ski Association adopted it as a Polish shelter.
Today, after many renovations and modernizations, both facilities belong to PTTK. You can rest, eat, and spend the night here.
Views from Rysianka and Lipowska Meadows
Rysianka Meadow is one of the most beautiful scenic meadows in the Beskids. With good visibility, we will see not only the neighboring Pilsko and "peeking" from behind it Babia Góra, but also Beskid Mały, Żywiecki, Western Tatras, Slovak Low Tatras, Wielki Chocz and peaks of Mała Fatra.
Just below the PTTK shelter on Lipowska Meadow, the situation looks a bit different: the view is obscured by the forest:
The "real", scenic Lipowska Meadow awaits us a few dozen meters further to the west. It's even more worth to take a walk along the yellow trail to Bieguńska Meadow (approx. 30 min, from the Shelter on Lipowska Meadow). Here, in addition to the panorama of the Tatras and Mała Fatra, we will also have a view of the so-called Worek Raczański,
Trails to Lipowska Meadow and Rysianka
So how to get to the scenic meadows under the peaks of Rysianka and Lipowski Wierch? We have many routes to choose from. We can start from the east from Sopotnia Mała and Wielka, or from Korbielów, from the north (from Juszczyna, Cięcina and Węgierska Górka), from the west (from Milówka and Rajcza) as well as from the south (from Ujsoły, Złatna and Złatna Huta).
The shortest and easiest trail to Rysianka and Lipowski Wierch: blue from Sopotnia Wielka
We can get there the fastest (even below 2 hours) and easiest (less than 500 m altitude difference) by the blue trail from Sopotnia Wielka. If we leave the car in the parking lot at the edge of the forest, we will only have 4.3 km to walk.
Medium
Blue trail from Sopotnia to Rysianka
To Lipowska Meadow and Rysianka from Złatna Huta
The route to Rysianka by the black trail from Złatna Huta will be only slightly longer. At the beginning of the trail there is a bus stop and a parking lot, then we climb up the Bystra stream directly to Rysianka Meadow. We can also turn left and follow the yellow signs first by the blue trail to Lipowska Meadow, and then (after about 15 min.) to Rysianka.
The most popular trail to Rysianka and Lipowski Wierch: green from Żabnica
One of the most popular routes to Lipowska Meadow and Rysianka is the green trail from Żabnica Skałki. We will reach Rysianka Meadow from here in about an hour. (6.5 km, less than 700 m altitude difference, 2:45 hours). A big plus of this trail is the possibility of making a loop, i.e. returning to Żabnica Skałki by a different route (see below).
By train to the trail to Rysianka and Lipowski Wierch
A big convenience is the possibility of getting to the trails to Rysianka and Lipowska by train (we can then, for example, enter from one and return to another railway station):
- from PKP Cięcina starts the green trail. New signs (painted in 2023) will lead us through Abrahamów and Żabnica Skałka to Rysianka in approx. 6 hours (16 km, over 1100 m altitude difference).
- from PKP Węgierska Górka to Rysianka leads the red GSB trail through historical forts from September 1939, Abrahamów, private Słowianka shelter, steep slopes of Romanka (chains!) and picturesque Pawlusia Meadow. In total one way 16 km, 1100 m altitude difference, approx. 6 hours.
- from PKP Milówka we can reach Hala Boracza by the green trail, and from there to Redykalny Wierch, Lipowska Meadow and Rysianka. In total one way 14 km, 900 m altitude difference, 5 hours.
- from PKP Rajcza we have two routes to choose from: either the blue trail through Sucha Góra, Hala Boracza and Redykalna (to Rysianka 13 km, 950 m altitude difference, 5 hours.), or yellow through Zapolanka and Redykalny Wierch:
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From Rajcza through Zapolanka to Redykalny Wierch, Lipowska and Rysianka
Rysianka and Lipowski Wierch - loop proposals
The rich network of trails around the peaks of Rysianka and Lipowski Wierch means that when planning a hike we have several possibilities to plan a loop, i.e. we go out one trail to the destination, and we return to the trail entry point by a different route.
The most popular loop, during which we will "check" both the shelter on Rysianka, Lipowska Meadow and Boracza Meadow, as well as all the scenic meadows, is the loop from Żabnica.
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Rysianka, Lipowska, Redykalna, Boracza Hall - loop from Żabnica
Additionally, we can also extend it to the private shelter on Słowianka and the peak of Romanka (then in total we will have 20 km of the route, 1000 m altitude differences, i.e. approx. 6.5 hours of the road).
Other possible "loops", on which we will visit scenic meadows in the vicinity of Rysianka and Lipowski Wierch, include:
- Short and fast loop from Złatna Huta: ascent by black, yellow, and then blue trail to Lipowska Meadow and Rysianka. Return to Złatna Huta by the black trail. In total only 9 km, 550 m altitude difference. To be covered in approx. 3 hours.
- Long and demanding loop from Rajcza PKP: ascent to Rysianka by the yellow trail (through Zapolanka, Redykalny Wierch and Lipowska Meadow), descent by the green trail through Boracza Meadow, and from there by the blue trail through Sucha Góra to Rajcza. In total 26 km, over 1000 m altitude differences and min. 8.5 hours on the way.
Publish Date: 2024-03-22