Tower on Holica: How to Get There and What Can We See from the Top?
The viewing tower on Holica (761 meters above sea level) in the Żuków Range near Ustrzyki Dolne is one of the newest attractions in the region. From the top terrace of the tower, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the surrounding area, including the Sanocko-Turczańskie Mountains and the Bieszczady: Tarnica and Halicz Nest, Caryńska, Wetlińska, and Wielka Rawka.
Holica - Viewing Tower near Ustrzyki Dolne - Practical Information
The new viewing tower on the Żuków 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.
- There are 173 wide wooden steps to climb to the top terrace.
- Free entry.
- No entry with dogs and after dark, during storms, or strong winds.
- Toilet is located near the picnic shelter (about 500 meters from the tower).
Viewing Tower on Holica - Access, Trails, and Paths
To reach the tower, there are several different paths from various directions: longer and shorter, comfortable and quite steep. There are also plans to build additional paths, including those adapted for people with limited mobility.
By Car to the Tower on Holica
Attention! You cannot reach the tower by car! The road on the Żuków ridge visible on maps is a closed forest road accessible only to forest services and bicycles. Exceptions are participants of organized events (e.g., wedding ceremonies).
How to Quickly Reach the Viewing Tower on Holica?
The shortest walking route to the tower is from Ustianowa Górna. It takes about 1.5 hours to walk the 3.5 km forest road.
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The shortest route to the tower on Holicy from Ustianowa
The Easiest and Most Comfortable Route to the Tower on Holica
If you don't feel like climbing through the forest, you can choose a longer but more comfortable, paved road from the parking lot on the Ustianowa Dolna - Łobozew Dolny road. It's a 4.5 km walk one way, but the ascent is much gentler than from Ustianowa Górna.
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Observation Tower on Holica - Easiest Trail
Recommended Trail to Holica from Równia
When choosing a route to the tower on Holica, consider the blue trail from Równia. It's less frequented than the paths from Ustianowa Górna and Dolna, and you can also see a historic Boyko church.
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Równia: Church and trail to the tower on Holicy
Ustrzyki Dolne - Tower on Holica
For those who enjoy longer, all-day hikes, we suggest starting from the Market Square in Ustrzyki Dolne. It's about 10 km one way (over 500 meters of elevation gain).
First, follow the blue trail, pass through Gromadzyń to Równia, then climb the Żuków ridge, and after about 3.5 hours from Ustrzyki Dolne, you'll reach the tower from the southeast.
Other Routes to the Tower on Holica
You can also reach Holica by taking the mentioned blue trail from Daszówka (4.5 km, 1:40 hours, 317 meters elevation gain), or by using many other forest walking, educational, and nature trails.
Tower on Holica - Views and Panorama Description
The main attraction of the tower is, of course, the wonderful panorama in all directions from the top viewing terrace! Due to the location and height of the tower, the visibility is truly impressive! (Currently, the only panorama description is below the tower, at the viewpoint for people with disabilities - see below).
What Can We See from the Tower on Holica?
To the north, you can see Ustrzyki Dolne and the surrounding hills of the Słonne Mountains. To the west of the town are Wielki and Mały Król and Kamienna Laworta, to the east: Gromadzyń and Orlik.
The most impressive view is to the south! Closer to us are the green ridges of the Sanocko-Turczańskie Mountains surrounding the Solina and Myczkowskie Lakes. You won't see the reservoirs themselves, only the Teleśnicka Bay and a tiny fragment of the Myczkowskie Lake.
Furthest to the south, you can see all the Bieszczady ranges!
In the farthest view, you'll spot Tarnica and Halicz Nest. You can recognize them by the deep saddle - it's the Goprowska Pass between Krzemień (on the left) and Tarnica (on the right). To the left of Krzemień, you'll see Halicz and Bukowe Berdo.
To the west of Tarnica Nest rises the Caryńska massif, followed by the long ridge of Wetlińska up to the distinctive "triangular" Smerek. In the depression between Caryńska and Wetlińska, you can see Rawki in the distance.
In closer views, from east to west: the ranges of Magura Stuposiańska, Dwernik, and Jawornik, with the long ridge of Otryt in front. Further west: the ranges of Łopiennik and Durna, and Chryszczata.
Viewpoints and Panels on Holica for People with Disabilities
If there are people among you who, for various reasons, such as health, cannot climb the tower from the ridge road, they can still see something! Just below the tower, there's a view to the north:
...and by the ruins of the glider school - to the south. From here, you can also see Tarnica and the meadows!
Special amenities are also available here for people with visual impairments - numerous tactile panels, including a panorama description. You'll find them on the trail Ustianowa Dolna - Holica >>>
Holica and Żuków - Facts and Curiosities
During your visit to the viewing tower on Holica, it's worth going to the extensive viewing meadow (about 10-15 minutes on the ridge road northwest of the tower). Here you'll find a large shelter, a place for a bonfire, numerous tables and benches, a toilet, and educational boards for children:
Glider Field on Holica
Near the picnic shelter, you'll find an interesting story about the glider school located here in the 1930s:
Glider Airfield and Military Glider School on Holicy
The Military Glider School operated on the ridge of Mount Żuków 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. ...
Crown of the Ustrzyki Mountains
The summit of Holica is one of the goals for those conquering the so-called "Crown of the Ustrzyki Mountains." The Crown of the Ustrzyki Mountains, abbreviated as KUG, is a local tourist product designed to encourage hiking on trails around Ustrzyki Dolne. After conquering 5 designated peaks (besides Holica, these are Kamienna Laworta, Mały Król, Gromadzyń, and Orlik). For Holica, a photo documenting the summit conquest should be taken at the information board by the tourist shelter (not at the summit itself!). More about the Crown of the Ustrzyki Mountains >>>
Legend of the Monastery on Holica and the Name Żuków
On the information board of the Crown of the Ustrzyki Mountains, you'll find a legend about a Carmelite monastery supposedly existing on Holica in ancient times. Unfortunately, the monks allegedly succumbed to pagan beliefs and customs. According to the eternal law of fairy tales and legends, they were punished: the monastery was destroyed by a storm, and the monks were turned into little... beetles!
Ps. More towers with views of the Bieszczady can be found 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. ...
and here:
The Most Beautiful Observation Towers in Podkarpackie Voivodeship
Where can we find the most beautiful observation towers in the Podkarpackie region? How to get there and what can we see from the viewing terraces? ...
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