From Szczawa to Gorc and the viewing tower
Nearby: Szczawabeach_access Route in the shade
directions_car Access by car
directions_bus Can be reached by bus
The black waymarked trail from Szczawa to Gorc (1,228 m a.s.l.) is an interesting alternative route to one of the highest peaks of the Gorce Mountains. From the viewing tower on the top you get a beautiful panorama of the surrounding Beskid ranges and the Tatra Mountains. In Poland, trail colors mark the route, not the difficulty.
From Szczawa to Gorc
Szczawa is a small, quiet village in southern Poland, on the border of the Gorce Mountains and the Island Beskids (Beskid Wyspowy). A local attraction is the mineral water springs. You can taste the mineral-rich water, and fill your bottles for the hike, at the mineral water pump room right next to the main bus stop called Szczawa Centrum and the church.
The black trail first follows a pedestrian path, a sidewalk along the Głębiniec stream. At the beginning you walk through the village. Look out for a small roadside shrine and old traditional wooden houses.
After about 2 km the road, still wide and easy to walk, leaves the built-up area and goes through the forest, still following the stream uphill.
About 1 hour after starting in the center of Szczawa you enter a real forest path, narrow and more natural. From here the climb begins, but do not worry – there are no very difficult or very steep sections.
Nowa Polana and the blue trail
After about 1.5 km in the forest you reach Nowa Polana. Here the black trail ends. Continue towards Gorc on the blue trail (more about the blue trail from Lubomierz to Gorc, in Polish: https://www.trasadlabobasa.pl/tab/trasa/niebieski_szlak_na_gorc/196). It is worth using the covered shelter here to rest before the next stage, because the path soon becomes quite steep.
From Nowa Polana to the Gorce National Park border and Świnkówka
Climbing through the forest (note – it is fairly steep here) you reach the border of Gorce National Park. For a while you walk along the boundary but do not enter the park, so you do not need a ticket and you may take a dog, on a leash.
Świnkówka is the first viewpoint meadow on this route. In good weather you can see not only the nearby ridges of the Gorce Mountains but also the Tatra Mountains.
Gorc Kamieniecki
Only about 15 minutes farther is another, even more beautiful viewpoint meadow – Gorc Kamieniecki. From here you can easily see your goal, the viewing tower on the top of Gorc.
Gorc, 1,228 m a.s.l., and the panorama from the viewing tower
From the tower there is an amazing panorama: Beskid Sądecki, Beskid Wyspowy, the Tatras, the Gorce Mountains, Beskid Żywiecki. Clear panorama boards help you identify individual peaks when the weather is good.
On the viewing platform you can also stamp your notebook with a souvenir stamp and read several educational boards. There is a board with a local legend, nature information, and facts about Wallachian culture (part of the Wallachian Route).
From Gorc to the tent base and the bonfire spot at Gorc Młynieński
After reaching the summit you can return the same way (going down takes about 1.5 hours), or visit two more interesting nearby places.
The first is a seasonal student tent base (open in the summer holidays). Reach it by following the blue waymarks and then the green ones. On the viewpoint meadow you can rest, drink hot coffee or herbal tea, or ask for boiling water. Walking time from the summit of Gorc to the tent base is about 15 minutes.
Gorc Student Tent Camp
Gorc Student Tent Camp is a unique, quiet, and welcoming place with a wonderful view of the Tatra Mountains. Stop for a rest, a hot drink, or stay the night. ...
Just below the top of Gorc there is another meadow called Gorc Młynieński. Besides a view of the Tatra Mountains, there is an outdoor altar and a designated fire pit. You can get here on unmarked paths from the summit, or by turning right off the blue trail and following the red signs of the educational path.
Here is a small map showing the location of the summit of Gorc at 1,228 m a.s.l., the tent base, and the Gorc Młynieński meadow.
If you want to learn more about the trails around Szczawa and other attractions in the area, check this article:
Here candies fall from the sky! Szczawa – attractions and hiking routes nearby
Szczawa is a small village in a scenic valley on the border of the Gorce Mountains and the Island Beskids. From here you can set out on many mountain trails, enjoy local viewpoints and a mineral water pump room, and if you come at the right time you can even catch candies falling from the sky! ...
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