Mount Żar - by cable car, car, on foot or by bike
Town: Międzybrodzie Żywieckie Nearby: Bielsko-Biała
add_road Asphalt road
stroller Route for stroller (small wheels)
directions_bike Bike route
wb_sunny Route in the sun
restaurant Restaurant or bar nearby
directions_car Access by car
directions_bus Can be reached by bus
accessible_forward The route is adapted to the needs of disabled people
wc Toilet along the route
wc Toilet for the disabled along the route
Mount Żar (761 meters above sea level) is one of the most easily accessible peaks in the Beskid Mały mountain range. It is famous for the large reservoir of the pumped-storage power plant located on it. Thanks to this, we can recognize Żar from afar by its "cut-off summit" with a mast. At the top of Mount Żar, beautiful views and additional attractions await us.
How to get to Żar?
We can get here by cable car (adapted for wheelchairs and disabled people), and on days when the cable car is not operating, we can drive by car to the top on an asphalt road (Górska street, normally there is a traffic ban here, free parking just below the summit). We can also reach the summit on foot or by bike via the asphalt road (Górska street), from the parking lot at the lower cable car station, it is about 5 km, from the bridge on Lake Międzybrodzkie – about 6.5 km. Unfortunately, if there is allowed car traffic on a given day, it will not be a pleasant walk... (see comments under the article).
There are also numerous hiking trails that lead to the summit of Mount Żar: the easiest is the black trail (along the cable car track, about 2 km, 1 hour, 300 meters of elevation gain), the red trail from the Zapora in Żarnówka (about 3.5 km, 1 hour and 45 minutes, 460 meters of elevation gain), or the black trail from Kozubnik (3 km, 1 hour and 30 minutes, 400 meters of elevation gain).
Mount Żar - attractions
At the top of Mount Żar, there is a viewpoint overlooking Lake Międzybrodzkie and a fenced reservoir of the pumped-storage power plant (650 x 250 m).
Easy access by cable car, beautiful views, gastronomic facilities, and a large sunny meadow cause that it can get quite crowded and noisy here during the season.
Additional attractions of the Mount Żar summit include an all-year sled track, the possibility of observing paragliders taking off and gliders soaring low above our heads. In addition, in winter, there are ski trails, and in summer, downhill trails for cyclists.
Walking route on Mount Żar
From the top of Mount Żar, we can take a paved path along the reservoir (rather not suitable for strollers) or an asphalt road to the eastern part of the reservoir.
Here, we will also find a large meadow for a family picnic, which is much less crowded than near the cable car station.
Mount Żar - practical information
In the building of the upper cable car station, there is a pizzeria, next to the sled track, there is a fast-food point, and at the lower cable car station, there is also a gastronomic point. Toilets are available at the lower and upper cable car stations, also accessible for disabled people.
PS. This route has been included in our article "TOP 5 Beskid Mały - the most beautiful scenic trails". Do you want to know the rest of them?
TOP 5 Beskid Mały: Most Beautiful Scenic Trails
Beskid Mały is an easily accessible mountain range on the border of Silesian and Lesser Poland Voivodeships, where you will find many trails for interesting and scenic family mountain excursions. ...
Publish Date: 2012-12-30
Last Updated: 2023-04-14
More in the Region Beskid Mały (Beskid Mały)
Total Length 100 km
