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Scenic route to Eliaszówka from Jaworek

Nearby: Nowy Sącz

Region:

Beskidy (Beskidy), Małopolskie (Małopolskie), Beskid Sądecki (Beskid Sądecki)

Medium - For young hikers, steep sections possible

straighten Distance	11.3km
timer Time	4h 20min
north_east Ascents	604m
south_east Descents	154m

Elevation Profile:

Route Map

The slope of the terrain
Route in the sun
Restaurant or bar nearby
Access by car
Can be reached by bus

The red trail from Jaworek to the lookout tower on Eliaszówka will lead us to our destination through numerous scenic meadows: the so-called Ruskie Łąki, the meadow under Ruskim Wierchem, and the Litawcowa meadow on Obidza.

Jaworki - Ruski Wierch

We can conveniently reach Jaworek by car (large parking lot at the entrance to the valley) or by bus from Szczawnica.

End of the road and parking in Jaworki. Entrance to the Biała Woda Reserve

Our red trail initially goes together with the yellow trail towards Biała Woda, but at some point, it turns left and starts climbing the scenic meadows above Jaworki.

Intersection of the red and yellow trails (this parking is for forestry services only)

It's worth stopping and looking back from time to time!

Views from meadows above Jaworki. Red trail Jaworki - Piwniczna

The most beautiful view awaits us under Ruskim Wierchem.

Clearing below Ruski Wierch above Jaworki. In the foreground: Small Pieniny, on the right: Trzy Korony, in the background: High Tatras

Ruski Wierch - Litawcowa - Obidza

From Ruski Wierch, the red trail leads us to the intersection with blue signs. Now we hike towards Piwniczna together with the blue trail to the expansive meadow between Litawcowa and Obidza.

Intersection of the red Piwniczna-Jaworki trail with the blue "Pieniny - Obidza - Wielki Rogacz" trail

In total, after about 3 hours from Jaworek, we reach Przełęcz Gromadzka in the hamlet of Obidza. Before we start the final stage of the route, which is the ascent to the lookout tower on Eliaszówka, it's worth taking a moment to stop at Obidza.

Obidza Pass, 931 m above sea level - trails

Just below the pass, towards Piwniczna, there is "Chata Obidza," where you can rest and have a meal before continuing the journey. From these meadows, there is a beautiful view of the Tatra Mountains:

Tatra Mountains from Obidza, Litawcowa meadow

Obidza - Eliaszówka

The last stage of reaching Eliaszówka is the ascent from Obidza with the border green trail to the lookout tower. We still have less than 4 km to cover and less than 200 m of elevation difference. The trail is largely covered with gravel, which gives it character and allows walkers to enjoy the contact with nature. The route leads through a charming forest and several scenic clearings.

Beginning of the forest section of the trail near the pass

Lookout Tower on Eliaszówka

Eliaszówka (Slovak: Eliášovka) is an impressive peak in the Beskid Sądecki, located on the Polish-Slovak border. With a height of 1024 meters, it is the highest point of the Góry Lubowelskie.

On the northeast slope, there is the Sucha Dolina ski resort, which is popular in the region. On the southern slope, in the Lemko village of Litmanowa, there is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Litmanowa, which is the destination of numerous pilgrimages.

In the past, the slopes of Eliaszówka were treeless and served as pasture areas. Currently, the summit is covered with forest, which diminishes its scenic attractiveness. During World War II and after the war, the vicinity of Eliaszówka was a popular crossing point for couriers of the Polish Underground State.

To increase the tourist appeal of the peak, a 20-meter wooden lookout tower, a roofed gazebo, a place for a bonfire, and an obstacle course for cyclists were built. It is also worth mentioning that until 2007, there was a tourist border crossing between Eliaszówka and Eliášovka, allowing crossing the border between Poland and Slovakia in this area.

View from the tower on Eliaszówka - part of the panorama is limited by tall trees

From Eliaszówka to Jaworek

We can return the same way - the descent should take about 3 hours.

We can also make a loop and descend to Jaworek using a different route. Instead of turning right towards Obidza, we turn left following the blue signs towards Przełęcz Rozdziela, and then descend with the yellow trail through the Biała Woda Reserve.

The descent via this route is of similar length (also taking about 3 hours). It's worth considering, especially if dusk is approaching: it will be easier to return to Jaworek via the asphalt path through Biała Woda than through the forests and meadows on the red trail.