Trail to Tarnica through Bukowe Berdo and Krzemień

Nearby: Ustrzyki Dolne
Medium - For young hikers, steep sections possible
straighten  Distance 8.1km
timer Time 4h 7min
north_east Ascents 841m
south_east Descents 234m
Elevation Profile:
max 1329 m min 720 m
terrain  The slope of the terrain
wb_sunny  Route in the sun
directions_car  Access by car
warning  No dogs allowed

The trail to Tarnica from Muczne, through Bukowe Berdo and Krzemień, is a great alternative to the trails from Wołosate and Ustrzyki Górne. Especially if you don't like crowds on the way and want to enjoy the most beautiful aspects of the Bieszczady Mountains: a long hike along the ridge with panoramic views on all four sides of the world.

Tarnica - view from Krzemień, blue trail
Tarnica - view from Krzemień, blue trail

From Muczne to Tarnica

In Muczne, you can easily find free parking (another advantage compared to the trails from Wołosate and Ustrzyki Górne!). The first part of our trail is a climb on the yellow trail to Bukowe Berdo, and then a walk along the ridge (blue trail).

Yellow trail to Bukowe Berdo from Muczne
Yellow trail to Bukowe Berdo from Muczne

After climbing through the forest ridge (about an hour), we reach the picturesque, wild ridge of Bukowe Berdo. The hike through the three peaks of this massif will take us another hour - an hour full of awe-inspiring views of what's beneath our feet and far on the horizon.

Bukowe Berdo - ridge. View of Rawki and Caryńska Mountain Meadow
Bukowe Berdo - ridge. View of Rawki and Caryńska Mountain Meadow

Along the way, we see the goal of our trip, which are the three peaks: Bukowe Berdo, Krzemień, and Tarnica.

View from the Bukowe Berdo ridge: peaks of Bukowe Berdo, Krzemień and Tarnica along with Szeroki Wierch
View from the Bukowe Berdo ridge: peaks of Bukowe Berdo, Krzemień and Tarnica along with Szeroki Wierch

We described this section of the trail, along with the views from the summit of Bukowe Berdo, in detail in this article:

Bukowe Berdo - trail from Muczne

Medium
directions_walk

Bukowe Berdo - trail from Muczne

max 1297 m min 720 m
straighten 5.6km
timer 2h 56min
north_east 617m
south_east 40m

From Bukowe Berdo to Krzemień

From the summit of Bukowe Berdo, we descend to the pass, then climb up the ridge of Krzemień (which looks much gentler from this side than from Tarnica). It's a 50-meter descent, followed by another 50-meter ascent. We can cover this section in 20-30 minutes.

Descent from Bukowe Berdo towards Krzemień
Descent from Bukowe Berdo towards Krzemień

From Krzemień to Tarnica

We "cross" the ridge of Krzemień, bypassing the summit. Actually, there is no sign here indicating where we are... Only the one and only correct direction "to Tarnica"!

View from the ridge of Krzemień towards Tarnica
View from the ridge of Krzemień towards Tarnica

We descend from Krzemień to Goprowska Pass with steep steps. We "lose" 150 meters in 10-15 minutes... It's a bit of a shame because we will soon face another ascent (almost 200 meters uphill).

Descent from Krzemień to Goprowska Pass
Descent from Krzemień to Goprowska Pass

At Goprowska Pass, there are a few benches waiting for us, and a bit higher up: a larger shelter with tables. It's worth gaining strength here for further hiking.

Goprowska Pass - view towards Tarnica
Goprowska Pass - view towards Tarnica
Shelter at Goprowska Pass between Tarnica and Krzemień
Shelter at Goprowska Pass between Tarnica and Krzemień

Climbing to Tarnica

Due to the fact that tourists from the red trail will join us at Goprowska Pass, there will be more of us on the approach to the pass below the summit of Tarnica. However, the stairs are wide and comfortable - we will all fit:

From Goprowska Pass to Pass below Tarnica
From Goprowska Pass to Pass below Tarnica

During the climb, let's occasionally turn around and look at the majestic rocky ridge of Krzemień that we conquered a moment ago:

Krzemień from the approach to Tarnica
Krzemień from the approach to Tarnica

After about 30 minutes of climbing from Goprowska Pass, we reach the Pass below Tarnica. Here, we meet the crowds from Wołosate and Ustrzyki Górne...

Pass below Tarnica - trail intersection
Pass below Tarnica - trail intersection

In the peak season or on weekends, the last 15-20 minutes are obligatory to be spent "in line" (and be glad that we avoided this earlier on Bukowe Berdo!).

Ascent to Tarnica. The final section from the pass to the summit (yellow trail)
Ascent to Tarnica. The final section from the pass to the summit (yellow trail)

Summit of Tarnica - views and panorama

At the highest peak of the Polish Bieszczady Mountains, beautiful panoramas await us on all four sides of the world. In good weather, we can see Pikuj (the highest peak of the Bieszczady Mountains, 1408 m above sea level), and sometimes even the Tatra Mountains.

Tarnica Peak, 1346 m above sea level
Tarnica Peak, 1346 m above sea level

After taking the obligatory photo under the cross, we have the "return journey" ahead: either the same way back to Muczne (about 2.5 hours), or a different route: the shortest one to Wołosate (about 1 hour on the blue trail), a longer one to Ustrzyki Górne (about 2 hours on the red trail), or the "longest" one, which is the red trail through Halicz and Bukowska Pass to Wołosate (about 4 hours).

Do you know all the secrets of Tarnica? You can find interesting facts about the highest peak of the Bieszczady Mountains and descriptions of the trails here:

All roads and trails to Tarnica

All roads and trails to Tarnica

Tarnica (1346 meters above sea level) is the highest peak of the Polish Bieszczady Mountains. It is famous for its beautiful views... and the queue to take a photo "with the cross." Discover interesting facts about the Tarnica summit and all the roads, trails, and loops to Tarnica! ...

From Muczne to Tarnica - practical information

  • The trail is beautiful but long - plan to spend the whole day, preferably with good weather.
  • Remember to bring food and a water supply (no shelters or tourist facilities along the way).
  • If you want to go there and back, keep in mind that the trail itself is over 16 km long, with a total elevation gain of over 1100 m. On the way back, there will be an ascent to Krzemień and the summit of Bukowe Berdo, and then it will be downhill.
  • Apart from the approach from Muczne, we will be walking along ridges and meadows the whole time. This has its great advantages (views, views, and more views!), but on a sunny, warm day, it can be challenging. Remember to wear a hat and use sunscreen with UV protection.
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Last Updated: 2022-08-03
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