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Walking Poland | Walks in Bieszczady National Park | ||||||||||||||||
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These 3 walks was enjoyed late in the month of september. The weather was rainy with mist but turn out for the better during our visit. 1. walk: The Polonina Carynska walk was on a rainy day. Heavy clouds were covering the summits and not at all a day for ramling in the mountains. Walking on the mountain ridge we could see nothing but the path a few metres ahead. It was rather windy and chilly but fascinating. Polonina Carynska. 12 - 13 km. The trail leads you 6 - 7 km over 3 summits (1107, 1230 og 1297 m a.s.l.) and some 6 km back to Ustrzyki Gorne by the road! The trail begins just beside the campsite and takes the north west direction into the wood. We followed the river Wotosaty into the wood for a while. Then the path lead uphill - quite steep from time to time. About the 1000 m we stepped out in the open. But we couldn't see much because of the mist. The trail still leads northwest towards the first summit 1107 m a.s.l. and we walked on the mountain ridge on a narrow path. In clear weather there is an outstanding view but we could see only a few metres ahead.  Picture: The Polonina Carynska trail. There is a little descent and ascent between the summits, nothing much, but the path was very muddy and a slip was not unlikely under these conditions. We managed though to stay on our feet and rested in the lee of a rock when we reached the highest point (1297 m a.s.l.). We continued westwards just a short distance then the trail turned downhill through beech wood to Brzegi Gorne. It is not a village but trails cross here as well as the road and there is a picnic spot and a parking area. From this point you can continue towards north west to the Polonina Wetlinska. But our route back to Ustrzyki Gorne follows the asphalt road for about 6 km. There were no traffic at all on the road.
2. walk: The weather for our second walk, the walk to Wiekel Rawka, was very much similar to yesterday. Still a cloudy rainy day at first, but it turned for the better through the day. The rain stopped. Glims of the sun but still very windy. Temperatures around 5 degredes at the summits. Wiekel Rawka. 14 - 15 km. 6 - 7 h. Walk to the summits at 1302 and 1304 m. a.s.l. and at this point there is only a few hundred metres to the Ukraine border, and about 1 km to the border of the Slovak Republic. - Same way back. At first we walked about 2 km the same road as yesterday to the entrance of the national park. The path leeds west and uphill into spruce forest. A little later it turned into beech wood and the path turned into mud. Still uphill and increasing. The ascent was quite steep from time to time. At 1000 m. a.s.l. we came out of the wood and if it's clear weather you can see the peak right in front of you. We reached the spot after about 3 hours of walking. From this point you can look far into Ukraine and it is only mountains and forest as long as you can see. If you walk about 2-300 metres straight to the south you will meet the Ukraine border.  Picture: The Bieszczady mountains. At the border to Ukraine. ... continue next row top |
 Picture: At the Ukraine border. Walking the south westwards trail along the Ukraine border for about half an hour, will bring you to the Slovakian border as well. The three borders meet at this point, Krzemieniec 1221 m a.s.l. This is our point of return but you can continue along the Slovakian border, at first westwards then towards north west, for about 21-22 km until you reach Cisna, a village at the start of the road to Ustrzyki Gorne. You have a choice at about 15 km from Krzemieniec to either continue northwest or take the trail to the northeast that you will meet at that point. If you follows the northeast trail for 5 km you will be in Smerek, a small village along the road to Ustrzyki Gorne.
3. walk: We could see the mountains when we got up early next morning. Blue sky but still very windy for todays walk to Tarnica the highest point in Bieszczady (1346 m. a.s.l.). Mount Tarnica. 13 - 14 km. 5-6 h. From the center of Ustrzyki Gorne we followed the asphalt road that lead straight south and passed by the hostal before the road turned into a dustroad. Then a charge at the entrance and on through beech wood. The ascent starts and is steep from time to time. At about 1100 m a.s.l. you're out the wood and in the open. An impressive view. Green mountains all around. To the north west, Polonina Carynska, the first walk, and to the south east the first of todays 4 summits in a row. The direction is south east on the ridge Szeroki Wierch and the footpath easy to follow. Over the first summit at 1243 m a.s.l. and we can then see the next one straight ahead. There is a little 100 m descent and ascent between the summits and some obstacles where you have to climb a bit. Just beneath the Tarnica the route crosses with some others. The south west trail leads to Wotosate and the north east to Krzemien and on. Straight ahead it's up the Tarnica. Still some steep parts and we had to climb but then we were there. A big iron cross on the peak and a spectacular view.  Picture: At the Tarnica peak. We did same way back though there is options. You can choose the north west trail towards Krzemien, it's only 1 km, then the trail turns north west on the Bukowe Berdo ridge. It's about a 7-8 km walk to the asphalt road and 5 km more to Ustrzyki Gorne. The south west trail leads to Wotosate, about 3 km's walk and from there the trail turns northwards to Ustrzyki Gorne, about 5 km to walk.
Useful info: Maps in scale 1:75.000 you can buy in Ustrzyki Gorne, but if you have the time in Krakow there is a very good shop for maps at: Jagiellonska 6, Krakow. ( It's very close to the market place.) Very few people out here speaks english - if any! |
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