It may come as a surprise to some or be old knowledge to others, but Poland is an absolutely perfect destination for a walking holiday.
With over 15,000 miles of marked trails weaving through the heavily forested countryside there are walking opportunities for everyone no matter what prior experience you have had.
The temperate climate in Poland and the distinct seasons make for beautiful walking conditions throughout the whole year meaning there is never a bad time to go walking in Poland.
The country is also home to several mountain ranges as well as long stretches of forest that still maintain a wild and untouched feel and present some amazing walking opportunities.
Tatra Mountains
One of most popular areas to go walking in Poland are the beautiful, rugged Tatra Mountains which are under two hours by car from the historic city of Krakow. They rise against the southern plains of the country in a sudden bulwark of chiselled granite, rising steeply up to snow topped pinnacles.
During the winter months these peaks are buzzing with skiers and through the warmer months the meadows bloom with alpine flowers and the hiking trails take centre stage.
In the summer, most of the trails can be undertaken with a good set of boots and a walking stick. However, there are some more challenging sections that may require harnesses and ropes.
During the late summer, winter and early spring, it’s wise to consider taking crampons for the high altitude trails.
Silesian Beskids – Salmopol to Skrzyczne
The Silesian Beskids is one of the mountain ranges in the Outer Western Carpathians in southern Silesian Voivodeship, offering some incredible walking opportunities including the hike from Salmopol to Skyzyczne.
If you are going walking in Poland then this is arguably one of the most picturesque trails in the Silesian Beskids. Leaving from Salmopol Pass and heading through Malinowska Skała to the mountain hut on Skrzyczne, then back the same way for the return journey.
The views from Malinowska Skała are simply stunning and on a clear day you can even see as far as Mala and Velka Fatra in Slovakia and this spot makes an amazing place to see the sunrise if you fancy getting up super early and started out in the dark.
Skrzyczne is the highest peak in the Silesian Beskids and is quite distinctive due to a 87 meters high RTV transmitter located next to the top.
This is a 15 km walk which according to the signs on the trail takes six hours to complete although if you are going with children or just strolling then definitely allow the whole day.
The trail itself isn’t difficult but it is long. You will see families hiking it together but if your children aren’t used to walking long distances then it’s probably not the right one to do.
Pieniny – Sokolica
Certainly one of the most beautiful trails in the entire Polish mountains and a great choice for when walking in Poland, this hike is full of outstanding views at every single turn.
The Sokola Perc (Falcon’s Path) trail in Pieniny is a part of the blue trail going through Pieninki from Bankow Gronik to Sokolica.
The view to the south takes your breath away – the river Dunajec winding down below and the Tatras out in the distance.
A nice idea is to hike Sokolica from Kroscienko, Sromowce Nizne and take the ferry on the Dunajec river if you are walking in the right season.
This walk is around 8.5 km long and takes roughly 3-3.5 hours to walk. The walk itself isn’t too challenging although the most picturesque part of the trail goes along a rocky ridge and there are places where you need to do a higher step or grab a metal barrier, so you must be a physically active person.
Massif of Kudłon
The yellow trail runs through the massif of Kudłon in the village of Rzeki, following to Turbacz or back on the Borek Pass towards the blue trail in Dolina Kamienickiego Potoku.
You’ll pass the beautiful Podskały anthropogenic Meadow. located in the Gorce National Park and in early spring the meadow is covered by thousands of crocuses.
There are a few steps in parts of the trails but otherwise no big hills to climb which makes the hike perfect for children and because the Gorce isn’t flooded with visitors it makes this a wonderful choice for those seeking some peace and quiet when walking in Poland.
The hike is a long 19.5 km and will take around 6 hours so this is the only thing to bare in mind if you are walking with children.
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