Barania Góra (1,220 m a.s.l.) is the second-highest peak of the Silesian Beskids, widely known for the springs of the Biała and Czarna Wisełka rivers, located on its western slopes. At the very top, there is an observation tower offering a fantastic panorama of the Beskid, Tatra, and Fatra peaks. Since the Silesian Beskids are covered by a dense network of hiking trails, there are at least a dozen ways to reach Barania Góra. Tourists most often plan loops from the town of Wisła, choosing two of the four variants starting from that town. Additionally, Barania Góra is easily accessible from Istebna, Kamesznica, Węgierska Górka, or even Szczyrk, by hiking along the main ridge of the Silesian Beskids. I, however, will show you yet another loop – starting from the village of Lipowa, located on the western edge of the Żywiec Basin, barely 8 kilometers from the center of Żywiec.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Start from Lipowa via the green trail
- Two Magurkas: Radziechowska and Wiślańska
- Barania Góra – the summit
- Along the main ridge to Malinowska Skała
- Descent to Lipowa via the yellow trail
- Trip map
- Bibliography
Start from Lipowa via the green trail
We set off shortly before 8:00 AM from a large and free parking lot on the border of Lipowa and Ostre (49.6666919N, 19.0758472E; 525 m a.s.l.). The sun is just rising, heralding the arrival of a beautiful, crisp day. From the parking lot, we immediately enter the green hiking trail. For the first 1.3 kilometers, we walk along the main asphalt road between the buildings of the village of Ostre. Then we turn right onto Świetlika Street. After 400 meters, we pass the last houses and enter the forest.
The trail leads through a compact, dense forest. The next two kilometers pass among the trees, traversing the southern slopes of the Ostre peak (930 m a.s.l.). We are now moving along a side ridge of the Silesian Beskids, which is a spur branching off from Magurka Wiślańska. We gain elevation quite efficiently – over 250 meters in this section.
In just half an hour after leaving the asphalt, we emerge onto the beautiful, vast Hala Ostre (850 – 920 m a.s.l.). Once a place of constant grazing and later periodic mowing, today it is gradually becoming overgrown. The mountain pasture offers a pleasant, though now somewhat limited, view of the nearby peaks.
Two Magurkas: Radziechowska and Wiślańska
From Hala Ostre, we continue our journey along the green trail, heading towards the Muronka peak (1,017 m a.s.l.). On this section, a beautiful panorama opens up on the right side, showing the massive silhouette of Skrzyczne (1,257 m a.s.l.), the highest peak of the Silesian Beskids. Behind us lies the Żywiec Basin and the uniform line (almost like it was drawn with a ruler!) of the Small Beskids.
After a steeper start, the terrain levels out noticeably, and the trekking becomes surprisingly gentle. We walk along a wide, comfortable path without significant elevation changes, maintaining a steady pace. After walking about one and a half kilometers from the Muronka peak, we reach Magurka Radziechowska (1,108 m a.s.l.). The summit is completely forested and essentially non-distinct. If not for the sign, it would be hard to tell you are at any peak at all.
At Magurka Radziechowska, we change our trail markings from green to red. We are now walking along a section of the Main Beskid Trail, which we will stay on until Barania Góra.
The next two kilometers pass on a fairly flat ridge section. The most interesting element of this part is a characteristic pulpit-shaped rock, lying right by the trail, about 10 minutes past the summit of Magurka Radziechowska. Interestingly, the outcrop is supposedly suitable for bouldering ;).
The ridge between Magurka Radziechowska and Wiślańska offers pleasant views of the main ridge of the Silesian Beskids (from Skrzyczne all the way to Barania Góra) and the Small Fatra. Observing such vast panoramas became possible here due to… an ecological disaster involving the mass dying of entire hectares of forest. What exactly happened? Well, 200 years ago, the entire Silesian Beskids were covered with the Carpathian Primeval Forest, dominated by fir and beech. Everything changed with the development of the smelting industry, progressing from the beginning of the 19th century. For the purpose of charcoal production, beech and fir trees were mass-harvested for their high fuel value. In their place, across vast areas, spruce was artificially introduced – a fast-growing and efficient species meant to be a simple answer to the growing demand for wood. In this way, spruces became the dominant species of the main ridge of the Silesian Beskids. However, as it turned out, the spruce monoculture could not withstand the local winds, insect plagues (bark beetles), and fungal diseases. The forest died… Today, local foresters are working hard to reclaim the former afforestation of the Silesian Beskids. But they are doing it more wisely now, planting mainly beech and fir on the decayed spruces. If everything goes well, the old forest will return in a few decades, and with it… the vast panoramas will disappear. Well… you can’t have your cake and eat it too.
Twenty-five minutes after passing the summit of Magurka Radziechowska, we reach the subtle culmination of Magurka Wiślańska (1,140 m a.s.l.). We now turn left, continuing our hike along the main ridge of the Silesian Beskids.
Barania Góra – the summit
From Magurka Wiślańska, we continue along the combined red and green trails (the latter coming from the direction of Skrzyczne). For about a kilometer, we ascend to the shallow Pass over Roztoczny (1,058 m a.s.l.), and then begin a gentle climb. To our right, we now have the boundary of the “Barania Góra” nature reserve, created in 1953 to protect the part of the Carpathian Primeval Forest that has remained in a relatively intact state. It is in this area that the Czarna and Biała Wisełka have their sources – the streams that give rise to the Vistula river.
Half a kilometer past the pass, the trail turns sharply to the right, and the incline becomes much more noticeable. Thanks to this, over the next 600 meters of distance, we gain about 100 meters of elevation and reach the summit of Barania Góra (1,220 m a.s.l.). We reach the peak at 10:00 AM, which means conquering the mountain took us almost exactly two hours.
There is an observation tower on Barania Góra. The structure was erected in 1991, at a time when a dense forest still grew around it. The tower allows one to enjoy a beautiful, expansive panorama, including the highest parts of the Żywiec Beskids with Babia Góra, Pilsko, Rysianka and Romanka, the Tatras, other parts of the Silesian Beskids, the Small Fatra, or the Silesian-Moravian Beskids. With today’s air clarity, it’s a dream…
Along the main ridge to Malinowska Skała
From Barania Góra, we return the same way we came. We reach the summit of Magurka Wiślańska again, and then continue along the green trail, hiking along the main ridge of the Silesian Beskids. Over the course of several dozen minutes, we pass through two non-distinct culminations – Gawlasi (1,076 m a.s.l.) and Zielony Kopiec (1,152 m a.s.l.). The kilometers pass on a pleasant but fairly monotonous march. We both have the impression that due to the little variation in terrain and the gentle character of the ridge, the route would be better suited for running training than trekking.
In just over an hour after leaving Barania Góra, we check in at Malinowska Skała (1,152 m a.s.l.). It is one of the most popular and charming peaks of the Silesian Beskids. It is characterized by an expansive, panoramic view of the entire range and a characteristic pulpit-shaped rock. From sitting on numerous mountain groups in social media, I know that Malinowska Skała is a fantastic place for observing the sunrise. Who knows, maybe I too will visit here for that purpose someday?
At Malinowska Skała, you can continue the excursion in various directions. By going straight, you reach Skrzyczne. By turning west onto the red trail, you reach nearby Malinów and descend to the Salmopolska Pass. However, we go back about half a kilometer towards Barania Góra – to the so-called junction under Malinowska Skała. Here we turn east onto the yellow trail.
Descent to Lipowa via the yellow trail
Over a distance of less than a kilometer, the yellow trail leads us down to a shallow pass between Malinowska Skała and the nearby Kościelec (1,022 m a.s.l.). Although the peak does not resemble its Tatra namesake at all, it also features characteristic rock outcrops on its summit. According to the Rewasz guide, an unmarked path leads to Kościelec, running along the entire ridge and bringing the tourist directly to Lipowa. I think that in summer conditions, it could be an interesting option for a slight variation of the loop.
However, we stick to the yellow markings, which lead us along a fairly steep path running across the southern slopes of Kościelec. The weather is still fantastic, so pleasant views of Magurka Wiślańska, Magurka Radziechowska, and Muronka materialize before us. Unfortunately, after just a dozen minutes of descent, the yellow trail becomes incredibly unpleasant. In today’s conditions, it is completely iced over – as if a stream had flowed through here during a thaw and then frozen. We struggle a lot, not wanting to slip in a foolish way and bump our heads. Fortunately, we manage to cross the section without sustaining any injuries.
The last 4 kilometers of the trip pass on a trek along an asphalt road running through the Zimnik Valley (also called Leśnianka). It is a pleasant walking spot, popular with families with children. With this category of tourists in mind, a nature and educational trail has even been laid out along the stream. Among other curiosities, the entire valley is under special sanitary protection, due to the fact that the Leśnianka is the main source of surface water for the local brewing giant – the Żywiec Group.
We return to the car around 1:00 PM, filled with pure mountain air and a mass of pleasant views!
Date of trip: December 26, 2024
Trip statistics: 23.6 km; 1,000 meters of elevation gain
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Trip map
Bibliography
- Barański M., Beskid Śląski. Przewodnik, Oficyna Wydawnicza Rewasz, Pruszków 2019
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