Pilsko (1,557 m a.s.l.) is the second highest peak of the Żywiec Beskids (or the third, if counting Gówniak in the Babia Góra massif), and at the same time one of the highest in Poland outside the Tatra Mountains (although the summit itself lies on the Slovak side). The mountain is a popular excursion destination due to its beautiful panoramas, extraordinary natural values, and very good tourist infrastructure. At the foot of Pilsko lies Korbielów – a picturesque village situated right on the border with Slovakia. The village hosts the largest ski resort in the Żywiec Beskids, featuring three chairlifts and three T-bar lifts. Korbielów is also the main base for hiking trips to Pilsko. Two variants are the most popular: a loop from the center of the village, involving a hike along the yellow and green trails, and a loop from the Glinne Pass, which involves an ascent along the border trail. Both trips include a break at the PTTK mountain hut on the scenic Hala Miziowa. In this post, I will present the course of both mentioned routes. Enjoy!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pilsko – from the center of Korbielów
From the center of Korbielów to Hala Miziowa
First thing in the morning, I arrive at a large paid parking lot in the center of Korbielów (49.5755589N, 19.3435975E; approx. 600 m a.s.l.), right next to the wooden “Smrek” tavern. I take the yellow trail, marked in 1928 by Józef Merta. The route from the parking lot to Hala Miziowa is 5 kilometers long and involves overcoming as much as 720 meters of elevation gain. By Beskid standards, the vertical drop is quite significant. On the described section, the long-distance trail “The Loop” runs parallel to the yellow trail.
For the first kilometer, I walk along an asphalt road among numerous guesthouses and holiday homes. At an altitude of approx. 690 m a.s.l., the trail turns left – into the trees. From that moment until reaching Hala Miziowa itself, I follow a dense forest. A few minutes after leaving the asphalt road, I come across a wooden chapel of St. Gwalbert, the patron saint of foresters.
I would call the yellow trail from Korbielów to Hala Miziowa a representative Beskid artery. In terms of views, the route might not spoil you, but it is certainly not ugly. I am walking surrounded by intense May greenery, which clears the mind and stimulates the senses. At an altitude of approx. 1,250 m a.s.l., I cross the first clearing of the day – the very pleasant Hala Kamieniańska. Throughout its length, the path is wide, comfortable, and very well-maintained, allowing for an efficient gain of altitude and making it ideal for any training. The incline of the terrain is noticeable here, but I wouldn’t say it is significant. To tell the truth, when I emerge onto Hala Miziowa after an hour of trekking, I can’t believe I already have approx. 700 meters of elevation gain in my legs!
Hala Miziowa
Hala Miziowa (approx. 1,230 – 1,310 m a.s.l.) is one of the iconic places among enthusiasts of Beskid hiking. This large pastoral clearing is located on a vast flattening, once formed as a result of a massive landslide. From Hala Miziowa, there is a pleasant view towards the east and northeast – of a fragment of the border range, the Przedbabiogórskie Range including Mędralowa and Jałowiec, and Babia Góra itself. Although the clearing is heavily urbanized today, it still has something magical about it. For me too, Hala Miziowa is one of my favorite places both in the Beskids and in the mountains in general.
On Hala Miziowa, there is a large PTTK mountain hut with a spacious dining room (by the way, I highly recommend their tomato soup!) and 85 beds. Plans to build the facility reportedly appeared as early as 1906, and the preliminary talks involved the pioneer of Beskid tourism Kazimierz Sosnowski and Jan Mizia, one of the owners of the clearing. Polish activists tried at all costs to avoid a repeat of Babia Góra, where the Germans from the Beskidenverein organization beat them to the construction of a shelter and the organization of trails. Due to the turmoil of war and the subsequent crisis, the first building was not erected on Hala Miziowa until 1930. However, since the Germans were not interested in developing infrastructure in the Pilsko region, our compatriots can be considered pioneers of tourism development in this area.
During World War II, the building served as a German watchtower. In 1945, the shelter resumed operations, but not for long – in 1953 it burned down completely. A makeshift wooden structure was erected on Hala Miziowa, which successfully hosted tourists for over 40 years. A new, elegant shelter was built between 1994 and 2003. A grill was organized in the old shelter, where I myself had the opportunity to eat a delicious pork neck in 2014. Unfortunately, this building was also consumed by fire – on December 21, 2018. I remember this event well because it echoed quite loudly among Beskid enthusiasts.
The PTTK shelter on Hala Miziowa is part of the ski resort system on the slopes of Pilsko. For this reason, the facility is bustling with life all year round – both in the summer season and in the winter. Pilsko is considered a good place not only for downhill skiers but also for ski tourers.
As an interesting fact, Hala Miziowa advertises itself as the highest situated mountain hut in the Beskids – at an altitude of 1,330 m a.s.l. The problem is that according to all maps – both online and traditional – the altitude of the object is approx. 1,280 m a.s.l. If that were indeed the case, the building would lie at almost the exact same level as the mountain hut on Turbacz (1,283 m a.s.l.) and the nearby Rysianka (approx. 1,290 m a.s.l.).
Yellow trail from Hala Miziowa to Pilsko
From Hala Miziowa to Pilsko, you can get there in two variants: via the yellow and black trails. The first offers better natural values, the second – better views. For this reason, I like ascending via the yellow one and descending via the black one the most – and that is exactly what I am doing today. After leaving the shelter, I head towards the upper parts of Hala Miziowa. For a brief moment, I walk along the track of a T-bar lift, the highest in the entire ski resort. At an altitude of approx. 1,320 m a.s.l., I turn left – into a dense upper montane forest. I am now entering the Pilsko nature reserve, stretching on the northeastern slopes of the mountain over an area of approx. 100 hectares.
In my subjective feeling, the yellow trail from Hala Miziowa to Pilsko is one of the most beautiful routes in the Beskids. The narrow path first runs through the upper montane forest, and later, from an altitude of approx. 1,350 m a.s.l., through a dense belt of dwarf mountain pine. Here and there, the vegetation thins out, revealing a pleasant panorama towards the north and northeast. The track through the sea of dwarf pine is somewhat rocky in fragments, and the incline here is significant. The vegetation is exceptionally intense here – it seems to surround, even embrace the delighted tourist. Along the way, I pass the grave of Franciszek Basik, a soldier of the Border Protection Corps, who died on the slopes of Pilsko on September 1, 1939.
About half an hour after leaving Hala Miziowa, the yellow trail merges back with the black one and leads me to Góra Pięciu Kopców (1,543 m a.s.l.). This is not a separate peak, but merely an inconspicuous lateral culmination of the actual Pilsko. However, the place is important because this is where the Polish-Slovak border runs. Thus, to reach the highest peak of Pilsko, one must take a short foreign trip to our southern neighbors.
The section from Góra Pięciu Kopców to the main summit of Pilsko is just a 400-meter flat walk along the green trail through a dense tier of dwarf mountain pine.
Pilsko – the summit
The summit dome of Pilsko (1,557 m a.s.l.) is a characteristic, vast flattening. At the very top, the dwarf pine disappears, creating something akin to a microscopic alpine meadow zone. There is also an altar with a small cross at the summit.
Due to the aforementioned flattening, the panorama from Pilsko may not bring you to your knees, but with good air clarity, it is truly expansive. The biggest impression is made by the Tatra Mountains, materializing to the southeast; to the right of them, you can see the Orava Magura and the peaks of the Malá Fatra. Looking west, the foreground features the ridge of Romanka and Lipowski Wierch, and in the background – the Silesian Beskids with Barania Góra and Skrzyczne. Glancing north, we will spot the Żywiec Basin, and behind it – the ridge of the Little Beskids. Finally, to the east, the Przedbabiogórskie Range and Babia Góra itself are presented in all their glory.
On clear, sunny weekend days, you can meet dozens of resting tourists at the summit of Pilsko. There is nothing surprising about this – the vast space and high natural values definitely encourage picnics. By the way, Pilsko has been popular among tourists for centuries. The name of the mountain was first mentioned in literature by the Jesuit priest Gabriel Rzączyński in 1721. He mentions his expedition to Pilsko, unfortunately without giving a specific date of the ascent. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that it was at the very beginning of the 18th century, making this outing the first documented excursion in the Polish Beskids!
And since we are already at the very summit of Pilsko, where did its name come from? Well, the most romantic rumor has it that Żywiec highlanders once turned the flattened dome into a veritable dance floor, partying all night and stomping their boots. According to this version, “Pilsko” would simply come from the word “pijatyka” (drinking bout). Beautiful, isn’t it?
Black trail from Hala Miziowa to Pilsko
On the way back, I cross Góra Pięciu Kopców again, heading towards Hala Miziowa. At an altitude of approx. 1,500 m a.s.l., for a change, I go straight – along the black trail. Both routes are of very similar length and difficulty (approx. 300 meters of elevation gain), which is why they are ideal for a loop. The black trail is a fairly steep descent, offering a fantastic view towards the south.
The path leads down to the vicinity of the Kopiec hill (1,401 m a.s.l.) with the upper station of one of the local T-bar lifts. Although the section from Kopiec to the shelter on Hala Miziowa is often muddy, I honestly love it. The panoramic view of Hala Miziowa, the Żywiec Basin, and the ridge of Romanka and Lipowski Wierch is incredible and gives a poignant sense of hard-to-define space. No photo will capture this – you just have to be there and let yourself be overcome by it.
Descent to Korbielów via the green trail
From Hala Miziowa, I return to Korbielów via the green trail. The initial course of the variant coincides with my ascent route. The trails diverge only after about a kilometer – yellow to the right, green to the left. So I walk through a dense forest, along the ski slope and the children’s platter lift. In this way, I reach the upper station of the Jontek-Buczynka chairlift (approx. 1,100 m a.s.l.). Further on, the green trail runs along the ski run, offering pleasant views towards the east – of Babia Góra.
The Pilsko-Jontek ski resort consists of three chairlifts, two T-bar lifts, and one platter lift. The infrastructure began to be built in the 1970s, and the first sponsors were wealthy Silesian mines. In the following years, Korbielów continued to develop, making it one of the most important winter sports centers in the Beskids today. As a child and teenager, I skied here many times, and my memories are generally good. Even though you freeze mercilessly on the upper T-bars, due to the significant altitude, the winter here is usually real.
However, I am not going to fall into rapture. I have always thought that the ski resort on Pilsko has a gigantic, yet completely untapped potential. After all, higher up in Poland you can only ski on Kasprowy Wierch! Since hectares of forest have already been cut down here, elegant and modern chairlifts could be standing here. Instead, the infrastructure on Pilsko still belongs rather to the past century than the present one, which makes it increasingly less competitive compared to, without looking far, nearby Szczyrk (not to mention foreign resorts). Pilsko is one of the few places in Poland where snow conditions would justify an investment in a sensible, real ski resort. Despite this, years go by, and not much changes there…
The green trail leads me back to the main street of Korbielów. I head left, passing quite a few restaurants and guesthouses. Against this backdrop, a wooden villa with a visible PTTK emblem clearly stands out. This is the “Chata Baców” shelter, one of the few facilities of this type located in the valleys. After several minutes, I reach the parking lot by the yellow trail and close the loop. The whole trip took me about 3 hours, but I did it at a fairly fast pace. If you take your time and rest at the summit, the trip will take about 5-6 hours.
Date of trip: May 31, 2025
Trip statistics: 15 km; 950 meters of elevation gain
Trip map
Alternative variant via the Uszczawne ridge
From Hala Miziowa, there is another tourist trail heading north – the green trail towards Sopotnia Wielka. Due to existing connecting trails, the route can easily be considered as an extension or a variation of the Korbielów loop.
In this variant, walking through a beautiful forest, we pass the culmination of Skałki (1,235 m a.s.l.) and the charming Hala Jodłowcowa, spread on the eastern slopes of the Buczynka mountain (1,205 m a.s.l.). If you were to turn right at this point, in a few minutes you would reach the tent base on Hala Górowa, run by the Student Alpine Club (SKPB) in Katowice.
After two kilometers of walking, the green trail veers left – towards Sopotnia Wielka. We, however, head straight ahead – onto the black trail. In this place, there is an option for a short detour from the marked route to conquer the nearby peak of Uszczawne Wyżne (1,145 m a.s.l.). At a further stage, the trail leads along a forested ridge, gently descending towards the north. The most beautiful element of this part of the trip is undoubtedly the vast Malarka clearing (approx. 1,050 m a.s.l.). How many sheep must have been grazed here in the past? How many chief shepherds and junior shepherds spent the whole hot summer on this clearing?
From the ridge, we descend towards the Przysłopy Pass (847 m a.s.l.), located five kilometers from Hala Miziowa. Shortly before emerging onto the small Piekło clearing, we turn right – onto the blue trail. In this way, via a short connecting trail, we descend into the center of Korbielów.
Pilsko from the Glinne Pass
One of the unwritten rules of my blog is that I describe only one trip in a single post. However, for Pilsko, I decided to make an exception and discuss two of the most basic loops within a single article. Why such a decision? First, both loops intersect at the most interesting stage (from Hala Miziowa to Pilsko). Second, the variant from the Glinne Pass is relatively simple and, in my opinion, does not require formulating a separate, meticulous post.
The Glinne Pass (809 m a.s.l.) is located between the peaks of Pilsko and Student (938 m a.s.l.), on the Polish-Slovak border. There are quite a few parking lots here, a building formerly occupied by border guards, and, on the side of our southern neighbors, a restaurant. The approach from the Glinne Pass is the fastest and easiest way to conquer Pilsko. It’s no wonder that on clear days the trail enjoys considerable popularity, and all parking lots fill up to the brim.
Interestingly, the road through the Glinne Pass has existed since the second half of the 19th century, when they started transporting Hungarian copper through here. During the interwar period, there were plans to run a railway line here as well, but unfortunately, this idea was never implemented. Before World War II, the first tourist shelter in the Pilsko region operated on the pass.
Ascent to Pilsko via the blue trail
From the Glinne Pass, we follow the red signs (the Polish trail; a fragment of the Main Beskid Trail) and the blue signs (the Slovak trail). The path runs along a ridge, following the state border. We walk through a dense forest, and the intensely green vegetation makes the walk very pleasant. 2.5 kilometers after leaving the pass, we reach a crossroads: the blue trail goes straight ahead, the red trail – to the right. We continue along the border, gradually transitioning to the next vegetation zone – the upper montane belt.
From an altitude of approx. 1,000 m a.s.l., the ascent becomes quite steep, but very evenly so – a typical Beskid slog. In the final phase of the hike, we enter among the dwarf mountain pines, and an extensive panorama opens up behind our backs towards the east – primarily overlooking Orava and Babia Góra towering above it.
The border trail leads us to Góra Pięciu Kopców, from where we reach the main summit of Pilsko via the previously mentioned green trail.
Descent to the Glinne Pass via the red trail
As I mentioned above, from Pilsko to Hala Miziowa you can descend in two ways: via the yellow trail through the reserve or via the black trail through the ski resort. We choose the first option, and then stop at the shelter for dinner. From Hala Miziowa, we continue along the red trail, a fragment of the Main Beskid Trail.
By the way, the Main Beskid Trail used to run slightly differently – through Góra Pięciu Kopców and along the border. However, in 1930, the route of the long-distance trail was changed so that it ran past the new shelter on Hala Miziowa. Despite this, hikers traversing the GSB often go out to Pilsko anyway, rightly considering the mountain one of the symbols of Beskid hiking.
The section of the red trail from Hala Miziowa to the border is two kilometers of a peaceful, forest traverse. Then, the descent route merges with the ascent variant and after a dozen or so minutes leads back down to the Glinne Pass.
Date of trip: August 24, 2025
Trip statistics: 12 km; 750 meters of elevation gain
Trip map
The variants I presented obviously do not exhaust the excursion possibilities in the Pilsko Group. You can also head to Poland’s second Beskid peak from the Slovak side or, which I highly recommend, combine its conquest with a hike to the nearby Rysianka. Besides Korbielów, alternative starting points for Pilsko could be Sopotnia Wielka or the Slovak Sihelné, Mutne, or Oravské Veselé.
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Bibliography
- Figiel S., Franczak P., Janicka-Krzywda U., Krzywda P., Beskid Żywiecki. Przewodnik, 4th Edition, Rewasz Publishing, Pruszków 2023,
- The official website of the PTTK Hala Miziowa mountain hut.
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