Czantoria in Ustroń: chairlift and ski runs

Wielka Czantoria is one of the most popular mountains of the Silesian Beskids, and its northern slope above Ustroń is a long-established ski area. It is run by Kolej Linowa „Czantoria”, with the bottom station in the Ustroń-Polana district. The year-round 4-seat chairlift climbs to the Stokłosica glade, where the top station stands at 851 m; from there an easy forest path leads in half an hour to the summit with its observation tower. The cableway to Czantoria was built in 1965–1967 and opened in October 1967; it was modernised in 1991–1994 and in December 2006 replaced by a modern detachable chairlift.

Runs and lifts

The main lift is a 4-seat detachable Doppelmayr Garaventa chairlift, 1,640 m long, with 462 m of vertical and a capacity of 1,800 people per hour; the ride takes 8–10 minutes. The chairs slow down at the platform, so getting on and off is easy even for people with reduced mobility. It is complemented by the 2-person Faturka T-bar (670 m, 198 m vertical) and the Solisko platter lift (340 m, 80 m vertical), and a conveyor serves the beginners’ area.

The area’s calling card is run No. 1: red, 1,900 m long with an average gradient of 24%, with snowmaking and floodlights along its whole length – one of the longest floodlit red runs in Poland. It holds FIS homologation for slalom (valid until 2033) on the section between 842 and 647 m. The blue run No. 2 (2,600 m, average gradient 18%) opens when natural snow allows. Along the drag lifts there are the shorter Solisko run (340 m) and the blue Faturka run (670 m), both with snowmaking and lights. The runs are groomed daily.

Season and ski passes

The chairlift runs all year, but twice a year it has a two-week technical break: in autumn 2026 the inspection lasts from 26 October to 4 December, during which the station opens only on selected weekends from 8:30 to 16:30. A festive event opening the winter attractions is planned for 6 December. The area has not yet published its ski pass prices for 2026/27 – the website says they will be available soon; the runs may be used only during lift hours with a magnetic card or ticket. The car parks by the station are open around the clock and paid: 20 PLN per car. Prices as of October 2026 – check the official website.

Who it suits

Czantoria suits skiers comfortable on red runs who enjoy long evening descents under floodlights, as well as racers – slalom is trained on the run. Beginners have a snow-covered, floodlit learning area with a conveyor, plus equipment rental and the Lisia Polana ski school with a ski kindergarten nearby. The top-station building houses a GOPR mountain-rescue post and a food outlet, and the bottom station has several places to eat and a ski service.

Getting there from Ukraine

By car: through the Krakovets – Korczowa crossing along the A4 motorway to Kraków, then towards Bielsko-Biała (S52) and via Skoczów to Ustroń; the bottom station is on 3 Maja Street in the Polana district, on the road to Wisła. There are car parks for several hundred cars and spaces for coaches. Without a car the railway is convenient: there is a train stop and a bus stop close to the station.

Nearby: trails and peaks

The Main Trail of Beskidy crosses Czantoria, and from the railway stop starts the Ustroń Polana station – Orłowa trail. After skiing, relax at the spa: Ustroń spa: brine, peat and brine pools, and a few kilometres up the valley are the Wisła: Soszów and Skolnity ski areas.

Official website: czantoria.net

Photos: myself (User:Piotrus), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Xpicto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Platanacero, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Antekbojar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.