Jaworzyna Krynicka

Jaworzyna Krynicka, or simply Jaworzyna, is a 1,114 m summit in the Sądecki Beskids and the highest point of the Jaworzyna Range. It stands on the boundary between the spa town of Krynica-Zdrój and Muszyna in Nowy Sącz County, Lesser Poland; central Krynica lies about 4.6 km to the south-east. The mountain's prominence is about 444 m.

Jaworzyna sits on the main ridge of the eastern Jaworzyna Range. To the north-west, as far as Bukowa (1,077 m), the ridge is almost flat, while to the south-east it drops fairly steeply over Bystry Wierch, Palenica, Szczawna Góra, Smereczyny and Jastrzębska Góra to the confluence of the Kryniczanka, Muszynka and Jastrzębik. Two side ridges also leave the summit — a long southern one with Zaruby and a short eastern one falling to the Czarny Potok valley. Four streams flow between the four ridges: the Czarny Potok with its tributary Izwór, the Jastrzębik and the Szczawniczek.

How to get there / trails

• Red Main Beskid Trail (GSB): from the PTTK hut on Hala Łabowska via Runek to Jaworzyna and down to Krynica-Zdrój. The European long-distance path E3 and the international Eisenach – Budapest mountain trail follow the same section.
• Green Wincenty Pol Trail: Muszyna — Złockie — Jaworzyna — Krynica.
• Gondola lift from the Czarny Potok valley runs almost to the summit, so the mountain is visited by very large numbers of people.

These routes make Jaworzyna a hub of hiking and cycling trails. On the upper northern slope stand the PTTK hut on Jaworzyna Krynicka, a GOPR duty station and the Museum of Mountain Tourism.

The view from the top

Thanks to the broad grassy areas on the ridge and the cleared ski runs, the views from various spots cover the whole horizon. In 2021 a viewing platform with a terrace was built above the roof of the gondola's top station, allowing observation from 1,122 m. The panorama takes in the Tatras and the Low Tatras, the Bieszczady, the Little Pieniny, the Low Beskids, the Ciężkowice and Dynów foothills, Polonyna Rivna in Ukraine and the Čergov Mountains in Slovakia.

Nature and history

Most of the mountain is forested. The ridge once had many clearings used by the Lemkos; after they were deported, most of these were afforested. Later some forest on the slopes was cut for the gondola and the ski runs, and these clearings now serve as viewpoints. There are caves and rock outcrops on the mountain; the largest is the Devil's Stone (Kamień Diabelski) on the eastern slope.

Jaworzyna was originally covered by beech and fir forest; the spruce stands on the ridge are the result of afforestation. Besides these species you will find sycamore, ash, elm, larch, pine, rowan, birch, willow and alder. Until recently a planted 60-year-old Swiss stone pine, a protected natural monument, grew by the hut; a wooden statue of John Paul II now stands in its place. A seed beech stand lines the access road to the hut. Plants rare in Poland found here include the melancholy thistle.

All of Poland's large mammals live in the Jaworzyna massif: red deer, wild boar, roe deer, lynx and wolves. Bears are not resident but occasionally wander in from Slovakia or the Bieszczady.

Safety, season and rules

Jaworzyna is accessible all year. In winter a large ski station operates on the north side: 8 runs totalling about 14 km, served by the gondola and 7 lifts, including the longest floodlit run in Poland. Winter hikers should keep to the marked paths and stay off the ski runs. The summit is exposed to wind, and in bad weather it quickly gets cold on the ridge. The mountain lies outside national parks.

GOPR rescuers are on duty by the hut: 985 or +48 601 100 300, and 112.

Photos: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0; Mach240390, CC BY 4.0; Krzysztof Lasoń, CC BY-SA 3.0; Paweł Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 3.0; Wlodek k1, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.