Jaworzyna Krynicka ski resort, Krynica-Zdrój

Jaworzyna Krynicka (1,114 m) is a mountain in the Beskid Sądecki above the spa town of Krynica-Zdrój and the region’s main ski area. It is run by Kolej Gondolowa Jaworzyna Krynicka, part of the Polish Cable Railways (PKL) group. The company was founded in 1995 precisely to build the gondola, and in August 1997 the section from the Czarny Potok valley to the summit opened – according to the resort, the longest gondola lift in Poland. The bottom station, with a commercial centre, rental and ticket offices, is at Czarny Potok. In October 2026 PKL started building a new gondola, Krynica Express, which will link the centre of Krynica-Zdrój with Jaworzyna.

Runs and lifts

The slopes of Jaworzyna have 14 runs totalling almost 15 km, four of them FIS-homologated. The longest is run No. 1 from the summit all the way down (2,600 m), floodlit and with snowmaking – the resort calls it the longest floodlit descent in Poland. Others include No. 2 (900 m) and the racing run 2A, No. 3 (700 m), Nos. 4, 5 and 6 (about 1,000–1,050 m), the training runs No. 7 (450 m), Żółwik and Misiek, a skicross run, the slalom run No. 11, the forest ski route No. 12b to the bottom station and a mini snow park. Almost all runs have snowmaking.

There are ten lifts: the 6-seat gondola A (2,223 m, about 8 minutes), the 6-seat Jaworzyna Express chairlift and the new Harnaś Express with heated seats and red wind bubbles, the 4-seat Izwór and Siódemka chairlifts by the learning run, the Diabelski, Łącznik, Mistrzowski and Żółwik platter lifts and the Magic Carpet conveyor. In the evening two floodlit runs of over 2 km are groomed between 16:00 and 18:00 before night skiing.

Season and ski passes

The resort stresses that snow lies here for at least four and often five months. The 2026/27 price list has not been published; in the 2025/26 season an adult day pass (9:00–16:00, evening skiing included) at the ticket machines cost 145 PLN in the low season, 185 PLN in the mid season and 195 PLN in the high season, and online from 115 PLN if bought at least 7 days ahead. The 18:00–21:00 evening pass cost 95 PLN in the high season. Children born after 1 January 2022 ski for 1 PLN with an adult. The PKL 2026/27 season pass, also valid on Jaworzyna, is already on sale. Prices as of October 2026 – check the official website.

Who it suits

Jaworzyna suits everyone: beginners have training runs and the Polar Bear Academy for children, families have blue runs and an après-ski terrace, and experienced skiers have FIS runs and the long evening descent. The Jaworzyna ski school holds SITN PZN and SITS licences. The bottom station has two rental shops (over a thousand pairs of Rossignol and HEAD skis), a Wintersteiger service, test centres and storage for about 300 pairs of equipment. Cross-country trails are prepared nearby in the Forest Promotion Complex.

Getting there from Ukraine

The shortest route is through the Shehyni – Medyka crossing: past Przemyśl towards Krosno and Gorlice, then on to Krynica-Zdrój. Alternatively, cross at Krakovets – Korczowa and take the A4 motorway to Tarnów and the road to Nowy Sącz and Krynica. Signs lead from the resort centre to the bottom station at Czarny Potok; there are spacious car parks, and free spa-town transport runs from town to the slopes.

Nearby: trails and peaks

The Trail of Wincenty Pol crosses the summit, and from town the Bacówka PTTK pod Wierchomlą – Krynica-Zdrój trail leads up to the ridge. The mountain itself has its own page, Jaworzyna Krynicka, as does the town, Krynica-Zdrój. On the other side of town is Słotwiny Arena ski area in Krynica-Zdrój.

Official website: jaworzynakrynicka.pl

Photos: Shleiderbmx, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.