Main Trail of Beskidy
Trail map
Route, springs and shelters: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · elevation: Copernicus DEM © DLR e.V., © Airbus DS · Data & licences
About the trail
Route Main Trail of Beskidy. Has red marking (national route №GSB, PTTK). Waymarking data: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).
Officially marked national tourist route No. GSB. The marking is red, the sign is a horizontal stripe on a white background. Marked and maintained by: PTTK. Length of the route — 499.9 km. Location: mountain range — Bieszczady, Poland. Part of the routes passes through Bieszczady National Park: entrance is paid, leaving the trails is prohibited.
At a glance
A multi-day route of 499.9 km with 19,519 m of ascent. Estimated time: 22 days of 4–9 h of walking (about 157.5 h in total, not counting stops). Difficulty: hard. Waymarking: red.
Route stages
- 0–105 kmGentle ups and downs at 350–1,710 m, past Marszałkowa, Palenica, Tanecznik, Babia Góra
- 105–132 kmDescent of 1,270 m (down to 441 m)
- 132–198 kmGentle ups and downs at 420–1,310 m, past Groniki, Rozdziele, Turbacz, Lubań
- 198–215 kmClimb of 820 m to Radziejowa (1,266 m)
- 215–227 kmDescent of 890 m (down to 348 m)
- 227–500 kmGentle ups and downs at 310–1,320 m, past Kruhly Wierch, Wierszek Jeleni, Halicz, Rozsypaniec
Steepest kilometre: km 9–10, a climb of 280 m (≈27%).
Water and overnight stays
Our map shows no springs near the trail — bring your own water (at least 3 l).
Huts and shelters near the trail: Soszów Hut (km 16), Stożek PTTK Hut (km 21), Przysłop pod Baranią Górą PTTK Hut (km 37), Abrahamów Tourist Station (km 61), Słowianka Tourist Station (km 63), Rysianka PTTK Hut (km 69), Hala Miziowa Hut (km 76), PTTK Markowe Szczawiny Hut (km 102) etc..
A possible split into days:
- Day 1: km 0–21, ≈7.5 h — overnight: Stożek PTTK Hut (hut)
- Day 2: km 21–37, ≈5 h — overnight: Przysłop pod Baranią Górą PTTK Hut (hut)
- Day 3: km 37–63, ≈8 h — overnight: Słowianka Tourist Station (hut)
- Day 4: km 63–88, ≈8 h — overnight: no shelter nearby on the map, bring a tent
- Day 5: km 88–108, ≈7 h — overnight: no shelter nearby on the map, bring a tent
- Day 6: km 108–133, ≈7 h — overnight: no shelter nearby on the map, bring a tent
- Day 7: km 133–155, ≈7 h — overnight: PTTK Hut on Maciejowa (hut)
- Day 8: km 155–180, ≈7.5 h — overnight: no shelter nearby on the map, bring a tent
- Day 9: km 180–203, ≈7 h — overnight: no shelter nearby on the map, bring a tent
- Day 10: km 203–230, ≈9 h — overnight: Cyrla Hut (hut)
- Day 11: km 230–248, ≈5.5 h — overnight: no shelter nearby on the map, bring a tent
- Day 12: km 248–273, ≈7.5 h — overnight: Lipka Shelter (hut)
- Day 13: km 273–294, ≈7 h — overnight: no shelter nearby on the map, bring a tent
- Day 14: km 294–318, ≈7 h — overnight: no shelter nearby on the map, bring a tent
- Day 15: km 318–341, ≈7 h — overnight: no shelter nearby on the map, bring a tent
- Day 16: km 341–364, ≈7 h — overnight: no shelter nearby on the map, bring a tent
- Day 17: km 364–387, ≈7 h — overnight: no shelter nearby on the map, bring a tent
- Day 18: km 387–412, ≈7 h — overnight: no shelter nearby on the map, bring a tent
- Day 19: km 412–435, ≈7.5 h — overnight: Bacówka pod Honem (hut)
- Day 20: km 435–457, ≈7 h — overnight: no shelter nearby on the map, bring a tent
- Day 21: km 457–478, ≈7 h — overnight: no shelter nearby on the map, bring a tent
- Day 22: km 478–500, ≈7 h — finish
When to go
Best time: June to September. In winter only for experienced hikers with proper gear: avalanche danger is possible. About 4 km of the route runs above 1,500 m, where the weather changes quickly — check the forecast.
Getting there
This is a one-way route: the finish is 289 km from the start in a straight line, so plan your way back in advance.
FAQ
- How long does the route take?
- Estimated time: 22 days of 4–9 h of walking (about 157.5 h in total, not counting stops).
- Is there water on the route?
- Our map shows no springs near the trail — bring your own water (at least 3 l).
- Where can I stay overnight?
- Huts and shelters near the trail: Soszów Hut (km 16), Stożek PTTK Hut (km 21), Przysłop pod Baranią Górą PTTK Hut (km 37), Abrahamów Tourist Station (km 61), Słowianka Tourist Station (km 63), Rysianka PTTK Hut (km 69), Hala Miziowa Hut (km 76), PTTK Markowe Szczawiny Hut (km 102) etc.. Possible overnight stops: Stożek PTTK Hut (km 21), Przysłop pod Baranią Górą PTTK Hut (km 37), Słowianka Tourist Station (km 63), PTTK Hut on Maciejowa (km 155), Cyrla Hut (km 230), Lipka Shelter (km 273), Bacówka pod Honem (km 435).
Water and shelter on the route
- Soszów Hutkm 15.9 from the start
- Stożek PTTK Hutkm 20.2 from the start
- Przysłop pod Baranią Górą PTTK Hutkm 36.2 from the start
- Abrahamów Tourist Stationkm 59.8 from the start
- Słowianka Tourist Stationkm 61.7 from the start
- Rysianka PTTK Hutkm 67.8 from the start
- Hala Miziowa Hutkm 74.7 from the start
- PTTK Markowe Szczawiny Hutkm 99.4 from the start
- PTTK Hut on Maciejowakm 152 from the start
- PTTK Hut on Stare Wierchykm 155.8 from the start
- PTTK Hut on Turbaczkm 162.5 from the start
- PTTK Hut on Przehybakm 205.5 from the start
- Cyrla Hutkm 225.3 from the start · 40 m off the path
- PTTK Hut on Hala Łabowskakm 233.8 from the start
- Lipka Shelterkm 267.1 from the start
- PTTK Hut in Bartnekm 299.3 from the start
- Bacówka pod Honemkm 425.7 from the start
- Chatka Puchatkakm 455.9 from the start
Comments
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All craft places
Craft beer & breweriesBrowar Wisła: craft brewpub in Wisła's old railway station7.5 km from the trailBrowar Wisła is a brewpub in the heart of the Silesian Beskids, in the spa town of Wisła, where Poland's longest river of the same name rises.
Craft beer & breweriesArchducal Castle Brewery, Cieszyn: 180 years of beer and rock cellars14 km from the trailThe Archducal Castle Brewery in Cieszyn (Arcyksiążęcy Browar Zamkowy Cieszyn) is one of the oldest working breweries in Poland and one of the most valuable monuments...
Water parks & thermal poolsAquapark Leśna (Żywiec)24 km from the trailAquapark Leśna (also called Aquapark Żywiec) is a swimming-pool complex in the village of Leśna, a few kilometres from Żywiec, in the Żywiec Basin, surrounded by the...
Cheese dairies & pasturesBacówka na Bukowinie, Żabnica: sheep's cheese and alpacas26 km from the trailBacówka na Bukowinie stands on a slope above the village of Żabnica, next to Węgierska Górka, where the Żywiec Beskids meet the Silesian Beskids.
Craft beer & breweriesPINTA Brewery, Wieprz near Żywiec: tours and taproom27 km from the trailPINTA is the brewery that Poles associate with the start of the “beer revolution”; it calls itself the country's first craft brewery.
Markets & fairsFolk Art Fair in Żywiec during the Beskidy Week of Culture28 km from the trailThe Beskidy Highlanders' Week of Culture (Tydzień Kultury Beskidzkiej, TKB) is Poland's largest folklore festival: it was first held in Wisła in 1964, and today, at...