Smerek

Smerek (1,222 m, other sources 1,223 m) is a mountain in the Western Bieszczady near the villages of Smerek and Wetlina, about 3.1 km from each. It is the western continuation of the Połonina Wetlińska ridge, separated from it – and from Szare Berdo on the other side – by the Orłowicz Pass. Some maps label the summit Wysoka, but guidebooks usually call it Smerek, like the village at its foot.

To the west the ridge rests on the valleys of the Wetlina and the Kindrat stream. A long ridge runs north from the summit via Wysokie Berdo, Siwarna, Połoma and Tołsta all the way to Lake Solina, between the San and Solinka valleys; the Magurka ridge branches off to the north-east and a spur topped by Strop (1,016 m) runs south. The slopes are forested up to 1,050–1,100 m, with meadow above. Smerek has two tops separated by a grassy dip that local people once called Dołyna, while the very steep north face was called Ściana («the Wall»). The northern, higher top lies a few dozen metres from the southern one and has a tension crack in the rock.

Getting there / trails

• The red Main Beskid Trail (part of E8) from Smerek village – about 2 h 40 min up, 2 h down; on the meadow the path climbs steeply up steps.
• Yellow trail from Wetlina – a gentle climb to the Orłowicz Pass (about 1 h 30 min), then the red trail to the summit in about 30 min more (20 min down).
• Along Połonina Wetlińska – red trail from the Chatka Puchatka shelter in about 2 h 05 min, or a longer traverse from Brzegi Górne.

The red trail can also be reached by the black trail from Jaworzec (from the north-west) and the yellow from Zatwarnica (from the north-east). Only the southern top with the cross is open to walkers; the park nature trail «Silver Fir» runs from Suche Rzeki.

The view from the summit

The Smerek meadows give wide views over both Bieszczady National Park and the neighbouring Cisna-Wetlina Landscape Park. You can see Połonina Wetlińska, the border range with Wielka Rawka and Riaba Skała, the Łopiennik and Durna range, Wysoki Dział with Wołosań, and below, the villages of Wetlina and Smerek.

Nature and history

The north-western slopes are drained by the Kindrat, a tributary of the Wetlina rising west of the summit; the south-western ones by the Wetlina itself and its small side streams, while the Hulski and Berdo streams rise on the north-eastern slope. Rare plants for Poland growing on Smerek include the few-flowered sedge and the East Carpathian vetchling. Until the 1940s the meadows on the northern slopes belonged to the Sisters of Mercy of St Vincent de Paul from Rajskie.

An iron cross stands on the southern top, where lightning killed a walker. The first cross was erected in 1976 at the initiative of the parish priest of Cisna to mark the 600th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Przemyśl. Because of its poor condition it was later replaced: the new cross was put up on 18 September 2018 by the people of Wetlina, Smerek and Kalnica to commemorate the centenary of Poland regaining independence.

Safety, season and rules

The cross is a reminder that thunderstorms are deadly on an open meadow: if a storm threatens, stay off the ridge or descend to the forest as quickly as possible. The climb from Smerek village is steep, especially on the steps, and in winter the trails ice over.

The summit lies within Bieszczady National Park. Under the park rules in force since 14 April 2026, entry to the trails is charged all year: a ticket costs 11 zł (reduced 5.5 zł, children under 7 free), is sold at the pay points by the trailheads or online, and is valid on all park trails on the same day. Walking is allowed on marked trails only and only between sunrise and sunset – night hiking is prohibited. Dogs are not allowed on the trails (except a few short sections, on a lead and muzzled); flying drones and leaving litter are also banned.

The Bieszczady are covered by the Bieszczady Group of the mountain rescue service GOPR (station in Ustrzyki Górne): call 985 or +48 601 100 300, or the general number 112; installing the «Ratunek» app is recommended. In winter the park advises reporting longer planned routes to the GOPR station in Ustrzyki Górne.

Interesting facts

• The Orłowicz Pass, which separates Smerek from Połonina Wetlińska, has borne the name of the tourism pioneer Mieczysław Orłowicz since 1974; it is one of the lowest places in the Polish Bieszczady where mountain meadow still occurs.
• Some maps label Smerek as Wysoka.

Photos: Yarl, CC BY-SA 3.0; Red 81, CC BY-SA 4.0; (GRAD), CC BY-SA 3.0; Pudelek, CC BY-SA 4.0; Hanc Tomasz, CC BY-SA 3.0; Wojtekw77, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.