Mała Rawka

Mała Rawka (1,272 m) is a mountain in the Western Bieszczady and the highest point of the Dział ridge. It lies in Poland, inside Bieszczady National Park, about 3.5 km south of Brzegi Górne and 5.5 km west of Ustrzyki Górne. A high saddle (1,254 m) separates it from Wielka Rawka just to the south, while a ridge runs north-east from the summit across the Wyżniańska Pass towards Połonina Caryńska. The climb from its foot is only about 300 m, which makes Mała Rawka one of the most accessible viewpoints in the Bieszczady.

Getting there / trails

• From the Wyżniańska Pass (855 m, formerly called Prislip) – green trail past the Bacówka PTTK Pod Małą Rawką hut: 1 h 25 min to 1 h 40 min up (guides differ), about 1 h down. Regional road 897 between Ustrzyki Górne and Wetlina crosses the pass, which has a car park, a bus stop and a seasonal park pay point.
• From Wetlina (from the church) – the same green trail over the Dział ridge: about 3 h 30 min up, 2 h 30 min down.
• From Wielka Rawka – yellow trail across the saddle: about 20 min (15 min the other way).

The green trail is a long route Wetlina – Dział – Mała Rawka – Wyżniańska Pass – Połonina Caryńska – Przysłup Caryński, so Mała Rawka combines easily with Połonina Caryńska in one walk. The park nature trail «Wielka Rawka» follows the paths from the Wyżniańska Pass via Wierch Wyżniański, the hut and both Rawkas to road 897 one kilometre west of Ustrzyki Górne.

The PTTK hut below Mała Rawka stands at 930 m, about a kilometre from the summit. It opened in 1979, has run without interruption ever since and offers about 30 beds; camping next to it is allowed for walkers only.

The view from the summit

The summit is covered by a small mountain meadow that makes an excellent viewpoint over the best-known massifs of the Bieszczady: the Tarnica group, Połonina Wetlińska and Połonina Caryńska. To the south the broad ridge of Wielka Rawka rises above Mała Rawka, and to the north-east, beyond the Wyżniańska Pass, lies Połonina Caryńska.

Nature and history

The saddle between Mała and Wielka Rawka carries the highest-lying forest in the Polish Bieszczady. Above the trees there is a grassy meadow. Rare plants for Poland recorded on Mała Rawka include Carpathian tozzia and the rock bird cherry. The whole mountain lies within Bieszczady National Park, part of the East Carpathians International Biosphere Reserve.

Safety, season and rules

The walk up Mała Rawka is short, but the summit is exposed: weather on the meadows changes quickly, summer brings storms, autumn fog, and in winter the trails are covered with deep snow and ice. In bad weather it is best to return to the hut or the pass the way you came.

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

• Mała Rawka is the culmination of the Dział ridge rather than of a separate range.
• It is only a 20-minute walk from Mała to Wielka Rawka, so the two summits are usually climbed together.

Photos: Jiří Komárek, CC BY-SA 4.0; Jiří Komárek, CC BY-SA 4.0; Gese, CC BY-SA 4.0; Zyxist, CC0; Milan Bališin, CC BY-SA 4.0; Lech_Darski, CC BY-SA 3.0 — Wikimedia Commons.