Osadzki Wierch

Osadzki Wierch (1,253 m; other sources 1,251 m) is the second-highest top of Połonina Wetlińska in the Western Bieszczady and the highest one reached by a hiking trail: the slightly higher neighbouring Roh (1,255 m) lies off the trails. The mountain is in Bieszczady National Park, some 4.2 km from Brzegi Górne and 4.3 km from Wetlina. Seen from the east, from below the Chatka Puchatka shelter, Roh and Osadzki Wierch appear as two close grassy tops with the red trail winding up between them.

The summit is a short rocky crest with steep slopes covered in rock debris. It is here that the Połonina Wetlińska ridge changes direction: seen from the east it runs north-east to south-west, but at Osadzki Wierch it turns north-west to south-east. A side ridge running west from the summit culminates in Hnatowe Berdo. Some 130 m away lies the Srebrzysta Pass saddle (1,215 m).

Getting there / trails

The red Main Beskid Trail (part of the European long-distance path E8) crosses the summit – the ridge path of Połonina Wetlińska between Smerek village and Brzegi Górne. The park nature trail «Alpine Globeflower» follows it.

• From the Chatka Puchatka shelter on Hasiakowa Skała – about 50 min either way. The quickest way up to the shelter is the yellow trail from the Wyżna Pass (about 1 h) or the red trail from Brzegi Górne (about 1 h 40 min).
• From the Orłowicz Pass – about 1 h up, 45 min down. The yellow trail from Wetlina reaches the pass in about 1 h 30 min.

Osadzki Wierch thus sits in the middle of the most popular ridge walk in the Bieszczady, from Smerek to Brzegi Górne, and most walkers cross it on the way rather than as a goal in itself.

The view from the summit

Thanks to the meadow the summit is a good viewpoint over the surrounding Bieszczady ranges and the Sanocko-Turczańskie Mountains. To the west you see Smerek and Szare Berdo, to the east Hasiakowa Skała with the shelter and Połonina Caryńska; Wołosań, the highest peak of Wysoki Dział to the north-west, has also been photographed from Osadzki Wierch.

Nature and history

The highest parts of the massif are covered by typical Bieszczady meadows, with beech forest below 1,050 m. Rare plants for Poland found on Połonina Wetlińska include the Carpathian catchfly, Carpathian tozzia, Dacian sedge, Kotschy's knapweed and the Bukovina and East Carpathian aconites. Before the war oxen and heifers from the surrounding villages grazed the meadow, and in the First World War the ridge saw heavy positional fighting between Russian and Austrian troops.

Safety, season and rules

The crest of Osadzki Wierch is rocky and can be slippery on the steep slopes after rain. There is no shelter on the ridge from wind, storms or fog; in such weather descend by the nearest marked trail – to the Orłowicz Pass or the Wyżna Pass. In winter the path ices 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.

Photos: Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0; Red 81, CC BY-SA 4.0; ceresina, CC BY-SA 3.0; Wojo overkill, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.