Połonina Wetlińska

Połonina Wetlińska is a mountain massif and alpine meadow in the Polish part of the Western Bieszczady and one of the most visited places in these mountains. A broad grassy ridge rises above the forests to 1,255 m (Roh); nearby are Osadzki Wierch (1,253 m) and the rocky Hasiakowa Skała (1,232 m). To the west the massif continues as Smerek, separated by the Orłowicz Pass. Most of the połonina belongs to Bieszczady National Park, and the primeval beech forests on its slopes are part of the UNESCO site "Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians".

The meadow was named by Austrian cartographers after the village of Wetlina at its foot, although several villages shared the pastures — as late as the interwar years hundreds of cattle grazed on the tops. During the First World War Russian and Austrian troops fought positional battles here. Above 1,050 m grow typical połonina grasses with East Carpathian species rare in Poland; below are beech woods. From the ridge you can see Połonina Caryńska, Tarnica, the Rawka peaks and the Slovak and Ukrainian ranges.

What to see and do

• Chatka Puchatka — the shelter at 1,228 m below Hasiakowa Skała, the highest in the Bieszczady. Built in 1952 as a military observation post, it has served hikers since 1956 and has carried its famous name ("Pooh's Hut") since 1965. You can rest, shelter from bad weather, have coffee or tea, buy a park ticket and charge your phone; overnight stays are for emergencies only. Open daily from 8:00 until sunset. Rubbish is not accepted — take it back down with you.
• A ridge walk along the red Main Beskid Trail: Kalnica – Smerek – Orłowicz Pass – Połonina Wetlińska – Berehy Górne (about 5 hours by the signposted time).
• The "Pełnik" nature trail following the marked routes, with boards about the meadow vegetation.

Practical information

The shortest climb is from Przełęcz Wyżna on the Wetlina–Ustrzyki Górne road: the signposted time between the shelter and the pass is 1 h 10 min; from the "Górna Wetlinka" campsite 1 h 55 min; climbs from Brzegi Górne and from Stare Sioło via the Orłowicz Pass are also popular. Paths are rocky and steep, with an exposed, windy section on the ridge — mountain boots and warm clothes are needed; small children and inexperienced walkers should choose the shorter route from Przełęcz Wyżna. Trails in the national park are paid all year round: under the director's order of 9 March 2026 a ticket costs 11 zł, reduced 5.5 zł, children under 7 free; buy it at the ticket points by the trailheads, online or in Chatka Puchatka itself. Parking at the park's car parks (Brzegi Górne, Górna Wetlinka and others) costs 30 zł per day. Walking is allowed only between sunrise and sunset; dogs are not allowed on these trails, drones are banned, and bicycles may use public roads only. In winter expect ice and avalanche risk — follow BdPN and GOPR announcements. The best time is May to October; in autumn the meadows turn russet and are especially beautiful. Information as of October 2026.

Nearby

To the east, beyond Przełęcz Wyżniańska, lies Połonina Caryńska. About 15 km away is the wooden church in Smolnik (UNESCO), and from Wetlina it is not far to the Szepit waterfall and the Bieszczady Forest Railway in Majdan.

Official website: bdpn.gov.pl

Photos: Pudelek, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Silar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; *fiedler*, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Ilona Majewska, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.