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RADZIEJOWA 1262 m n.p.m - BESKID SĄDECKI

Below you will find practical information: Where to park the car? How long does the hike to Radziejowa take? The shortest trail to Radziejowa? Where is the stamp for the Crown of Polish Mountains? Which trail to choose for Radziejowa? You’ll find answers to these and other questions below.

Radziejowa rises to an altitude of 1262 meters above sea level. This height is more than enough to make it the highest peak of the Beskid Sądecki and the seventh highest peak in the Crown of Polish Mountains. Radziejowa is located on the main ridge of the Radziejowa Range, between the Dunajec and Poprad valleys. There would be no view from the summit if not for the covered observation tower, which is 22 meters tall, with the viewing platform at 17 meters, allowing you to enjoy breathtaking views.

Radziejowa practical information:
 

- Paid parking in cash available from Jaworki (locations below)

- Free parking from Obidza, and it's better to take this route if you are with kids

- The stamp is located at the summit

- Free entry

Radziejowa trail chosen by us:

Jaworki - Biała Woda - Litawcowa - Wielki Rogacz - Przełęcz Żłobki - Radziejowa - Przełęcz Żłobki - Wielki Rogacz - Litawcowa - Biała Woda - Jaworki

Trail length: 17.8 km

Hiking time: 6 h

Elevation gain: 835 meters

We didn’t take the shortest trail to the highest peak of Beskid Sądecki but chose this one as it's one of the most scenic and varied routes. 🌄

We leave our car at the paid parking lot behind the barrier 🅿️https://maps.app.goo.gl/gwQcRToWnw6L2wPW7 (49.4059180, 20.5664906). Keep in mind that you can’t pay by card here, but there’s a change machine to help with parking fees. The parking fee is 3 PLN per hour (rate for 2024).

For us, the whole trail (including breaks for photos and resting) took around 7-8 hours.

You can also choose another parking lot, where the fee is a daily rate (between 15 and 20 PLN per day) https://maps.app.goo.gl/dZH7ns4641cTAD1m7 or https://maps.app.goo.gl/syp6mVuBNzNB6D6d8 - this will make the route slightly longer.

The route is definitely recommended for older kids (if you're planning to take your little ones), as it's quite long and has some steeper sections that might be challenging for younger children. For a family trip, we recommend the trail from Obidzy, which is significantly shorter, and parents with children usually choose this route for a shared hike (🗺️ the trail is shown below).

How do we know? We always meet people to chat with along the way! 😊

After parking, we change our shoes and start the trail, which begins right next to the parking lot. We walk along a stream (Biała Woda) on our right. These beautiful views don’t last long, but we know even more amazing ones await us at the summit!

After about 500 meters, we reach a fork in the yellow and red trails. You need to be careful here as the shelter obscures the trail markings; we turn sharply left onto the 🔴red trail. If you go straight, you can head towards Wysoka (the highest peak in the Pieniny Mountains, also part of the Crown of Polish Mountains). While it won't be the shortest route, you won’t need to retrace your steps.

Now we face the first steeper climb with a slope of up to 33%. We catch our breath, but it’s worth it because as soon as we ascend, we are greeted with beautiful views, including the most distinctive peak of the Pieniny – Trzy Korony. ⛰️
 

The terrain underfoot is very diverse, ranging from grass to rocks, just like the surroundings that keep changing throughout the hike. Along the way, we pass a shepherd sipping coffee on the left side, and next to him, sheep graze under the watchful eye of a dog. In good weather, we can also spot the highest mountain range in Poland from this trail – the majestic Tatras. 🏔️

After hiking nearly 6 km on the 🔴red trail, we arrive at Litawcowa, where the trails from Obidzy and Jaworek meet. Here we turn left onto the 🔵blue trail, which runs through the forest and is easy to miss.

Just after entering the 🔵blue trail, there is a bench where you can take a short break. We highly recommend it, as the next section includes a steeper, rocky ascent, so it's worth restoring your energy. 😉 Our effort is quickly rewarded with stunning views, and we reach Wielki Rogacz (elevation 1142 meters), where the trail from Piwniczna-Zdrój intersects.
 

After a brief rest, we turn left towards Radziejowa. In good weather, we’ll see the Tatras again!

We have about 700 meters left to the summit, although it's already within sight. The elevation gain is the steepest here, but the views from Radziejowa’s summit, particularly from the observation tower, make it all worth it again. 🙂
 

Radziejowa conquered! 

After about 4 hours, we reach the highest peak of Beskid Sądecki, and the views from the observation tower are stunning. 😊

The panorama stretches over the Tatras, Pieniny, Gorce, Beskid Makowski, Żywiecki, Niski, and Sądecki. If you don’t recognize  all the mountain ranges, don't worry, they are all well-marked on the observation tower!

We rested and decided to retrace our steps. The whole trip took us around 8 hours, including breaks for rest and taking photos along the way.

Radziejowa's shortes trail from Obidza:

Przełęcz Gromadzka - Obidza - Litawcowa- Wielki Rogacz - Przełęcz Żłobki - Radziejowa

Round trip length: 10.8 km

Hiking time: 3:30 h

Elevation gain: 511 meters

If you're heading to Radziejowa and planning to conquer more than one peak, it’s worth considering the highest peak in the Pieniny Mountains – Wysoka, part of the Crown of Polish Mountains, or the most distinctive peak of the Pieniny – Trzy Korony. ⛰️