A magical place in the Beskids. For many it has become a second home

Poles love mountains. Regardless of the season, whenever the opportunity arises, they abandon their daily duties, put on comfortable shoes and hit the trails. All this to clear your head, recharge your batteries, and at the same time get tired and contemplate nature. In our country, the Tatra Mountains are the most popular because overcoming demanding routes is a kind of satisfaction for mountain walkers. However, according to many, the real magic lies in the lower bands. Not so crowded, but certainly unique is the Beskid Mountains and the Beskid Sądecki Mountains located in Małopolska. This is where an extraordinary place is hidden, to which you can reach quickly and without much effort, and what you find at the top will make you want to go back there again.

The PTTK shelter called Bacówka nad Wierchomlą is located in the Jaworzyna Krynicka Range at an altitude of 887 m above sea level, on the trail between Runek and Pusta Wielka. The building itself was built in the 1970s, and its base was a granary from a spa village located near Muszyna. This shelter has been modernized many times, thanks to which it now offers high comfort for tourists visiting it. It is located on a vast, picturesque clearing with picturesque views. In front of the building you can admire not only the panorama of the highest peak in the Beskid Sądecki Mountains, but also – in favorable weather – an impressive view of the Tatra Mountains.

The shepherd’s hut on Wierchomlą was established over 50 years ago as part of the concept of “shelters – qualified tourism shelters” – intended to serve individual tourists. It was not built according to a standard design, so its appearance is quite unusual for a shelter. This place is named after Stanisław Nowak (1907-1994) – a long-time tourist activist from Krynica, honorary member of the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society, to whom Bacówka owes its existence. On his initiative, in 1967, a granary intended for demolition was purchased in the village of Złockie and installed on foundations prepared here. Ultimately, due to lack of funds, construction activities were discontinued. Only in 1975, on the initiative of PTTK activist – Edward Moskała, as part of a broader campaign focusing on the construction of small, developed mountain shelters, work on Bacówka was resumed. Three years later, the shelter began its operations

The PTTK shepherd’s hut on Wierchomla is located only two kilometers from the main ridge of the Jaworzyna Krynicka Range and the Main Beskid Trail running there. We can reach the shelter from several directions – the shortest route is the one from Wierchomla Mała (less than three kilometers), but the slightly longer ones are the most picturesque – e.g. from Szczawnik (about six kilometers) and Muszyna (via Jaworzynka or Bukowa), from Krynica Zdrój, from Jaworzyna Krynicka, as well as from Żegiestów. The easiest and fastest way to get here is by using the chairlift from Wierchomla Mała, which operates in the winter and summer seasons. From the upper cable car station, you only need to walk about two kilometers.

Private vans and buses run to Wierchomla Mała from Nowy and Stary Sącz, via Piwniczna Zdrój and Wierchomla Wielka. You can also reach the village by train, changing to a bus in Muszyna or Nowy Sącz. There is a parking lot for cars near the ski station.

Bacówka nad Wierchomlą is a place friendly to all tourists – pedestrians and cyclists, big and small, two- and four-legged ones. The route to the shelter from Wierchomla Mała is perfect for families with children, seniors and those who do not prefer intense trekking. We will get there in just an hour, along a flat ridge (the elevation gain is minimal), and along the way we will pass beautiful views and listen to the sounds of nature – streams and waterfalls. Moreover, if the weather is favorable, you can easily take a stroller with you because the road is not too bumpy. The route leads mainly through the forest, and at the top we are greeted by a vast, picturesque clearing with a unique wooden cottage. When the visibility is good, you can admire what makes the place most attractive, namely the wonderful view stretching to the north-west and south – including: the range of the queen of the surrounding hills – Radziejowa, and in its background – the massif of the majestic Tatra Mountains.

It should also be noted that Beskid Sądecki is a perfect place for two-wheeler enthusiasts. There are many interesting routes with varying levels of difficulty, and those leading to Bacówka nad Wierchomlą are particularly interesting and recommended. There is a blue bicycle trail next to the shelter, which leads from Szczawnik through the Szczawnik stream valley to the shepherd’s hut. Back towards Runek and Bukowa you can get to Szczawnik again. Near the shelter there is a corner with basic tools and accessories needed to wash a bicycle, as well as an electric bicycle charging station. There is a garage in the neighboring building.

Bacówka nad Wierchomlą operates all year round and in fact, any time of the year, with favorable weather, will be suitable to go here. In what months are there usually the most tourists there and when will a hike to this place provide the most pleasant experiences? He answered these questions for Interia –

– The highest tourist traffic is during the holiday season and early autumn. The trails are then dry, the weather is stable and the day is long. In the winter season, there are a lot of tourists around New Year’s Eve, and later during the winter holidays. If someone would like to come to us and see true peace and witness a wild adventure in its natural refuge, the best months will be March, April or November – explained Marcin Bednarkiewicz.

An extraordinary shelter with a unique history in the Beskids is not only about wooden boards providing shelter. The unique, idyllic atmosphere of this place is created by the surroundings, cozy interiors and, above all, by the people – both those who live there every day and tourists coming from various corners of Poland and the world. The atmospheric veranda offers picturesque views, and when you enter, you will be greeted by a room with a fireplace, a bookcase, comfortable pouffes and a table for board games. You can see handicrafts there – wooden products from the Kram Liwocz studio, drawings and paintings, and unique ceramics. In addition to guest rooms (40 beds in total), there is also JurtoStan next to the shepherd’s hut – a space for those looking for closer contact with nature. You can rent residential yurts here, where from time to time various small artistic events are organized – thematic and development workshops, concerts, etc.

A camping site and a bonfire place are also available for those interested.

When going to Bacówka nad Wierchomlą, with a bit of luck you can come across traces left by forest animals and even observe them from hiding. The host of the shelter ensures that both the routes leading to the shepherd’s hut and the surroundings of the shelter are places where you can feel really close to wild nature and observe it from the most beautiful perspective.

– You can often see wolf or lynx tracks on the trail, and recently more and more often bear tracks. We also recommend seeing and hearing the deer rut at the turn of September and October. This guarantees an unforgettable experience and emotions – said Marcin Bednarkiewicz.

If you love close contact with nature, and a quiet rest in the rhythm of “slow” is something priceless for you, you should spend at least one night here. Memories will be unforgettable – from special evenings with picturesque sunsets, through a starry night with the most beautiful sounds of wildlife, to changing landscapes of the mountains with the rising sun, shrouded in fresh air and often morning fog. The upcoming spring will be an excellent opportunity to go out to see the Beskid Sądecki Mountains and share stories about the unique place in Małopolska, Bacówka nad Wierchomlą.