Babia Góra National Park

Babia Góra National Park (Babiogórski Park Narodowy; say "BAH-bya GOO-rah") protects a single, mighty mountain on the Polish–Slovak border: Babia Góra, the "Queen of the Beskids." Its summit, Diablak (1,725 m / 5,659 ft), is the highest point in the Polish Beskid ranges, and on a clear day you can see the Tatras from the top. It is one of the best day hikes from Kraków — a climb that takes you through every vegetation zone of the Carpathians, from beech forest to bare, wind-scoured rock.

Where it is and how to get there

The park lies near the village of Zawoja in Lesser Poland (Małopolska), about 80 km (50 miles) southwest of Kraków — roughly 1.5–2 hours by car via Maków Podhalański. The main trailheads, each with parking, are Krowiarki Pass on the road from Zawoja to Lipnica Wielka, Zawoja Markowa, and, from May, Stańcowa. Public transport to the trailheads is limited, so a car is the easiest option.

Why it matters

The park was created by a decree of October 30, 1954 and has operated since January 1, 1955, making it as old as Tatra National Park. In 1997 it was enlarged to 3,391.55 hectares (about 13 sq mi). Since the 1970s Babia Góra has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve under the Man and the Biosphere program — a nature designation, not a World Heritage listing. Across the border, the massif continues into Slovakia's Horná Orava protected area. More than 100,000 hikers visit each year.

The mountain is famous for sudden weather changes, which earned it the nickname "Mother of Bad Weather." Fog can roll over the ridge within minutes, even on a calm day.

Nature: a mountain in layers

Babia Góra is a textbook example of altitudinal zonation. As you climb, beech and fir forest gives way to spruce, then to a belt of dwarf mountain pine, and finally to alpine grassland and rock rubble near the summit. Around 650 species of vascular plants and 38 mammal species have been recorded, including red deer, brown bear, wolf and lynx. The park's emblem is okrzyn jeleni (Laserpitium archangelica), a flowering plant that is very rare in Poland.

Best hikes to Diablak

• From Krowiarki Pass (red trail) via Sokolica — the most popular route, with views almost from the start; about 2.5 hours to the summit.
• From Zawoja Markowa via Markowe Szczawiny — a longer, gentler climb through forest to a mountain hut that houses a small museum of mountain tourism.
• Akademicka Perć (yellow trail) — the hardest ascent, with chains and metal rungs; it is closed in dangerous winter conditions.
• Brona Pass and Mała Babia Góra — the western ridge, ideal for a loop.

A full loop from Krowiarki over Diablak and down via Markowe Szczawiny to Zawoja takes a whole day.

When to visit (including winter 2026/27)

June to September and the colorful weeks of October are best. Expect wind on the ridge almost every day and pack a jacket, hat and offline map. In winter the crest is icy and exposed; bring microspikes or crampons and check the GOPR avalanche bulletin. Since 2023 the park has opened selected trails to ski tourers on a trial basis when snow cover allows — in October 2026 the ski routes are closed.

Tickets, hours and rules

As of October 2026 (prices may change):

• Entry ticket: 10 PLN, reduced 5 PLN; required everywhere in the park, whichever trail you take.
• Where to buy: online through the park website, at the permanent exhibition by the park office in Zawoja, or at the information points at Krowiarki and Zawoja Markowa.
• Park exhibition (Zawoja 1403): November 1–April 30 Tuesday–Friday 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; May 1–October 31 Tuesday–Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Confirm before visiting.
• Rules: stay on marked trails; dogs are banned except on the Mokry Kozub nature path; drones need the director's permission.
• Contact: Zawoja 1403, 34-222 Zawoja; phone +48 33 877 67 02; email park@bgpn.pl.
• Mountain rescue (GOPR): 985 or +48 601 100 300.

Is it worth visiting?

Absolutely. Babia Góra delivers a real high-mountain feel without Tatra crowds, and the sunrise from Diablak above a sea of clouds is legendary among Polish hikers. Combine the hike with Zawoja's wooden houses and its open-air folk museum.