Main Świętokrzyski Trail

The red-marked trail from Gołoszyce to Kuźniaki is the backbone of hiking in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains (Holy Cross Mountains): it crosses Łysica and Łysa Góra, the boulder fields known as gołoborza, Święty Krzyż and Święta Katarzyna, and passes seven nature reserves. The Main Świętokrzyski Trail, named after Edmund Massalski, is regarded as one of Poland's three main mountain trails. Its history goes back to 1926.

History: from Kielce to Nowa Słupia

In 1926 Edmund Massalski and Kazimierz Kaznowski marked the first trail in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, from Kielce to Nowa Słupia. After many changes, the region's longest hiking route, marked red throughout, took shape between Kuźniaki and Gołoszyce in the early 1960s. In 1983, for the 75th anniversary of Poland's hiking association, the trail was named after Massalski – a teacher, community activist and regional explorer who promoted walking in the area for years.

The route kept changing later too. It used to follow the Łysogóry ridge from St Nicholas Pass to Huta Pass; since 1 July 1977 it bypasses the central, most valuable part of the range via Kakonin and Huta Podłysica.

How long is it?

Figures vary: the current length is about 93 km (93.0 or 93.1 km), while older descriptions mention 105 km – the route has been adjusted several times. Counting from Gołoszyce, the key points lie roughly as follows: Szczytniak hill (11.5 km), Góra Jeleniowska (16 km), Święty Krzyż (23.4 km), Huta Szklana (25.6 km), Święta Katarzyna (39 km), Masłów (52.6 km), Tumlin (68.5 km) and Barania Góra (82.5 km).

What to see along the way

• Łysica – the highest peak of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains and one of the Crown of Polish Mountains. It rises to 614 m (613.3 m by precise survey); its second summit, Agata, reaches 613.96 m. The ridge has rock outcrops and gołoborza – fields of quartzite sandstone blocks.
• Łysa Góra (595 m) with the Sanctuary of the Relics of the Holy Cross, a viewing gallery over the boulder field and the Natural History Museum of Świętokrzyski National Park.
• St Francis's chapel and spring in Święta Katarzyna – the chapel was built by Bernardine lay brothers in 1641; the water stays at about 7°C and does not freeze in winter.
• St Nicholas's chapel on the ridge – the first one stood here from 1876; the present chapel replaced one burned in 1996.
• Nature reserves, including Małe Gołoborze, Szczytniak, Góra Jeleniowska, Kamienne Kręgi on Góra Grodowa, Barania Góra and Perzowa Góra.

Good to know

The village of Kakonin is said to be named after Kak, a local outlaw – the Świętokrzyskie answer to the Tatra folk hero Janosik. In the 17th and 18th centuries glassworks operated on the slopes of the Łysogóry, hence village names such as Huta Szklana, Huta Podłysica and Stara Huta ("huta" means glassworks). Since January 2016 hikers can earn a badge for completing the whole trail.

Tripto tip

The trail has many steep ascents and descents, so even shorter sections call for basic hiking experience and proper boots; split the full route into 3–4 days. Both ends are at bus stops (Gołoszyce and Kuźniaki), and around Masłów, Dąbrowa and Miedziana Góra the trail passes stops of Kielce's city buses. Within Świętokrzyski National Park an entry fee applies all year: PLN 11 (PLN 5.50 reduced, as of October 2026), and the viewing gallery on the boulder field has a separate ticket. The finest single-day section is Święta Katarzyna – Łysica – Huta Szklana – Święty Krzyż.