Hala Bieguńska

Despite its name, this wide clearing has nothing to do with "hala" in the botanical sense of an alpine zone — "hala" is the local word for a mountain pasture, and this one was named after an owner called Biegun. Hala Bieguńska, one of the larger pastures of the Żywiec Beskids, lies at about 1160–1225 m above sea level on the southern slopes between Boraczy Wierch (1244 m) and Lipowski Wierch (1324 m). It faces south, so in clear weather you can see the border ridge from Pilsko to Wielka Racza, and even the Tatra Mountains and Slovakia's Choč Mountains.

Two pastures in one

The clearing actually has two parts: the western one is called Hala Gawłowska and the eastern one is Hala Bieguńska proper. It lies above the springs of the Zająców and Śmierdzący streams, in the Lipowski Wierch and Romanka group. Administratively it belongs to the village of Złatna in the Ujsoły municipality, and the boundary with Żabnica runs along its upper edge and the ridge. Sheep were once grazed here intensively — patches of alpine dock still mark the spots where the sheepfolds stood.

Trails across the pasture

• green from Milówka: Milówka – PTTK hut at Hala Boracza – Redykalny Wierch – Hala Bacmańska – Hala Bieguńska – hut at Hala Rysianka – Żabnica-Skałka;
• yellow from Rajcza: Rajcza – Zapolanka – Redykalny Wierch – Hala Bacmańska – Hala Bieguńska – Hala Lipowska – Rysianka – Romanka.

According to the Hala Boracza mountain hut, the green trail from Milówka to the hut takes about 2 h 15 min, and the green-trail walk between Hala Boracza and Hala Lipowska about 1 h 30 min — Hala Bieguńska lies on the way.

Tripto tip

There is no mountain hut or snack bar on the pasture itself; the nearest huts are at Hala Boracza, Hala Lipowska and Rysianka, so Hala Bieguńska fits best into a ridge loop with an overnight stay. For views of the Tatras, choose a cool, dry day with clear air. The clearing is exposed, so bring an extra windproof layer, and expect mud on the trails after thaws and rain.