Koziarz in the Beskid Sądecki

The summit of Koziarz is wooded, and the trail even bypasses it – yet it is one of the best viewpoints in the Beskid Sądecki. Since 2015 an over 20-metre wooden tower with an enclosed staircase has stood on the top (943 m), so even people afraid of heights can climb it. From the deck you can see the Gorce, the Beskid Sądecki, the Island Beskids, the Pieniny and the Spiš Magura, and the meadows above the Dunajec valley open up views on the way.

Location

Koziarz, also called Kosiarz, closes the main ridge of the Radziejowa Range to the west, between Jaworzynka (936 m) and Suchy Groń (855 m). The steep, wooded north-west slope belongs to Tylmanowa, whose hamlets by the Dunajec are linked to the outside world by a narrow suspension bridge. The eastern slopes belong to Brzyna and Obidza: below the summit and on the rounded ridge towards Jaworzynka lie fields, meadows and a few houses of the hamlet of Wielga. The fields are surrounded by picket fences that protect crops from forest animals – one of the distinctive sights along the route.

The lookout tower

The tower was built by Ochotnica Dolna municipality as part of a programme of towers and tourist routes, which also brought new marked cycling and ski-touring trails. It is a wooden structure on a concrete foundation. Originally the corners were to be clad in wood to resemble Gothic wooden churches, but the idea was dropped. The covered deck holds about 30 people, with the panoramas labelled on the inner walls. In rain the deck doubles as a shelter, and webcams are mounted on the roof. The same municipality built towers on Lubań, Gorc and Magurki.

Trails to Koziarz

• Shortest: drive from Brzyna up to Okrąglica (partly asphalt, partly concrete slabs), then an easy marked path of about 45 minutes.
• Yellow trail from Łącko: via the Dunajec ferry, Cebulówka and Okrąglica Północna; about 3.5 hours and 8.9 km to the top. The trail continues via Jaworzynka and Dzwonkówka to Szczawnica.
• Green from Tylmanowa: to the Pass below Koziarz in about 1:30 h, 1:15 h down.
• Cycling and ski route: Koziarz – Pass below Koziarz – Błyszcz – Złotne Pass – Dzwonkówka.

Tripto tip

The tower is free to climb. The trail skirts the wooded summit on the east side, along the edge of the forest and fields – take your time, as the widest views are here, not just on the tower. There is no hut or kiosk at the top, so bring water and food. Before you go, check the tower webcams to see how clear the air is. In winter, check the road up to Okrąglica before setting off. From Koziarz the Pieniny are close: Szczawnica, Krościenko and the Dunajec Gorge.