Mountains & peaks

Skiing in the Little Beskids

The Little Beskids is a compact range of the Western Beskids, about 35 km long and 10–15 km wide, with Czupel (931 m) as its highest peak. In winter it offers several friendly slopes near Wadowice and plenty of room for ski touring — a destination for those who prefer quieter runs than the resorts of the Silesian or Żywiec Beskids.

Where to ski

Near Wadowice operates the resort on Czarny Groń: two downhill runs with a combined length of 2,000 m, a modern drag lift, grooming and lighting of the lower sections. The Kocierz centre has two drag lifts — a 750 m trail threading through forests at an easy difficulty and a 150 m children's slope, both groomed and floodlit. More experienced skiers head for the glade on Leskowiec: an anchor lift serves a run longer than 500 m with a 170 m vertical drop, with a 350 m platter lift running parallel; the gentler western part of the glade doubles as a practice field by the mountain hut.

Ski touring and views

Leskowiec and Groń Jana Pawła II are considered the most rewarding peaks for ski touring in the whole range. Winter trails are quieter than in the big resorts, and the reward for the effort is a sweeping view over the Beskids.