Skrzyczne

Skrzyczne (1,257 m) is the highest peak of the Silesian Beskids and one of the summits of the Crown of Polish Mountains, a list of the highest points of Poland's mountain ranges. Above the Żywiec Basin it rises as a single, almost 800-metre block, and its silhouette with an 87-metre radio and TV mast is recognisable from far away — even from the Żywiec Beskids and the Tatras. You can climb it on several trails or ride a chairlift up from Szczyrk.

Named after croaking frogs

Where does the name come from? In the 18th-century "Chronicle of Żywiec", the town's mayor Andrzej Komoniecki recorded a tale about a pond in the hollow between Skrzyczne and Małe Skrzyczne. Its dark water was overgrown with rushes, and the frogs croaked so loudly that they could be heard far away in the evening. That croaking — skrzeczenie in Polish — supposedly gave the mountain its name. The pond is long gone, but the legend has stuck.

A mountain of sandstone

The massif is built of thick layers of Godula sandstone and drops very steeply towards the Żylica valley and the Żywiec Basin. The northern slopes are covered with large boulder fields, left by frost weathering during the Ice Age and now partly overgrown with forest. Since the late 1960s about 20 small fissure caves have been found here. The largest, Spider Cave (Jaskinia Pajęcza), had 61 m of passages, but it has been inaccessible since its entrance collapsed. Skrzyczne is also one of the few Polish sites of the rare Moravian monkshood.

Mountain hut, chairlift and skiing

Just below the summit stands the PTTK Skrzyczne mountain hut, with a children's pool, a climbing wall and a sports pitch next to it. A two-section chairlift runs up from Szczyrk. In winter the slopes belong to the COS ski area — 14 km of runs in total, including a FIS run. In summer they are taken over by mountain bikers: the downhill trails have hosted events including World Cup races in 2024–2025. The eastern slope above Lake Żywiec is a well-known take-off point for paragliders.

Trails to the top

Skrzyczne is a hub of marked trails. Approximate ascent times:

• from Szczyrk Centrum via the Jaworzyna meadow — about 2 h 25 min (descent 1 h 45 min),
• from Szczyrk via the Becyrek pass — about 2 h 15 min,
• from Ostre — about 2 h 15 min,
• from Buczkowice via Siodło pod Skalitem — about 3 h 20 min.

From the summit, the red trail continues to Barania Góra (about 2 h 45 min) or via Malinowska Skała to the Salmopolska pass (about 2 h 15 min).

Tripto tip

The best plan combines both options: ride the chairlift up and walk down via the Jaworzyna meadow, or the other way round. Allow half a day for a full loop from Szczyrk. The panorama from the Żywiec Beskids to the Tatras is clearest when the air is crisp — in autumn and on frosty winter days. Check the chairlift's operating hours before you go, as it may stop in strong wind. It is usually windier at the top than in the valley, so pack an extra layer.