Mountains & peaks

Stożek in the Silesian Beskids

Stożek Wielki (978 m) is a summit in the Czantoria Range, built of Godula sandstone with a regular, conical shape that gave it its name and makes it appear higher than it is. The western, northern and eastern slopes fall steeply, while to the south the ridge runs almost level towards Kyrkawica. The Polish-Czech border and the red Main Beskid Trail cross the summit, where paths from Wisła, Istebna and the Czech Republic meet.

The oldest mountain hut

Below the top, at 957 m, stands the Stożek PTTK Mountain Hut — the oldest surviving Polish mountain hut in the Silesian Beskids and, after the demolition of the building at Markowe Szczawiny, the longest continuously operating Polish hut in the whole of the Beskids. The construction initiative was put forward in 1910 by Jan Galicz of the Beskid Polish Tatra Society in Cieszyn, and the contract was signed by Jan Kotas. Until 21 December 2007, when Poland joined the Schengen area, a border crossing operated nearby.

Views and approaches

From the summit you can see the ridge of the Wisła Range with Skrzyczne (1257 m), the massif of Barania Góra and, in good weather, ranges from the Western to the Belianske Tatras. The easiest ascent follows the green trail from Wisła Głębce, about 2 hours; the red one from Kubalonka Pass takes about 2.5 hours. It is worth combining the hike with Stożek Mały (843 m) on the other side of the pass.