Dusica Waterfall in the Little Beskids

In the steep beech-wooded ravine of the Dusica stream, on the slopes of the Łamana Skała range, water spills over a huge boulder to form the largest waterfall in the Little Beskids. It is called Dusiołek, or simply the Dusica waterfall. A few dozen metres higher lies a second attraction: the roomy Komoniecki Cave, with a separate trickle falling from a rock slab over its entrance. Both are within the village of Las in the Ślemień district.

The waterfall and the stream

Sources give different sizes for the waterfall: about 3 m high, or 5 m high and about 4 m wide. It is most impressive after heavy rain and snowmelt and becomes modest in dry spells. The Dusica flows entirely through the Little Beskids: it rises below the ridge linking Smrekowica with Łamana Skała, runs through a deep gorge with exposures of shale, sandstone and conglomerate, and joins the Kocońka in Las at about 480 m.

Komoniecki Cave

The cave lies at about 700 m above sea level on the western slopes of Pośredni Groń. An entrance about 16 m wide and 2 m high leads to a single chamber of around 115 m²; further in the ceiling drops to 1–1.5 m. It is light enough to explore without a torch. In winter the trickle over the entrance forms ice formations. Since 1993 the cave has been a protected natural monument.

Did you know?

• It is named after Andrzej Komoniecki, mayor of Żywiec and chronicler, who described the cave in his Żywiec chronicle in 1704, writing that a hundred head of livestock could be driven inside.
• According to local accounts, farmers hid horses here from the occupiers during the Second World War, and partisans also used the cave as a shelter.
• Archaeological work uncovered traces of a hearth and pottery from the first half of the 17th century.
• The rock above the entrance is used for bouldering, with problems graded from 6c to 8a.

Tripto tips

The easiest start is from the village of Las: the waymarked yellow trail takes you to the cave and the waterfall in about an hour. The walking route from the bell tower in Las is about 3.6 km one way. There is no trail along the stream itself, and the ground by the water is steep and slippery, so wear shoes with good grip. Access is free all year; the site is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.