Sudetes Mountains
These are the most important mountains for amateurs of cross-country skiing with 80 km of well-kept trails. The easier ones lead to Orle and Chatka Górzystów with difficult ones on the Śnieżka massif in the Kletno area – they are beautiful but demanding. It is worth taking the forest routes to Bielskie, Bystrzyckie or the Kamienne Mountains and completing the loop around Rymarz and Kalenica in the Wielkiej Sowy (Great Owl) massif. Poland’s biggest open long-distance crosscountry run – Bieg Piastów – is organized in March in Jakuszyce near Szklarska Poręba. Over 6 thousand skiers participate with distances covered from 10 to 50 km.
The Tatra Mountains and Podhale region
There are various interesting cross-country skiing trails in Podhale, a vast valley at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. The trails are marked as foot trails in the lower parts of the mountains or on the flat mountain tops in Bukowina Tatrzańska, Białka or nearby Gorce.
There are also marked trails for professional downhill skiing in the Tatra Mountains. The trails above the upper parts of the forest are not well-kept and are difficult. They are best traversed with an experienced guide, with professional equipment and by the physically fit.
Beskidy Mountains
In the Silesian and Żywiec Beskids Mountains the numerous skiing trails pass through well-known skiing resorts: Szczyrk, Wisła, Ustroń and Korbielów. In the Sądecki Beskids Mountains cross-country skiing trails pass through Piwniczna, Krynica and Szczawnica. Each February the Jaworz Ski Run is held near Bielsko-Biała and in Rajcza and Zwardoń the Peasant Ski Rally takes place across Poland and Slovakia.
Bieszczady Mountains
(Eastern Beskidy Mountains)
The length of the skiing trails in Bieszczady exceeds 130 km. They have been put together for cross-country and skitouring. The most beautiful ones are in the Bieszczady National Park where snow and wind have created picturesque landscapes in shades of black, white, tinged with the greens of the trees.
Sudetes Mountains
Szklarska Poręba
There are 5 lamp lit routes waiting for skiers in this popular town in the Sudetes, - beautiful in summer and in winter. The most difficult trail (with a FIS certificate) on Szrenica is 2000 meters long. The ski pistes ‘Lolobrygida’ (4 400 m), ‘Śnieżynka’ (2 080 m) and ‘Bystra’ (2 510 m) are not easy ones. Several routes have been prepared for beginners: ‘Puchatek’ (1 470 m) and in Happiness Valley – on Babiniec slope (520 m) and on Hala Szrenicowa (636 m).
Karpacz
This resort is especially popular among snowboard and intermediate level downhill skiing enthusiasts. The Polish Snowboard Championships are held here each January.
Zieleniec
The most popular family resort. It is famous for its longlasting snow and 20 pistes suitable for all ages: children, parents and grandparents.
Silesian Beskids
Szczyrk
This is one of the biggest and most popular winter sports centers in Poland. It is covered with snow from December through to April. There are 14 kilometers of routes to choose from – starting with the FIS championship route, the famous ‘Bieńkula’ and ‘Golgota’, ending with trails for children and beginners. Over 30 lifts including a chair lift on Skrzynka guarantee quick transport to the starting line. Szczyrk also knows how to entertain its guests, ‘après ski’
The Highlander way, with a little bit of fantasy!
There are numerous popular skiing trails in other towns of the Silesian Beskids Mountains: in Wisła, Bielsko-Biała on Szyndzielnia and Klimczok (a gondola lift), in Ustroń Śląski on Czantoris and Jaszowiec.
Żywiec Beskids
Korbielów
A popular skiing resort located on the slopes of Pilsko Mountain (1557 m), one of the most beautiful mountains in the Beskids. In the upper regions of Pilsko, due to a particular microclimate the skiing season starts in November and lasts until first days of May. The highlight of Pilsko is the elevation difference – 770 meters. Added to this there are: 20 km of downhill routes of various difficulty levels, 10 rudder bar lifts, 1 chair lift and a snow park thought to be among the best in Poland.
Sądecki Beskids
One hundred kilometers south of Krakow there is a beautiful mountain valley sculpted over millions of years by the Poprad River. Several ski resorts are located in the valley (20 km long) and in its vicinity: in Rytro, Piwniczna Zdrój-Sucha Dolina (Valley), Wierchomla and Muszyna Zdrój. All routes in Sądecki Beskids Mountains are lamp lit, with artificial snow (if necessary), skiing, hotel and gastronomy infrastructures are well developed everywhere. Krynica Zdrój is situated on the southern edge of the Sądecki Beskid Mountains. The summer and winter queen of Polish resorts has two popular ski resorts: on Jaworzyna Krynicka (8 routes of different difficulty levels, including a FIS trail – 2600 m and a gondola) and in Słotwiny where you can choose from among 15 downhill routes (from 120 to 1000 m) and a snowboard pipe 110 m long and 40 m wide.
Tatra Mountains
Zakopane
Winter sports have an over 100 year long tradition in Zakopane – international capital of downhill skiing and ski jumping. In winter, which usually starts here at the beginning of December, the lifts start moving on over 35 routes. All trails are lit, have artificial snow, many offer snowboard trails. Skiing equipment can be rented and instructors are available. The best skiing conditions are on Kasprowy Wierch (1987 m) however the routes are difficult and require professional skills. Excellent skiing trails can also be found in other towns in the Tatras: Bukowina Tatrzańska, Białka Tatrzańska, Poronin and others.
