Mountain Trails [#14] - Main Beskid Trail

The very name sounds very proud and fully deserves it. The Main Beskid Trail is a dream for nearly every mountain hiking enthusiast. Why nearly? Not everyone is ready to tackle this 500 km long trail. The length is a contentious issue – different sources provide varying data.

Where does the Main Beskid Trail run?

Marked in red, the Main Beskid Trail is the longest trail in Poland. It passes through the most important mountain ranges, starting from Ustroń in the Silesian Beskids and ending in Wołosate in the Bieszczady Mountains (the trail can be traversed in either direction). While hiking this trail, we will successively go through the Silesian Beskids, Żywiec Beskids, Gorce, Sądecki Beskids, Low Beskids, and Bieszczady. The greatest adventurers – and they are not many – undertake to complete it all at once, while others prefer to break their hike down into smaller segments.

The beginning of the trail's history

Few people know that this trail, marked out during the interwar period, has a more elaborate name: the Main Beskid Trail named after Kazimierz Sosnowski. It was Sosnowski who designed the route of the western part, which was completed in 1929. The eastern part was completed in 1935 according to the design of Mieczysław Orłowicz.    

PTTK Badges
Hiking the GSB is a great opportunity to earn more PTTK badges. The Central Mountain Tourism Centre of PTTK awards two special tourist badges, one of which is the "Main Beskid Trail", which has four degrees: bronze, silver, gold, and diamond. The first is awarded for earning 200 points towards the GOT on the trail, the next after obtaining another 200. The gold badge is awarded for completing all sections of the trail. Each of these badges does not have a time limit for achieving them. The last one – the diamond badge – is for true adventurers. This badge can be earned by completing the entire trail in no more than 21 days.          

Important information    
It doesn’t matter if you decide to walk the Main Beskid Trail all at once or if you want to break it down into several stages. You must remember to prepare adequately – after all, you are opting to cover many kilometers with equipment on your back. How can you make this hike easier? It is certainly important to choose the right backpack; a poor choice can quickly lead to pain in the shoulders and back. It is also important to limit unnecessary baggage; during such a long hike, less is more. Therefore, it is worth choosing a smaller backpack, about 30 litres, which can hold up to 9 kg of luggage. Remember, your body needs time to "warm up", so in the first few days set yourself a slow pace and rest when you need to. A good idea is to take trekking poles with you, which may slightly relieve your joints. One of the most important things is a map, as unfortunately the trail is not always clearly marked. Carefully plan your accommodations, supplies, and daily distance.        

The most important
As is often the case, not everything goes according to plan and you may be surprised by many things during your hike. Heavy rains, poorly planned routes for the day, darkness. So when heading onto the Main Beskid Trail, remember to have a good backup plan. You should be prepared for the possibility of camping in the forest and know how to prepare a meal outdoors. Most importantly – you must know how to use a map and compass.  

Author of the text: Ewa Bandyk

Photographer: Michał Krogulecki