Mountain Trails [#19] - Triple

A trip to Potrójna (883 m above sea level) is a great option for those who want to discover the magic of the Beskids. If you dream of trails and mountain huts where you won't encounter crowds of people, then the trek to the summit of Potrójna should be on your list of must-do hikes. This sometimes slightly challenging loop will help you get accustomed to the trails of Beskid Mały and visit two mountain huts in one go. More importantly, you will reach one of the key peaks of this mountain range.

The route to Potrójna is circular. It starts on a black trail, which we leave at the summit in favour of the yellow trail. The last 2 kilometres back to the starting point are on an asphalt road. 

- The estimated time for the hike is around 5 hours, depending on the hiker's fitness level,

- Total elevation gain: 684 metres,

- Highest point: 915 metres above sea level,

- Trail length: 14 kilometres,

- No difficulties, no artificial aids.

We begin our adventure in the village of Rzyki, near the Czarny Groń hotel and the ropes course. Those with vehicles can leave their cars in a nearby free car park by the road. Along this same road, we need to look for the black trail signs. Another characteristic starting point for our trip is a wooden well, which is hard to miss – right next to it, we enter the forest, following the Pracica stream. The trail initially leads gently but starts to steepen quite sharply after a kilometre. Let’s remember to watch our footing carefully - the path can be quite rocky in this section. This ascent is intense but fortunately short. When we catch sight of the Chapel of the Coronation of the Mother of God, we can breathe a sigh of relief. From here, the trail will take us along a relatively wide and gentle path. Just before reaching the summit of Potrójna, we can turn left towards the Mountain Hut at Potrójna, which is only a few minutes away, where we can enjoy delicious fresh yeast pastries. After a short rest, we return to the trail to shortly reach the summit. The trails from Jawornica, the Kocierz Range, and the Łamana Skała meet here. The summit of Potrójna is not forested, so we can enjoy views of Beskid Makowski, Gorce, Babia Góra, and even the Tatras. From this point, we head down the yellow trail towards the second mountain hut, known as Chatka pod Potrójną. However, before we get there, it's worth looking around while walking – on the left side, we find an interesting rock formation known as "Zbójnickie Okno", which we can approach confidently to peek through the hole in the rock. We return to the trail, and after a few minutes, we see a wooden hut where we can rest. The building is very cozy, with a fireplace and a piano in the dining area. Its charm is enhanced by numerous decorations and souvenirs left by hikers. After resting for a while, we continue along the yellow trail towards Łamana Skała; the path is now very pleasant, with small and unchallenging ascents along the way. We pass through the Pass on Przykra, and as we continue walking, we enter the area of the Madohora Nature Reserve. The trail leads us under the forested peak of Łamana Skała. Ahead of us is a kilometre of steep descent on a rocky path – it's worth using trekking poles here for support. After overcoming the last difficult section, the path leads us along a wide, calm road, beside which a stream flows. Once we pass the Czarny Groń ski station, we can relax, as we'll soon pass the bus stop Rzyki Praciaki, which is only a kilometre away from our starting point.

Author of the text and photos: Ewa Bandyk