Mountain Trails [#21] - Stożek Wielki

Why is it worthwhile to conquer Stożek Wielki? The answer is simple – primarily to see with your own eyes where its majestic name comes from. As we conquer each meter of the ascent, different peaks of the Czantoria range will appear before us, and we will have no doubt which one is Stożek Wielki 978 m above sea level. Only it, with its conical shape, towers above the other hills. It is worth mentioning that the state border between Poland and the Czech Republic runs through the summit.

The most pleasant option for reaching Wielki Stożek is a loop that starts and ends at the PKP Wisła Dziechcinka station.

- The walking time is about 5 hours, depending on the tourist's fitness,

- By following the blue, yellow, red, yellow, and blue trails,

- Total ascent: 700 meters,

- Highest point: 978 meters above sea level,

- Length of the trail: 14.5 kilometers,

- No difficulties, no artificial aids, the trail is well-marked, and it is advisable to watch your step during the steep ascent to the summit – there are numerous roots.

We begin our trip at PKP Wisła Dziechcinka, where the blue and yellow trails start. We follow one of these trails for about half a kilometer until we reach a fork near a charming railway viaduct from 1932, where we choose the yellow trail. The first gentle elevations are conquered along an asphalt road, which should take us about 30 minutes. As we enter the forest, the path becomes slightly steep and sometimes leads through rocky sections, while at other times we walk comfortably on concrete slabs. When we reach a place marked “Kobyla Sałas,” we should take a moment to rest on the relatively flat section of the trail ahead – especially since a very steep ascent to the summit awaits us. We move along this comfortable path that traverses the mountain ridge for about a kilometer. And here begins our arduous climb to the top of Wielki Stożek. The intense but fortunately quite short ascent leads us occasionally through very steep sections, where it is advisable to be cautious of the numerous protruding roots. We arrive at the junction with the green trail, where the path becomes very wide and comfortable; this is practically the last stretch of the ascent to the ridge of Wielki Stożek, where we find the PTTK Stożek Shelter, which impresses with its size. There, we will find a board with a map and numerous wooden benches and tables from which we can observe the nearby mountain ranges of Beskid Śląski. It is worth trying the scrambled eggs at the shelter, which are delicious. If we want to reach the very top of Wielki Stożek, we need to climb a bit up a rocky path next to the shelter. However, there isn’t much to see from the summit, so the views of the Beskids and Tatras are best admired from in front of the shelter. Once we have feasted our eyes on the scenery and taken a rest, it’s time to head back. The return path initially follows the same trail we came on. Only at the junction of the Kobyla Sałas trails do we deviate from the yellow trail and follow the blue trail this time, which leads us all the way back to the starting point. Along the way, it is worth stopping at the stunning viewpoint known as Krzakowska Skałaa, also called The Rock on Kobyla. From the top, there are views of Wisła and the Czantoria range. Additionally, there are several secured climbing routes available there.

Author of the photos and text: Ewa Bandyk