Bieszczady National Park (Bieszczadzki Park Narodowy) lies in the far southeastern corner of Poland, bordering Ukraine and Slovakia. It covers the highest part of the Bieszczady range, a subrange of the Eastern Carpathians. The park is characterised by wide, rounded ridges (połoniny) above the treeline and extensive beech-fir forests below. This unusual combination of open ridge hiking and dense primeval forest makes it distinct from the more dramatic Tatra terrain to the west.
The Main Ridge Routes
The most important hiking routes in Bieszczady follow the main ridge, passing over the park's highest summits. Tarnica (1,346 m above sea level) is the highest peak entirely within Poland in this range. The ridge walk between Ustrzyki Górne and Przełęcz Wyżniańska — passing over or close to Tarnica, Halicz, and Rozsypaniec — is considered the park's classic route.
Red Trail: Main Ridge
The red trail forms the backbone of the Bieszczady route network. Starting from Ustrzyki Górne, it climbs through forest before emerging onto the open połonina below Tarnica. From the summit, the route continues southwest along the exposed ridge towards Halicz and eventually descends to Wołosate. The full traverse takes several hours and requires reasonable fitness; there is little shelter on the exposed ridge sections.
Yellow Trail: Ustrzyki Górne to Przełęcz Wyżniańska
The yellow trail offers an alternative approach from Ustrzyki Górne that avoids the highest ridge, instead traversing the forested southern slopes. It joins the ridge trail at Przełęcz Wyżniańska, where a small shelter provides a rest point.
Wetlina Access Routes
The village of Wetlina, in the western part of the park, serves as an alternative base. Blue and green trails lead from Wetlina up to the Połonina Wetlińska ridge, which has some of the broadest open views in the Bieszczady. The descent back to Wetlina via a different route makes for a satisfying day circuit.
Access Points and Transport
The main trailhead village is Ustrzyki Górne, located at the eastern end of the park. Seasonal bus connections from Sanok and Lesko reach Ustrzyki Górne; in peak summer season (July–August), additional services are added. Outside the summer season, public transport options are limited and private transport or organised hiking groups are the practical option.
Wetlina is more accessible from the west and has more frequent bus connections from Lesko and Sanok throughout the year.
Accommodation on the Trail
The Bieszczady has a network of PTTK mountain shelters (schroniska) at key points along the main routes:
- Schronisko PTTK na Połoninie Wetlińskiej — on the ridge above Wetlina, offering overnight accommodation and meals during the season
- Schronisko PTTK na Połoninie Caryńskiej — on the Caryńska ridge, accessible from Ustrzyki Górne and from Brzegi Górne
Both shelters operate on a seasonal basis (typically late spring to late autumn). Advance booking is strongly recommended during July and August and during the autumn colour season. The villages of Ustrzyki Górne, Wetlina, and Cisna have additional private accommodation options including agrotourism farms.
Wildlife and Terrain Notes
Bieszczady National Park is home to wolves, lynx, brown bears, and European bison (introduced into the broader Bieszczady landscape). Wildlife sightings are more frequent at dawn and dusk, particularly in the forest zones below the ridge. The połoniny grasslands on the upper ridges are maintained partly by grazing from reintroduced highland sheep (racka); this traditional land use continues under park management agreements with local farmers.
The terrain above the treeline is genuinely exposed. Ridge sections between Tarnica and Halicz are above 1,200 m, with no shelter. Thunderstorms develop quickly in the Carpathians during summer afternoons; early starts are advisable for ridge routes.
Seasonal Access
The park is open year-round, but conditions vary considerably. Winter conditions on the ridge can include deep snow and limited visibility; the PTTK shelters typically close between November and April. Summer weekends in July and August see the highest visitor numbers, with Ustrzyki Górne and the Tarnica trailhead becoming busy by mid-morning. Autumn weekdays offer the quietest conditions with the most stable weather for ridge walking.