Pilsko

Pilsko

Pilsko is the second highest peak in the Beskid Żywiecki (1557 m a.s.l.), located on the border of Poland and Slovakia. Most of the trails leading to its summit pass through the Shelter on Hala Miziowa - the highest located shelter in the entire Beskids. It is a large building with extensive facilities: accommodation, a restaurant, and in winter also a ski service, as there is an extensive network of slopes and lifts right next to it. The shelter offers a beautiful view of the queen of these mountains, Babia Góra. We started our hike at the end of October. The autumn colors in the lower parts of the mountains gradually gave way to a winter scenery - the higher we climbed, the more snow surrounded us. So don't be surprised if the photos from that day look like they were taken in two different seasons. This is the magic of the mountains, that depending on the time of year, they present their different faces.

Route variants

Parking

A rather small, but free parking lot is located right at the entrance to the yellow trail (location: 49.5711374, 19.3375854). A paid and larger parking lot is a bit earlier (location: 49.5754875, 19.3435868) - it costs 13 PLN per day (2025). If you are taking the green trail to Pilsko, there are several free parking lots along the road (location: 49.5658443, 19.3469832).

Free parking at the yellow trail entrance to Pilsko in Korbielów with a wooden shelter and trailhead info board

Yellow trail from Korbielów

Trail length:

14,1 km

Duration:

6:03 h

Elevation gain:

950 m

Difficulty level:

medium

Dog-friendly trail

Trail description

We start our trip from the paid parking lot in Korbielów (described above). From the very beginning, we follow the yellow and red trails. The route immediately leads up a narrow forest path, which widens over time. With each step, the forest becomes thinner, and the first views of the surrounding peaks of the Beskid Żywiecki begin to appear between the trees. Shortly before Hala Miziowa, the trail merges with the green trail and leads along a fairly wide forest road to the shelter, where we stop for a warm tea. During our autumn ascent, there was already a thin layer of snow at this altitude.

PTTK mountain shelter on Hala Miziowa dusted with first snow against snow-covered spruce forest in the Żywiec Beskids

Hala Miziowa alpine meadow with first snow, the shelter building and a wide Beskids panorama with Babia Góra on the horizon

After a short rest, we continue along the black trail, along the slope towards Góra Pięciu Kopców (1534 m a.s.l.). From here, the green trail leads to the very top of Pilsko, running among low mountain pine bushes, which were covered with snow. We reach the summit with its characteristic sign and a cross in the middle. There is a magnificent panorama of the surrounding peaks, this time from the Slovak side, and in good weather, the snow-capped Tatras are also visible. When we turn around, we can see the reigning queen of the region, Babia Góra, in all her glory.

Trail to Pilsko running along ski slopes with chairlifts in the Żywiec Beskids

Upper zone of Pilsko with snow-dusted dwarf pine and ski infrastructure above Korbielów

Wooden cross and stone summit marker on the snow-covered peak of Pilsko (1557 m a.s.l.) on the Polish-Slovak border

Snow-covered slopes of Pilsko with trail and spruce forest on the Slovak side of the border in autumn conditions

After taking a few photos, we return the same way, i.e., along the green trail to Góra Pięciu Kopców, then along the black trail through Kopiec back to Hala Miziowa. From here, we choose the green trail towards Miziowa, but at the next fork, we go straight, not turning onto the road we came up on. The trail continues along a wide path along the ski lifts, sometimes directly on the slope. At the end, the trail descends to an asphalt road, which we walk for the last 2 km, closing the loop where we started our hike.

Trail to Pilsko running along ski slopes with chairlifts in the Żywiec Beskids

Upper zone of Pilsko with snow-dusted dwarf pine and ski infrastructure above Korbielów

Tent base

Following the green trail from Sopotnia, we pass through Hala Górowa, where there is a student tent base open during the summer holidays (July, August). It offers 60 sleeping places in a shepherd's hut and shared tents, as well as an area for pitching your own tent. A tourist kitchen and a shower are available there. This base is a great starting point for trips, e.g., to Pilsko or the Main Beskid Trail.

Summary

We went to this peak in the autumn, but in the higher parts of the mountains, we already found a snow cover. The whole route took us 5 hours, during which we covered 15.64 km. If you decide on one of the above routes, we recommend choosing the ascent via the yellow trail, as the route is gentler and more beautiful. However, if you want to diversify your route more, the loop proposal is a great choice. You can find an additional photo report from the trip on our Instagram, to which we refer you! And for more interesting articles from the Beskid Żywiecki, we invite you below (and a few more photos).