Maciejowa (836 meters above sea level) is one of the most popular and easily accessible peaks in the Gorce Mountains. What should you know about this place? How to get there, which trail to choose, and what attractions and views await you at the top?
- Attractions - Why Visit Maciejowa?
- How to Get to Maciejowa?
- The Easiest and Shortest Trail to Maciejowa
- The Most Popular Trail to Maciejowa
- Black Trail and Loop to Maciejowa from Rabka-Zdr贸j
- Loop to Maciejowa via Stare Wierchy from Por臋ba
- From Obidowa via Stare Wierchy to Maciejowa
- Other Trails to Maciejowa
- PTTK Shelter on Maciejowa - Facts and Curiosities
Attractions - Why Visit Maciejowa?
Why is Maciejowa so popular among tourists of all ages? The main reasons are its easy accessibility (the shortest trails are only 2-3 km long), beautiful panoramas and scenic meadows, and the opportunity to rest in a quiet and atmospheric shelter.
Views from Maciejowa
What can you see from the shelter on Maciejowa? The most impressive view is the sharp peaks of the Tatra Mountains. You can admire them from the meadow or from the shelter's window.
To the north, you can see Babia G贸ra and Polica mountains:
...and to the north, you can see Beskid Makowski and Beskid Wyspowy (especially the long ridge of Luba艅 Wielki):
How to Get to Maciejowa?
Only two trails pass by the meadow with the shelter: the red and black trails (the black trail ends here). However, there are many more routes to reach Maciejowa!
The Easiest and Shortest Trail to Maciejowa
The shortest and easiest (with the least elevation gain) route to the shelter on Maciejowa is the green trail from Jasionowa. It is mostly a comfortable, shaded forest road. The views are at the beginning and when the green trail joins the red trail at Polana Przys艂op.
Easy
Easiest Trail to Maciejowa
The Most Popular Trail to Maciejowa
Most hikers choose the scenic red trail from Rabka-Zdr贸j. You can start this walk either from the town center or from the edge of the meadows (parking areas). The trail follows a gravel road through meadows and then enters steep forest paths.
Medium
Red Trail from Rabka to Maciejowa
Black Trail and Loop to Maciejowa from Rabka-Zdr贸j
An alternative to the red trail from Rabka-Zdr贸j is the black trail starting from the Rabka S艂one neighborhood. It is shorter, steeper, and more shaded. You can also combine it with the red trail to make a loop.
Medium
Black Trail to Maciejowa from Rabka S艂one
Loop to Maciejowa via Stare Wierchy from Por臋ba
Another loop to Maciejowa starts from Por臋ba. On this route, you first visit Stare Wierchy and then follow a forested ridge to Maciejowa.
Medium
Loop from Por臋ba: Stare Wierchy and Maciejowa
From Obidowa via Stare Wierchy to Maciejowa
You can also reach the ridge connecting Stare Wierchy and Maciejowa from the south, i.e., from Obidowa. The route Obidowa - green trail to Stare Wierchy - red trail to Maciejowa is a total of 7 km, about 300 meters of elevation gain, which takes about 2.5 hours one way.
Easy
Stare Wierchy from Obidowa - winter
Other Trails to Maciejowa
How else can you reach Maciejowa? Here are a few other ideas:
- Green trail from the village of Ponice, which is less than 3 km and 270 meters of elevation gain, taking about 1:15 hours one way.
- Black trail from Rabka Zaryte via Grzebie艅: first follow the black signs to Poniatowskiego Street in the Rabka S艂one neighborhood. Then go up S艂onki and join the black trail Rabka S艂one - Maciejowa.
- Blue trail from Rabka Zaryte, via the tower on Polaczk贸wka. Follow the blue trail through Kr贸lewska G贸ra to Rabka-Zdr贸j and then continue on the blue signs to the Rabka S艂one neighborhood, and from there take the black trail to Maciejowa (a total of about 3 hours, nearly 9 km, 500 meters of elevation gain one way). You can also go through the center of Rabka-Zdr贸j and join the red trail (described above). This will be a similar distance: 9 km, a bit more elevation gain: 520 meters, and also about 3 hours.
PTTK Shelter on Maciejowa - Facts and Curiosities
What else is worth knowing about Maciejowa and the shelter located below its peak? Here are some facts and curiosities about this unique place.
Shelter or Bac贸wka on Maciejowa?
What is the difference between a shelter and a bac贸wka? A bac贸wka is a type of shelter, a more intimate version. According to the creator of the "bac贸wka" network, Edward Moska艂a, these types of facilities were meant to serve individual tourists rather than groups. They were supposed to have a cozy atmosphere, overseen by a host called a "baca."
An element of the decor in each bac贸wka included hand-painted maps of the area by Edward Moska艂a:
Does the Bac贸wka on Maciejowa Have a Twin Sister?
Yes! And not just one! The bac贸wkas designed by Edward Moska艂a were built (with a few exceptions) according to a single project by Stanis艂aw Karpiel. Out of the 14 bac贸wkas, called "moska艂贸wkas," the twins of Maciejowa include the bac贸wkas on Rycerzowa, Krawcowy Wierch, in Bartne, and under Ma艂a Rawka.
What Makes the Bac贸wka on Maciejowa Different from Other "Moska艂贸wkas"?
Although the bac贸wkas were initially built according to a single project, they have changed slightly over the years due to their caretakers. The uniqueness of the PTTK Shelter on Maciejowa includes its careful, artistic decor, created by graduates of the Antoni Kenar High School of Fine Arts in Zakopane.
Where is the Bac贸wka on Maciejowa Located?
Do you reach the summit of Maciejowa when you arrive at the bac贸wka? Not yet! The summit of Maciejowa, 836 meters above sea level, is located in the forest to the west of the meadow (unfortunately, it is not marked). The place where the bac贸wka is located is Polana Przys艂op.
Publish Date: 2024-06-01