Difficulty: EasyWestern Tatras
Grześ
Start: Siwa Polana (Chochołów Valley) · via Panorama of the Slovak Roháče and The mountain hut at Chochołów Glade
- 6:50 h
- Time
- 18.1 km
- Distance
- +830 m
- Ascent
Difficulty: Easyhigh tatraspanoramafor familyeasy routes
Gęsia Szyja
1489 m a.s.l. · trail green · start: Wierch Poroniec
Trail maintenanceBulletin as of 17 października 2026
Official TPN bulletinTPN alert: Maintenance work underway: zielono znakowany szlak z Rusinowej Polany na Gęsią Szyję. Proceed with caution.
Bulletin details
TPN advises special caution in this section.
PolecanyWierch Poroniec – Gęsia Szyja
- Wysokość
- 1489 m a.s.l.
- Dystans
- 9 km
- Czas przejścia
- 2 h 55 min
- Suma podejść
- 453 m
- Start
- Wierch Poroniec
- Meta
- Wierch Poroniec
Czas i dystans dla całej wycieczki, z powrotem do startu.
Tempo
2 h 55 minSzacunek od czasu z opisu, bez kolejek i postojów.
- easy
- green
- Dla rodzin: Tak
- Z psem: Nie
- Ślad GPX (.gpx)
Warianty wejścia
Polecany jest na tej stronie. Inny start ma osobną kartę — własny opis i mapę.
| Wariant | Start | Czas przejścia | Łańcuchy | Kolor szlaku |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Wierch Poroniec – Gęsia SzyjaPolecany An hour to the meadow, then stairs. No chains. A pushchair fails after the grass. The figures at the top of the page show this loop. | Wierch Poroniec | 2 h 55 min | Nie |
|
With Wiktorówki The same plus blue-trail stairs to the sanctuary. Tea from the Dominicans. Still no chains. | Wierch Poroniec | 3 h 25 min | Nie |
|
Rusinowa Polana only Wide road, panorama, shepherds hut. No steps to the summit. Separate page: Rusinowa Polana. Zobacz ten szlak → | Wierch Poroniec | 2 h | Nie |
|
Polecany
Wierch Poroniec – Gęsia Szyja
An hour to the meadow, then stairs. No chains. A pushchair fails after the grass. The figures at the top of the page show this loop.
Mapa i profil trasy
Wierch Poroniec – Gęsia Szyja
Profil wysokościowy trasy
Wykres podejść wygenerowany ze śladu GPX. Przesuń kursor lub palec po wykresie, aby sprawdzić profil podejścia i punkty kulminacyjne.
GPX · 8.87 km
Punkt kulminacyjny
1489m n.p.m.
przy 4.44 km
Najniższy punkt
1101m n.p.m.
Podejścia (suma)
+453m
Zejścia (suma)
-453m
Dystans profilu
8.87km
Ślad GPX do nawigacji
Wgraj trasę do zegarka sportowego (Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Apple Watch) lub aplikacji nawigacyjnej (Mapy.cz, Komoot, Locus Map, Strava) i nawiguj po szlaku w trybie offline bez zasięgu.
Kompatybilność:GarminCorosSuuntoApple WatchMapy.czKomootStrava
Jak wgrać plik GPX?
- Kliknij przycisk „Pobierz ślad GPX”, aby zapisać plik .gpx na telefonie lub komputerze.
- Otwórz plik w aplikacji Garmin Connect, Coros, Suunto, Mapy.cz, Komoot lub wyślij na zegarek GPS.
- Zapisz trasę w trybie offline, aby w Tatrach nawigować pewnie i bez obaw o brak zasięgu sieci komórkowej.
Gęsia Szyja (1,489 m a.s.l.) is an unassuming, forested peak in the lower, foothill part of the Tatras. However, what it offers at the very top is absolutely world-class. The view from its rocky summit over the Bielskie and High Tatras (with Lodowy Szczyt and Gerlach at the forefront) is so spectacular that it often appears on postcards.
This is a “two-in-one” trip: first an easy, idyllic walk to Rusinowa Polana, and then a short but very intense summit push up the famous wooden stairs.
💡 In a nutshell – Gęsia Szyja:
- Two stages: First a flat, hour-long walk to Rusinowa Polana, and then a sharp climb to the summit.
- The famous stairs: The approach from the meadow to Gęsia Szyja is hundreds of steep, wooden steps. A pushchair will not get up here!
- Insane panorama: The summit offers one of the best views of the High and Bielskie Tatras.
- Small car park: The start from Wierch Poroniec is the gentlest, but the car park there fills up very early in the morning during the season.
Trail description: A walk and stairs to heaven
We recommend starting from the Wierch Poroniec car park. This is the gentlest and most scenic approach variant.
Stage 1: The highway to Rusinowa Polana
The green trail from Wierch Poroniec follows a wide forest road. It is almost flat here, which is why parents with all-terrain pushchairs or small children can easily manage this section. After about an hour you emerge onto Rusinowa Polana – a beautiful meadow with sheep, a shepherds hut (oscypek cheese!) and a view of the rocky giants. The pushchair must stay here.
Stage 2: The summit push (Hundreds of wooden steps)
From the meadow, the trail turns into the forest and a sharp climb begins.
- Stairs: The path to Gęsia Szyja has been lined with wooden beams, creating hundreds of steep stairs.
- Technically it is very easy (no precipices, no chains), but physically it can be very tiring. Your lungs will be working at full capacity.
- After 40–50 minutes of climbing the stairs, you emerge onto the bare, dolomite summit rocks.
What can you see from the summit?
Gęsia Szyja is a natural viewing stand. No higher mountains in the immediate vicinity block the view:
- The Bielskie Tatras: The characteristic limestone peaks of Murania and Hawrań (to the left).
- The High Tatras: A massive wall with Gerlach, Rysy, Vysoká, and Lodowy Szczyt (straight ahead).
- The White Water Valley: A deep, broad valley cutting into the Slovak Tatras.
Logistics and return variants
The figures at the top of the page show the ascent and return via the same route (green trail to Wierch Poroniec).
- Option (Wiktorówki): On the way back, from Rusinowa Polana it is worth going down the stairs (10-15 min) to the Sanctuary at Wiktorówki. The Dominican Fathers serve free, hot tea there.
- Parking: The car park at Wierch Poroniec is small. In the holiday season and on sunny weekends, it fills up as early as 7:00–8:00 in the morning! If you arrive later, your only option is a minibus from Zakopane (direction Morskie Oko).
Who this is absolutely NOT for?
Do not take a pushchair on the section above Rusinowa Polana – the wooden stairs are impassable for it. Do not bring a dog here (TPN ban). Do not expect peace and quiet on a Sunday noon in the middle of the holidays – it is a very popular trail. If you only care about a walk and eating oscypek with a view, stay at Rusinowa Polana, Gęsia Szyja is not a mandatory part of the programme.
Getting there, parking & buses
Trailhead logistics – reach the start smoothly without parking hassle.
Trailhead:Wierch Poroniec
Parking & car access
TPN online reservation recommended / required in season
TPN Wierch Poroniec car park (and Zazadnia)
Parking fee: 35–45 PLN / day (e-ticket at tpn.pl/bilety)
Popular starting point for Rusinowa Polana (gentle walk). During high season, advance online TPN e-ticket reservation applies. Alternative: nearby Zazadnia car park.
Bus & transit access
Buses from Station towards Morskie Oko
Route & bus stop: Zakopane Main Station ➔ Cyrhla ➔ „Wierch Poroniec” stop (on request)
Fare: ~12–15 PLN
Board a bus heading to Morskie Oko / Palenica and ask the driver to let you off at Wierch Poroniec.
Local buses and transit help bypass morning traffic and parking hassles.
Transport guide in the Tips section
Complete guide to Tatra car parks, buses, and TPN reservations.
Tool
🎒 What to pack? Interactive checklist
Check off items as you pack, switch between summer/winter and clear the list before your next trip. Progress is saved automatically.
What you will see
- Rusinowa Polana
- Panorama of the High Tatras
- Wiktorówki sanctuary
- Oscypek cheese at the shepherds hut
Questions
Are there stairs to the summit?
Yes. From Rusinowa Polana, hundreds of wooden steps. Comfortable, but they tire you out. Leave the pushchair on the meadow.
What is the best time for photos?
Afternoon and sunset — the High Tatras are lit from the side, not into the sun.
Will a pushchair reach Gęsia Szyja?
No. The green trail gets you to Rusinowa. The stairs and Wiktorówki mean a carrier, or you turn around. The meadow has its own page.
Do I have to go to Wiktorówki?
No. The figures at the top of the page are the summit and back on the green trail. Wiktorówki is in the table. There are no chains anywhere on this page.
How high is Gęsia Szyja?
Gęsia Szyja is 1489 m above sea level.
Gęsia Szyja: are there chains on the route?
No, the route described on this page has no chains.
Gęsia Szyja: how long does it take?
Start: Wierch Poroniec, finish in the same place. The whole route is 9 km and takes 2 h 55 min of walking without breaks, with about 453 m of ascent. Add time for rests and photos.
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Next trail in this area
Planning your next hike? From the same starting point and area, we recommend:
#high tatras#panorama#for family
Rusinowa Polana and Wiktorówki
Rusinowa Polana and Wiktorówki from Wierch Poroniec: 7.5 km, 2 h 19 min, very easy, pushchair-friendly. A High Tatras panorama for little effort. Parking.
⏱️ 2 h 19 min📏 7.5 km🎯 very easy
View trailSimilar trails
Difficulty: EasyMorskie Oko
Start: Palenica Białczańska · via Morskie Oko lake and Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza
- 4:14 h
- Time
- 15.5 km
- Distance
- +556 m
- Ascent
- Difficulty: Easy
Nosal
Start: Kuźnice · via Panorama of the High Tatras and Rocky cliffs
- 0:58 h
- Time
- 2.5 km
- Distance
- +208 m
- Ascent
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Plan your trip
Where to stay - Bukowina TatrzańskaThe closest base for this trail. Check availability and prices in Bukowina Tatrzańska.Find a place to stay →Tickets and activitiesCable cars, thermal baths, transfers and guided trips nearby.Browse offers →
These are affiliate links. If you book a stay or a ticket through them, we earn a small commission, for coffee :), at no extra cost to you.
Before you head to the mountains
- Check the weather forecast, mountain weather changes dynamically
- Match the trail to your abilities, don't overestimate your strength
- Take appropriate equipment: comfortable hiking boots, rain jacket, warm clothing, map, charged phone, first aid kit, power bank, food and water
- Inform someone about your plans, provide the route and expected return time
- Save the emergency number GOPR/TOPR, 601 100 300 or 985
- Buy a ticket to the Tatra National Park