Giewont from Strążyska

Giewont from Strążyska is the red climb from the north, not the blue trail from Kuźnice. The summit is the same (1,894 m), and so are the chains on the dome. The start, the parking and the views on the way are different.

The tiles and map above are the ascent: 6 km, 3 h 15 min, 1,014 m up. The map does not count the descent. You can return via Strążyska or go down the blue trail to Kuźnice — then you need a bus or a second car.

Trail description

Start at the car park in Dolina Strążyska (the end of Strążyska Street). Do not confuse this with the walk to Siklawica — this page goes higher, to the summit.

1. To Polana Strążyska (red, about 40 min): A wide track beside the stream, as on the Strążyska Valley page. Meadow, shepherds’ huts, tea room, Giewont overhead. Leave the yellow trail to Siklawica here.
2. To Przełęcz w Grzybowcu (red, about 50 min from the meadow): Forest, then steeper. The pass is a short breather before a longer traverse.
3. Grzybowiec – Wyżnia Kondracka (red, about 1 h 30 min): This is the section TPN closes from 1 December to 15 May. Better views than the blue trail from Kondratowa. It is not a shortcut for fitness.
4. Summit push: From Wyżnia Kondracka you join the same one-way loop as from Kuźnice. Right branch up, left down, chains, polished limestone. The dome is described on the Giewont from Kuźnice page — it is not copied three times here.

Panorama

From the cross, Zakopane lies at your feet. South: Czerwone Wierchy and the High Tatras. The reward is the same as from any other approach. So is the queue for the chains.

Warnings

• Closure: 1 Dec–15 May the red trail between Przełęcz w Grzybowcu and Wyżnia Kondracka is not legal. Do not look for a hole in the TPN notice.
• Storms: The cross on Giewont attracts lightning. Dark clouds mean you turn around, even ten minutes below the dome.
• Queue: In July and on a clear weekend, plan 30–120 min before the chains. Start at 6:00, not 10:00.
• Rock: The limestone on the dome is slippery when dry. Trainers are not enough.

Descent and logistics

The map ends on the summit. Two sensible returns:

• The same Strążyska trail — back to the car. The knees get the steep red trail.
• Blue to Kuźnice — via Kondratowa. Then a bus to Zakopane and a walk to Strążyska. Easier on the knees, worse logistics.

TPN ticket at the valley entrance or online. No dogs on this page.

Segment times (ascent)

From the map, no queue under the cross:

• Car park – Polana Strążyska: 40 min
• Meadow – Przełęcz w Grzybowcu: 50 min
• Grzybowiec – Wyżnia Kondracka: 1 h 30 min
• Pass – summit: 15 min

3 h 15 min is clean walking time up. A holiday day with the queue and the descent is 6–8 hours.

Other approaches

• Blue from Kuźnice — an 11.8 km / 5 h 57 min loop, the simplest return to the car.
• From Gronik via Mała Łąka — a quieter start, the same chains at the end.

From Kasprowy via Goryczkowe Czuby is a long day in stable weather, not a third “car-park variant”.

In winter

This variant is off in winter because of the Grzybowiec closure. The dome ices over anyway. If you do not hike in winter regularly, stop at the meadow or go to Sarnia Skała.

Who this is not for

Not for a first day in hiking boots. Not with small children on the chains. Not with a fear of heights hoping you will “get used to it on the day”. Not from December to mid-May.

If you only want the meadow, the waterfall and tea, stay on the Strążyska Valley page. Giewont starts beyond the meadow, not on the bench by the tea room.