Stare Wierchy, Mountain summit in Gorce Mountains, Poland
Stare Wierchy is a mountain summit in the Gorce Mountains in southern Poland, sitting at around 970 meters above sea level. The peak is surrounded by dense spruce forest, with a few open clearings that give views over the surrounding ridges.
A shelter in this area is said to date back to medieval times, when travelers crossed the Gorce range along trade routes connecting settlements in the region. Over time it became a regular stop for merchants and locals moving between valleys.
The area around Stare Wierchy is closely tied to the Gorals, the highland people of this part of Poland. The shelter on the summit serves traditional dishes from the Podhale region, such as żurek soup and smoked sheep cheese.
The summit is accessible from several marked trails starting from nearby towns like Rabka-Zdrój and Koninki. Solid footwear is a good idea since the paths can be muddy or snow-covered depending on the season.
In winter, the slopes around the summit turn into a small ski area with a lift and maintained cross-country tracks. This makes it one of the few summits in the Gorce range that draws two completely different crowds depending on the time of year.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
