Ciecień (829 m a.s.l.) is the highest peak of the Ciecień Range in the Beskid Wyspowy mountains — and it stands out from its neighbours in more ways than one. Unlike the isolated rounded summits typical of this region, it forms a distinct north-south ridge that rises up to 500 metres above the surrounding valleys of the Krzyworzeka and Stradomka rivers. It's a wonderful destination for anyone craving quiet forests, open views, and a real sense of mountain character.
The slopes are largely forested, but several clearings survive, and the best viewpoint is a paragliders' meadow on the western flank above Wiśniowa, offering sweeping panoramas of the surrounding peaks. Ciecień has become a beloved spot for paragliders, with annual fly-ins and displays held in Wiśniowa at the foot of the mountain. In autumn the forest glows with colour; in spring it feels fresh and alive — this is a mountain worth visiting in any season.
How to reach the summitCiecień appears in written records as far back as 1365 under the name 'Czeczen', and its forests were reportedly a favourite hunting ground of King Władysław the Elbow-high. During World War II, partisans of the 1st Podhale Rifles Regiment of the Polish Home Army were stationed here.