Gęsia Szyja (1,489 m a.s.l.) — whose name means 'Goose Neck' in Polish — is one of the most rewarding viewpoints in the High Tatras. It sits at a perfect elevation: high enough for breathtaking panoramas, yet accessible enough for a great day hike.
From the summit and the nearby Rusinowa Polana meadow, you can enjoy a sweeping view across the entire Tatra range — from the Belianske Tatry in the east, through the High Tatras all the way to the Western Tatras. The ridge top is crowned by dolomite rock formations known as the Waksmundzkie Skałki, rising about 15 metres above the surrounding terrain. The name 'Goose Neck' originally referred only to a narrow, curved grassy slope on the eastern ridge, which local highlanders thought resembled a goose's neck. The panorama was famously celebrated by Tytus Chałubiński as a 'view of 100 peaks and passes' back in 1878 — and standing here today, you will understand exactly why. The surroundings change beautifully with the seasons: wildflowers carpet the slopes in summer, while autumn brings golden hues to the alpine meadows.
How to reach the summitNature lovers will appreciate that in 2007, one of Poland's very few known locations of the rare Aconitum firmum subsp. moravicum (Moravian monkshood) was discovered here — a testament to the exceptional botanical richness of these limestone slopes.