Kicarz (704 m a.s.l.) is a quietly rewarding summit in the Beskid Sądecki range of southern Poland — easy to reach from the spa town of Piwniczna-Zdrój yet nestled firmly within the protected landscape of Popradzki Park Krajobrazowy. If you are looking for a half-day hike that feels like a genuine forest escape, this is your spot.
The mountain rises above the scenic Poprad river valley, and it is here that the Poprad carves its largest gorge, winding around the western and southern slopes of Kicarz in a dramatic bend. Most of the summit and its slopes are cloaked in forest, though the south-eastern side opens up near the hamlet of Karpaty, rewarding walkers with pleasant open views. The ridge of Kicarz marks the boundary between Piwniczna-Zdrój and Łomnica-Zdrój, making a loop between the two villages a natural way to explore the area. In winter the snow-covered slopes are charming; in summer the shaded trails offer welcome relief from the heat.
How to reach the summitKicarz has a turbulent recent past — in 2010 construction began on a four-lift ski resort here, but environmental campaigners raised objections with prosecutors and the project was halted, leaving the partially cleared forest to slowly recover.