Krokiew (1378 m a.s.l.) is one of the most recognisable massifs rising above Zakopane — a forested sub-alpine peak that closes the eastern ridge of Giewont and is best known as the home of the famous Wielka Krokiew ski-jumping complex. Yet beyond the sporting spectacle, its dense forests and rich wildlife make it a surprisingly wild corner of the Tatra foothills.

The massif stretches between the Bystra Valley and the Białe Valley, covering a base area of around 3 km² and built from Middle Triassic dolomite. Its slopes are cloaked in continuous forest that includes rare pockets of upper montane spruce — unusual at this elevation. Throughout the seasons the mountain changes its face: autumn turns the hillsides gold and crimson, while winter drapes them in deep snow. Lynx, bears, red deer, capercaillie and black grouse all roam these woods — a genuine wildlife refuge just minutes from town. Keep an eye out for the ghost orchid relative 'storzan bezlistny' (Epipogium aphyllum), a species found in Poland only in the Tatras and only on a handful of sites.

• Kalatówki – Czerwona Przełęcz: black-marked trail (Ścieżka nad Reglami) via Białe Pass, approx. 1 h 25 min, moderate difficulty
• Albertine Sisters' monastery at Kalatówki – Albertine Brothers' monastery on Śpiąca Góra: yellow trail along Krokiew's slopes, approx. 40 min up / 30 min down, easy

• The actual summit of Krokiew is closed to visitors — marked trails run only along the slopes.
• On the western slopes descending to the Białe Valley, right beside the yellow trail, you can spot a tunnel left from Soviet uranium prospecting in 1950–1953.
• The Albertine Brothers' monastery on Śpiąca Góra serves as a useful landmark and trail endpoint on the eastern side.

The name 'Krokiew' comes from the mountain's northern silhouette, which resembles a rafter ('krokiew' in Polish) — the diagonal timber used in roof trusses. Stone quarried on its northern slopes between 1908 and 1934 was used in the construction of the Tatra Museum in Zakopane.