Krupianka is a modest, twin-summited peak in the Małe Pieniny (Small Pieniny Mountains), offering a quiet escape into one of Poland's lesser-known mountain ranges. It's a great pick for hikers who prefer solitude over crowded trails.

The mountain rises between the valleys of the Krupianka and Czerszla streams, with its western summit — the higher of the two — reaching 708 m. Spruce forest covers most of the slopes, hiding traces of andesite deposits once mined here, likely back in the 17th-18th centuries. Some of the south-western slopes and the northern foothills open up into grassy meadows, still grazed by sheep brought by shepherds from Ratułów. In summer the meadows are lush and peaceful, while autumn paints the forest in rich colors.

How to get to the summit

• Szlachtowa — forest trail, approx. 1-1.5 hours, easy to moderate difficulty
• Can be combined with a longer route through the Małe Pieniny starting near Szczawnica

Good to know

• At the northern foot of the peak you'll find the limestone Sołtysie Skały rocks — worth a short detour
• The area holds the remains of old mining works; local legend recalls a mining tunnel collapse here

According to a story passed down through generations, sixteen miners lost their lives when a tunnel collapsed in one of Krupianka's old mine galleries.