Krzemień (1335 m a.s.l.) is the second highest peak in the Polish Bieszczady Mountains and the entire Western Bieszczady range — and yet it remains delightfully less crowded than its famous neighbour Tarnica. A jagged, comb-like ridge studded with rocky outcrops, sweeping alpine meadows, and breathtaking panoramas make this one of the most rewarding hikes in the region.
From the top you can take in an extraordinary sweep of scenery: Tarnica with Szeroki Wierch, the Caryńska Ridge, Bukowe Berdo, the upper San valley, Halicz with Rozsypaniec, and in the distance the Sanocko-Turczańskie Mountains and the Ukrainian Bieszczady. In summer the open polonyna grasslands glow golden; in autumn they burst into fiery colour — every season brings its own magic to Krzemień.
How to reach the summitThe name 'Krzemień' is a linguistic curiosity — it derives from the Ukrainian word 'hreben' (meaning comb), distorted by Austrian cartographers, which perfectly describes the rocky, comb-shaped ridge. The slopes also harbour rare plant species including rock sedge, Dacian sedge, eastern Carpathian vetchling, and thyme broomrape.