Łazek is a modest but characterful peak in the Błatnia Range, in the northern part of the Silesian Beskids. It may not be the tallest summit around, but it rises steeply above the much lower Zebrzydka, and its name carries a piece of the region's settlement history.

The entire summit is covered in forest, so don't expect sweeping panoramic views — instead, you'll find a genuinely peaceful, woodland atmosphere, perfect for hikers looking for a quieter corner of the Silesian Beskids. In summer the trees offer welcome shade on the climbs, while in winter the forest glitters with frost and the steeper sections call for sturdy footwear. On the mountain's slope stands an old stone cross dated 1696, a silent witness to bygone times, its inscription now largely worn away.

How to reach the summit

• Jaworze Nałęże, ZHP camp — red trail towards Błatnia (the route bypasses the actual summit), distance to Błatnia 4.7 km, total ascent 340 m, hiking time 1:50 h, return 1:20 h
• Brenna, Górki Wielkie — via Zebrzydka and the Liszka pass to Łazek, blue trail ending at the red trail on the mountain's northern slope
• An unmarked path leads from the Liszka pass, between Łazek and Czupel, down to the Brennica valley

Practical information

• The red trail passes near the summit but not directly across it — you'll need to leave the marked path to see the stone cross
• The slope features a historic stone cross with the date 1696 carved into it, along with an inscription in 8 lines that is now illegible

The name Łazek comes from the word 'łaz', a term common throughout the Beskids for farmland cleared from forest by burning trees and shrubs — a small linguistic echo of the hard lives of the region's first settlers.