Leskowiec (922 m a.s.l.) is one of the finest viewpoints in the Beskid Mały range — a summit that rewards you with a sweeping alpine panorama, a charming forest trail lined with twisted beech trees, and a wide open meadow right at the top. It even has a papal connection: the young Karol Wojtyła, later Pope John Paul II, hiked here repeatedly during his school years.

The ascent takes you through dense forest that grows wilder and more atmospheric the higher you climb. Near the summit, dwarf, gnarled beech trees create an almost fairy-tale atmosphere along the trail. The summit clearing — a remnant of old Wallachian shepherd pastures — opens up to a spectacular view across the Beskid Żywiecki and Beskid Makowski ranges, with Babia Góra, Pilsko, the Pasmo Policy ridge and the Jałowiec range all visible on a clear day. Every season brings a different mood: fresh spring green, summer shade at the meadow's edge, and a blaze of autumn colour in the surrounding forest.

• Rzyki village — approach via the northern slopes, moderate difficulty.
• PTTK Leskowiec mountain hut (on the nearby Groń Jana Pawła II) — a short and easy walk of around 15 minutes directly to the summit.
• Andrychów, Wadowice, Targoszów, Świnną Porębę, Krzeszów — Leskowiec is a major trail junction on the Mały Szlak Beskidzki (Small Beskid Trail), reachable from many directions.

• The PTTK Leskowiec mountain hut, located on the neighbouring Groń Jana Pawła II peak, offers accommodation and meals — a great base for exploring the area.
• Two ski runs operate near the summit, making Leskowiec a year-round destination.

The name Leskowiec sounds Polish but actually has Slovak-Czech roots — identical place names such as Leskovec and Lieskovec appear across Slovakia and Moravia, likely brought here by early settlers from Bohemia or Moravia who named these hills after the mountains back home.