Magura Wątkowska is one of the most rewarding ridges in the western Low Beskids — a sprawling massif with six distinct summits, dramatic rock outcrops, and a quietly moving historical landmark hidden among the trees. If you enjoy unhurried hiking through genuine, unspoiled Carpathian scenery, this is a place you will want to put on your list.
The massif stretches from west to east, with summits named Kornuty, Wątkowa (846 m a.s.l., the highest point), Magura, Majdan, and Łysy Czubek forming a pleasantly varied ridge walk. The Kornuty area features impressive rock outcrops protected as the Kornuty Nature Reserve. The beech and fir forests make the ridge beautiful in every season — lush green in summer, fiery in autumn, and blissfully quiet under snow in winter.
How to reach the summit:Near the Magura summit stands a monument dedicated to Pope John Paul II, unveiled on 15 August 2003 to mark both the 50th anniversary of his hike across Wątkowa and the 25th anniversary of his pontificate — a surprisingly touching encounter on an otherwise wild mountain trail.